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Magnificent Obsession

Play trailer Poster for Magnificent Obsession 1935 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Helen Hudson (Irene Dunne) is left widowed and penniless after the hospital is unable to save the life of her charitable husband, Dr. Hudson, because another drowning victim -- the spoiled Robert Merrick (Robert Taylor) -- required the hospital's only resuscitation device. Merrick seeks Helen out to offer recompense, but she rebukes him. He soon falls in love with her, but an accident leads to Helen's loss of eyesight, which threatens their relationship and eventually her life.

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety 02/23/2012
With its metaphysical theme of godliness and faith, the spiritual background of Magnificent is magnificent. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 05/26/2022
5/10
Its melodrama builds futilely and proceeds at a lethargic pace that detracts from platitudes about obsession, miracles, and blind love. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review James T. Hamada The Nippu Jiji (Honolulu) 06/24/2020
It's a long film, slow In tempo, but is beautifully directed, acted and photographed. Go to Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine 04/16/2020
The wonder of this picture is how the women will weep. And weep. Otherwise it's as smooth as that superb butler, Arthur Treacher, who is in the cast. Go to Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine 10/02/2019
If you can really believe in the unaccountable way people act in this picture it will probably make you cry. It was made with that idea in mind. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 02/18/2013
B+
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Audience Reviews

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04/05/2010 wow tough call here-this great but i think the douglas sirk version is better but this one comes in a close second. See more 01/19/2010 The Sirk version of this some 20 years later is better known (and tighter, he amalgamates a few roles) and just better. Without all the technicolor and with more lame slapstick (and English butler jokes), this really is not as good. Robert Taylor's make-up as the younger Bob also looks really odd. See more Read all reviews
Magnificent Obsession

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John M. Stahl

Director

Irene Dunne

Helen Hudson

Robert Taylor

Robert Merrick

Charles Butterworth

Tommy Masterson

Betty Furness

Joyce Hudson

Sara Haden

Mrs. Nancy Ashford

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Magnificent Obsession

Magnificent Obsession (1935) Magnificent Obsession (1935) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Helen Hudson (Irene Dunne) is left widowed and penniless after the hospital is unable to save the life of her charitable husband, Dr. Hudson, because another drowning victim -- the spoiled Robert Merrick (Robert Taylor) -- required the hospital's only resuscitation device. Merrick seeks Helen out to offer recompense, but she rebukes him. He soon falls in love with her, but an accident leads to Helen's loss of eyesight, which threatens their relationship and eventually her life.
Director
John M. Stahl
Producer
John M. Stahl
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 52m