Magnificent obsession was a melange of halfbaked and drastically underdramatized subplots, but it began and ended memorably. Published in 1929, the book was an immediate and sensational success, twice made into. Criterions doubledisc edition of magnificent obsession shines a light on two directors, four stars, and one author. Embracing the magnificent obsession 30 days and 30 ways. Magnificent obsession 1935 melodrama research group. According to dunnes standin, kathryn stanley, the actress served as some what of a mentor to taylor, who was th irteen years her junior. Other articles where magnificent obsession is discussed. It was a ramshackle sort of book, at its core an undiluted christian sermon on the lifetransforming power of charitable works. The 1929 source novel by lloyd c douglas see book cover, left was one of that biggest selling of the year. Stahl, 4 estrelado por irene dunne, robert taylor, charles butterworth e betty furness. Sirk sometimes claimed that the story was based distantly on the greek legend of alcestis.
He is resuscitated by a rescue crew after a boating accident. It was one of four of his books that were eventually made into blockbuster motion pictures, the other three being the robe, white banners and the big fisherman. Rock hudson and jane wyman in douglas sirks 1954 version, which earned wyman a best actress oscar nomination. Douglas 1929 magnificent obsession book dealt with a playboys urge to restore the eyesight of the woman he had accidentally blinded, anthony slides latest explores the lives and times of movie buffs. Secret journal, white banners, invitation to live, magnificent obsession. It was one of four of his books that were eventually made into blockbuster motion pictures, the other. Magnificent obsession 1935 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Universal adapted lutheranordained minister lloyd c. Now, are twilight, the dark knight, and the avengers fans as consumed with passion for their idols as. Lloyd cassel douglas, 18771951, was a minister before he was an author.
The story of redemption and romance was a natural for a big screen incarnation. Hudson, a heart attack victim on the other side of the lake. With irene dunne, robert taylor, charles butterworth, betty furness. The normal christian life studies in the sermon on the mount. In 1954, douglas sirk filmed the story with jane wyman and rock hudson, with whom he would reteam for all that heaven allows sirk remade three stahl pictures, most notably imitation of life. The life of spoiled rich robert merrick is saved through the use of a hospitals only resuscitator, but because the medical device cannot be in two places at once, it results in the death of dr. Stahl, magnificent obsession 1935 tells the story of helen hudson irene dunne, the widow of a distinguished doctor and philanthropist who died because the hospitals only pulmotor was being used to revive bobby merrick robert taylor, a sp oiled millionaire playboy who was drunk at the time he nearly drowned.
Like the first edition copy i gave to dave elkington, our ceo, 8 years ago when. Twice adapted into film and once into a televsion series, the first in 1935. Luther pendragons progressivemetal band, james is the guitarist on the project. How appropriate then that this books main subject centers around his old boss, the galilean from nazareth. Stahls film of the 1929 novel magnificent obsession 1935. However, the fact that the book did not reach the bestsellers list until 1932, although it was published in 1929, suggests the importance of the depression in the selling of magnificent obsession.
Stahl, and stars irene dunne, robert taylor, charles butterworth, and betty furness. Lot of 7 vintage lloyd c douglas book 1929 1948 most. Magnificent obsession, was his first book written and published after he retired from the pulpit around 1928. Magnificent obsession, in my opinion, is one of the great books of all time. Disc 1 includes magnificent obsession made in 1954 directed by douglas sirk. She wanted to star in a remake of the 1935 melodrama magnificent obsession, based on the 1929 bestselling novel by congregationalist pastor lloyd c. In addition, a previous 1935 film adaptation featured the established and incredibly popular star irene dunne and the up and coming robert taylor and reaped enormous box office rewards. Magnificent obsession is a 1954 technicolor drama romantic film directed by douglas sirk starring jane wyman and rock. The story is based on the 1929 novel of the same name by lloyd c. Sirk sometimes claimed that the story was based distantly on the greek legend of. Magnificent obsession a 1954 film directed by douglas sirk. Magnificent obsession is a 1935 drama film based on the novel of the same name by lloyd c. Magnificent obsession is intricate and interesting with a divinely woven plot never letting the left hand know what the right hand is. It was one of three of his books that were eventually made into blockbuster motion pictures, the othe.
Douglass 1929 potboiler with irene dunne as the widowed helen hudson and robert taylor as bob merrick, the sportsmanturneddoctor who shakes up her world. But it was a sermon wrapped in the format of a romance novel and spruced up with a veneer of uptotheminute pseudoscientific parlance that made. Is the customer experience your magnificent obsession. Douglass 1929 novel into a glossy, artificial soaper that downplayed the miraculous aspect of the story in favor of absurd melodrama. Magnificent obsession ist ein usamerikanisches melodrama aus dem jahr 1935 mit irene. Douglas had been a bestseller and something of a phenomenon for its message of enriching ones own life through philanthropy and acts of compassion done in secret. The story revolves around a playboy who accidentally. It was a best seller in 1929 for newly minted writer lloyd c. Magnificent obsession 1954 film drama romance youtube. Douglas first novel and the basis for the 1935 movie and the 1954 remake. Magnificent obsession novel simple english wikipedia.
Between 1929 and 1932, the total number of unemployed increased by 20 percent. This, highly abstracted, is the plot of magnificent obsession, a 1929 best seller by lloyd c. Original writing of the time by the author 1929 is difficult to understand, but worth reading. Hudsons secret journal a television drama which aired in syndication from 1955 to 1957 78 episodes.
