Magnificent Obsession

Released Aug 7, 1954

1h 48m

Drama

List

88%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

72%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Reckless playboy Robert Merrick (Rock Hudson) is in a boat accident, and his condition requires a resuscitator to save his life. Soon afterward Dr. Phillips has a heart attack and needs the same machine. Without it, Dr. Phillips dies. Due to his philanthropy and his wife Helen's accident, she (Jane Wyman) has very little money. Merrick then tries to right his wrongs with Helen --falling in love with her in the process -- and decides to turn to the study of medicine to become a surgeon.

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Wanda Hale

New York Daily News

Jane Wyman, in the exacting role of Helen Phillips, plays the part heroically with sincerity and restraint, getting sympathy without asking for it. Rock Hudson gives his character life and strength.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 23, 2021

Full Review

Richard Brody

New Yorker

Every step depends on stifled emotions and closely guarded secrets, resulting in a buildup of operatic passion that endows everyday gestures and inflections with grandeur and nobility.

Jun 1, 2015

Full Review

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

[Sirk provides] a coolly formal approach to otherwise unwieldy projects.

Apr 30, 2012

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Sirk's rich signature color palate is on full display for a winking adventure in high camp, in Technicolor no less.

Rated: B+

Jan 10, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a fairly outrageous premise that's employed to predictably melodramatic effect by Sirk...

Rated: 3/4

Jan 21, 2020

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

No use arguing about this one; every customer evidently considers it either a profound inspirational drama or a rather maudlin soap opera about the golden rule. My own view leans to the latter persuasion...

Nov 11, 2019

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Audience Member

Everything about this movie was outstanding acting was just really good. Yes I highly recommend it James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, July 10, 2023.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/11/23

Full Review

Lalmani T

Really magnificent movie! In theme, in characters, in acting, everything magnificent! 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Of Sirk's melodramas, this is perhaps the dreamiest of all. The twists and turns of a woman whose husband dies and a man who almost died and somewhat owes his life to her husband. Right after the main sad events occur, we can easily predict the end of the movie. The only question, will there be any other misfortune affecting the characters before the end? The clinical aspects are a bit far fetched, but the important thing is that we know that sad, and sad may in the end add up to happy. The Good Samaritan, Christian, values highlighted in the movie are probably the only possible "lesson" one get from the movie. The movie is not boring. It's rather eventful in the sense that there's always something about to happen. It just requires some patience with all the sappy twists and turns.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I've gotten somewhat used to the overacting in some of these old films and find them enjoyable. However, with this film the overacting and sentimentality is too much. The overacting comes from Hudson and the actor who played Randolph with the script not helping in the slightest. The character Randolph is show to be this wise Jesus-like character who becomes laughable especially when the film repeats his "magnificent obsession" speech two times. The film ended on a very melodramatic note which did not make sense where Wyman disappears to not hurt Hudson, never caring about her daughter's life and suddenly caring for Hudson again at the end of the movie. This is by far Sirk's worst film; not coming close to the quality of Imitation of Life or Written on the Wind. Wyman received a Best Actress nomination for her role which she played fairly well. However, from the nominees I have seen, I don't think she was as good as Garland and Dandridge in their respective roles in A Star is Born and Carmen Jones. Overall, an overall sentimental film that becomes ridiculous with some good acting and an OK plot until the end.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Douglas Sirk's adaptation of Lloyd C. Douglas' novel is a preposterous piece of melodrama where you'll see elements that define his style already lining up years before his more famous work. The use of glorious Technicolor palettes for his elegantly designed sets, the emotionally stirring/manipulative strings-laden musical score, the immaculately coutured female lead who has to be put through the wringer to suffer in exquisite dignity; and Rock Hudson, the hunk with the dodgy acting, are all present and accounted for in a ludicrously soapy storyline that sees his reckless playboy millionaire, Bob Merrick, indirectly contributing to the death of a beloved local doctor, thus making Jane Wyman's Helen a widow. Naturally, Merrick falls in love with Helen but it'll take another ridiculously staged tragedy and Merrick's introduction to a cultish but Christianity-like way of life dedicated to doing good secretly for positive karma before further convoluted narrative gymnastics get us to that big romantic finish. By then, you'd have guffawed at some far-fetched medical conditions; unrealistic leaps in personal growth and academic achievements and a scene that almost have a topless Hudson doing brain surgery. Wyman does her glamorous best as the strong but distressed damsel while Agnes Moorehead flexibly supports in manners so numerous, her character seems to be interchangeably a maid, a nurse and best friend as the occasion requires. In fact one of the main problems of the screenplay is that supporting characters are so terribly one-dimensional and disposable, they are mere narrative devices who'll disappear once their purpose is fulfilled. However, despite all this incredulous plotting and hammy dialogue, there's an undeniably innocent and old-fashioned charm at work here and I cannot say I wasn't impressed and entertained by Sirk's skilful handling of melodrama that only he can serve up and gets away with.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

steve d

Weak and over the top.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Douglas Sirk

Director

Jane Wyman

Helen Phillips

Rock Hudson

Dr. Bob Merrick

Barbara Rush

Joyce Phillips

Agnes Moorehead

Nancy Ashford

Otto Kruger

Edward Randolph

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Synopsis

Reckless playboy Robert Merrick (Rock Hudson) is in a boat accident, and his condition requires a resuscitator to save his life. Soon afterward Dr. Phillips has a heart attack and needs the same machine. Without it, Dr. Phillips dies. Due to his philanthropy and his wife Helen's accident, she (Jane Wyman) has very little money. Merrick then tries to right his wrongs with Helen --falling in love with her in the process -- and decides to turn to the study of medicine to become a surgeon.

Director: Douglas Sirk
Screenwriter: Robert Blees, Lloyd C. Douglas, Finley Peter Dunne, Victor Heerman, Sarah Y. Mason, Wells Root
Distributor: Universal International Pictures
Production Co: Universal International Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 1954, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2016
Runtime: 1h 48m

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