Magnificent Obsession movie storyline. When churlish, spoiled rich man Bob Merrick foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team resuscitates him with equipment that’s therefore unavailable to aid a local hero, Dr. Wayne Phillips, who dies as a result. Phillips had helped many people, and when Merrick learns Phillips’ secret, to give selflessly and in secret, he tries it in a ham-handed way. The result further alienates Phillips’ widow, Helen, with whom Merrick has fallen in love. Merrick’s persistence causes another tragedy, and he must remake his life, including going back to medical school, in an attempt to make amends and win her love.
Magnificent Obsession is a 1954 Technicolor drama romantic film directed by Douglas Sirk starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson. The screenplay was written by Robert Blees and Wells Root, after the 1929 book Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. Douglas. The film was produced by Ross Hunter. Sirk sometimes claimed that the story was based distantly on the Greek legend of Alcestis.
About the Production
Magnificent Obsession was previously filmed in 1935, also by Universal, as Magnificent Obsession with Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor. Sirk began production on Magnificent Obsession, his previous production, Taza, Son of Cochise having wrapped up the month before.
Taza, a 3D western, also starred Rock Hudson, and it was the second time the two had worked together (the first time being 1952’s Has Anybody Seen My Gal?). Hudson had just begun to start his career at that point, previously playing leading parts in Universal B-movies, usually directed by Joseph Pevney or Frederick De Cordova. Pre-production scouting for locations began on August 26, 1953 by director Douglas Sirk, Director of Photography Russell Metty, and Unit Manager Edward K. Dodds. Rehearsals began on September 8. Second-unit footage of locations at Lake Tahoe began filming on September 14. A speedboat, “Hurricane the 4th”, was secured for the second unit footage of Hudson’s boat.
Charles Bickford was originally cast in the role of Randolph, but was withdrawn from the cast on September 15. Sirk and Wyman were ill, and Rock Hudson injured, so filming of Magnificent Obsession was delayed longer than Bickford had anticipated. Although the studio and Bickford had come to an oral agreement and trade announcements mentioned Bickford in the role, Bickford had at the same time made an agreement with Warner Bros. for another picture and walked out on the Magnificent Obsession when shooting began on the 1954 version of A Star is Born, in which he played studio head, Oliver Niles. Bickford was replaced by free-lance character actor Otto Kruger.
While second-unit footage wrapped at Lake Tahoe, screen tests of Barbara Rush, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead, Jane Wyman, Gigi Perreau, Donna Corcoran, and Sheila James took place on Stage 8 in Universal City on September 16 and 17. Director Sirk was ill, and utility director Joseph Pevney filled in. The next day, Corcoran, Hudson and Judy Nugent were tested by Pevney. Test shots were taken in Lake Arrowhead with the new Cinemascope anamorphic lens process, an early consideration. The production started in a flat widescreen process at an aspect ratio of 2:1, at that time Universal’s standard ratio.
Production began on September 21 at Lake Arrowhead with Sirk back in the director’s seat. Magnificent Obsession was an early starring role for Hudson, and, according to Wyman, he was very nervous. Some of his scenes had to be re-shot thirty or forty times, but Wyman never said a word. Reportedly, years later at a party, Hudson ran into Wyman and said, “You were nice to me when you didn’t have to be, and I want you to know that I thank you and love you for it.”[citation needed]
Frank Skinner composed the score for this film, the theme of which inspired a song of the same title with lyrics by Frederick Herbert. The Four Lads recorded the song with the Percy Faith orchestra. Victor Young also recorded an instrumental version of the song which featured a viola solo by Anatole Kaminsky. However, much of the score is Skinner’s arrangements of works by Chopin (Nocturne No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 1 and Étude in E major, Op. 10, No. 3 “Tristesse”), Beethoven (“Ode to Joy” theme from 9th Symphony), and Johann Strauss II (Wiener Blut). The film opened at the Loew’s State Theater in New York City on August 4, 1954. Audiences were greeted by co-star Agnes Moorehead in the lobby.
Magnificent Obsession (1954)
Directed by: Douglas Sirk
Starring: Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Agnes Moorehead, Otto Kruger, Paul Cavanagh, Sara Shane, Richard H. Cutting, Judy Nugent, Helen Kleeb, Rudolph Anders, Fred Nurney, John Mylong, Alexander Campbell
Screenplay by: Robert Blees
Production Design by:
Cinematography by: Russell Metty
Film Editing by: Milton Carruth
Costume Design by: Bill Thomas
Set Decoration by: Russell A. Gausman, Ruby R. Levitt
Art Direction by: Bernard Herzbrun, Emrich Nicholson
Music by: Frank Skinner
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: August 4, 1954 (United States)
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