The first two chapters are complex, but do not give up. An exceptional addition for any rare book collection or library. Published in 1929, the book was an immediate and sensational success, twice made into a major movie in 1935 and again in 1954. But douglas first book was a novel entitled magnificent obsession. Magnificent obsessions the current the criterion collection. The 1935 and 1954 versions of magnificent obsession. Thats what has kept me going back and rereading the story over the years.
Magnificent obsession film analysis senses of cinema. Magnificent obsession dvd san francisco public library. Hudson, a selfless, brilliant surgeon and generous philanthropist. This is a classic novel that was first published in 1929. The protagonist is robert merrick bobby, a good for nothing carousing playboy that drinks too much, and. Magnificent obsession novel simple english wikipedia, the.
We pack all our books with care and ship in cardboard boxes. Magnificent obsession dvd the seattle public library. The color of the jacket is still very vibrant, as is the book itself. In 1935 stahl directed magnificent obsession, in which robert taylor starred as an irresponsible man whose recklessness indirectly causes the death of a doctor and later contributes to the doctors widow dunne going blind.
May 12, 2020 magnificent obsession is a 1954 technicolor drama romantic film directed by douglas sirk starring jane wyman and rock hudson. Irene dunne was by this time a very big star and magnificent obsession entered the pantheon of her big hit films. That book sold more than 2 million copies, making it a publishing blockbuster for its time. Douglas said that the inspiration for the book magnificent obsession cam from the words of jesus in the sermon on the mount that we will look at today. The screenplay was written by robert blees and wells root, after the 1929 book magnificent obsession by lloyd c. First printing of mass market paperback edition of the 1929 bestseller that had over 50 printings in hardcover. D68 1929 camera canon eos 5d mark ii foldoutcount 0 identifier magnificentobses00byll identifierark ark. Jan 20, 2009 this, highly abstracted, is the plot of magnificent obsession, a 1929 best seller by lloyd c. Have you seen one of the big screen versions of magnificent obsession. Mason, victor heerman e george oneil, dirigido por john m. Anthony slides magnificent obsession book got its title from lloyd c.
Magnificent obsession film by stahl 1935 britannica. Sirk was resistant to the project at first ross hunter gave me the book and i tried to read it, but i just couldnt, he revealed to jon halliday in the interview book sirk on sirk. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Embracing the magnificent obsession 30 days and 30. The book was a runaway bestseller, and made into a movie twice, one in 1935 and a later version in 1954. The normal christian life studies in the sermon on the. Disc 2, magnificent obsession made in 1935 directed by john m. M a g n i f i c e n t o b s e s s i o n what does a book written by a retired lutheran minister in 1929, and 2 hollywood movies from the book. Hudson and how bob merrick strives to maintain it is a terrific story. Douglas 1929 novel, which led to two popular movie adaptations.
Magnificent obsession is a remake of an only marginally less grotesque 1935 film. Magnificent obsession by lloyd c douglas, first edition. The 1935 and 1954 versions of magnificent obsession the new. In this case its after causing the death of a brain surgeon, wayne hudson.
The 1935 and 1954 versions of magnificent obsession the. A 1954 remake of a 1935 flick based on a 1929 book so confused sirk couldnt get through it, magnificent obsession is creepy where it isnt implausibletwo very sound reasons to watch, then watch again. Disputed passage 1939 fair condition binding is visible. May 15, 2018 that book sold more than 2 million copies, making it a publishing blockbuster for its time. M a g n i f i c e n t o b s e s s i o n what does a book written by a retired lutheran minister in 1929, and 2 hollywood movies from the book in 1935 and 1954, have in common with. When helen and bobby do meet, without each knowing who the other is, there is an immediate attraction between the two. Magnificent obsession by lloyd c douglas image from the wikipedia article about the 1929.
It was the then protestant ministers first foray into fiction 2. Both films are more or less the same, but i like the 1954 version better simply because the speadboat scenes are so. Magnificent obsession is a 1954 technicolor drama romantic film directed by douglas sirk starring jane wyman and rock hudson. Hudsons death, helen learns that he secretly embarked on a philosophy his magnificent obsession of helping others without any material return for a better world, which led to him spending all his money on others.
In the first chapter, a feckless young playboy got knocked on the head in a sailing accident and was saved by the use of an inhalator, while unbeknownst to him a great brain surgeon died for want of the same inhalator. A lovely bright and square copy with no tanning to pages. In addition, a previous 1935 film adaptation featured the established and incredibly popular star irene dunne and the up and coming robert taylor and. Aug 20, 2015 have you seen one of the big screen versions of magnificent obsession. The novel introduces themes that reappear in the authors later booksa medical setting, a wealthy background, the conversion of the atheist hero to a practicing christian from feelings of guilt. Douglas, a former methodist minister who had retired from the pulpit and spent the rest of his life writing fictional works with a religious theme. The screenplay was written by robert blees and wells root, after the. Douglas 1929 novel of the same name the first film version, made in 1935, starred irene dunne and robert taylor, magnificent obsession was a huge hit and the first major hollywood success for sirk, who spent the next five years putting out a series of similarly weepy dramas before retiring from. The 1929 novel magnificent obsession by former minister lloyd c. I n 1929, a fiftyoneyearold congregationalist pastor named lloyd c. The 1929 book was made into a movie for the first time in 1935 and starred irene dunne and robert taylor. Mason, victor heerman, and george oneil, directed by john m. Lloyd c douglas colliers set 6 volumes hardcover 1929.