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Magnificent Obsession ()


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The life of spoiled rich Robert Merrick is saved through the use of a hospital's sole resuscitator, but because the medical device cannot be in two places at once, it results in the death of Dr. Hudson, a selfless, brilliant surgeon and... See more »

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Cast verified as complete

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Helen Hudson
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Robert Merrick
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Tommy Masterson
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Joyce Hudson
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Mrs. Nancy Ashford
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Randolph
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Tony
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Doctor Ramsay
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Horace
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Mrs. Eden
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Elise
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Dr. Preston
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Butler
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Perry
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Ruth
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marion Clayton Anderson ...
Amy (uncredited)
William Arnold ...
Chief Inspector (uncredited)
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Man on Pier (uncredited)
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Guest (uncredited)
Margaret Brayton ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks ...
Hospital Interne (uncredited)
Helen Brown ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Roy Brown ...
Ex-Patient (uncredited)
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Nurse (uncredited)
Vance Carroll ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Hugh (uncredited)
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Simpson (uncredited)
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Nurse (uncredited)
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Man on Boat (uncredited)
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Antoine (uncredited)
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Nurse May (uncredited)
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Reverend Du Bois (uncredited)
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Billy (uncredited)
Alan Davis ...
Dr. Justin (uncredited)
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Taxi Driver (uncredited)
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Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Mario Dominici ...
Ship Passenger (uncredited)
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Nurse (uncredited)
Lowell Durham ...
Junior Masterson (uncredited)
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Mr. Miller (uncredited)
Charles Fallon ...
Croupier (uncredited)
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Ship Passenger (uncredited)
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Chauffeur (uncredited)
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Jimmy (uncredited)
Gretta Gould ...
Ex-Patient (uncredited)
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Ex-Patient (uncredited)
Henry Hale ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Sherry Hall ...
Man on Boat (uncredited)
Ara Haswell ...
Guest (uncredited)
Jack Hatfield ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Beth Hazelton ...
Ex-Patient (uncredited)
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Gardener (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
Ray Johnson ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Jane Keckley ...
Nurse (uncredited)
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Dr. Thomas (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Dr. Slade (uncredited)
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Society Woman (uncredited)
Louis LaVoie ...
Man on Boat (uncredited)
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Nina (uncredited)
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Breezy (uncredited)
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Panhandle Pete (uncredited)
Sidney Marion ...
Sword Swallower (uncredited)
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John Stone (uncredited)
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Chauffeur (uncredited)
Clive Morgan ...
Guest (uncredited)
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Nurse (uncredited)
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Dr. Bardendreght (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
Paddy O'Flynn ...
Photographer (uncredited)
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Hastings (uncredited)
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Dr. Rochard (uncredited)
Georgette Rhodes ...
Nurse (uncredited)
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Doctor (uncredited)
Oscar Rudolph ...
Western Union Boy (uncredited)
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Seabury (uncredited)
William Stack ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Ethel Sykes ...
Woman on Boat (uncredited)
Melissa Ten Eyck ...
Nurse (uncredited)
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Mrs. Martin (uncredited)
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Laborer (uncredited)
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Doctor (uncredited)
Walter Walker ...
Nicholas Merrick (uncredited)
Harry Watson ...
Boy (uncredited)
Lillian West ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Andy White ...
Photographer (uncredited)
Carol Wines ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Leah Winslow ...
Woman on Boat (uncredited)
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Man on Boat (uncredited)

Directed by

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John M. Stahl

Written by

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Sarah Y. Mason ... (screenplay) &
Victor Heerman ... (screenplay) &
George O'Neil ... (screenplay)
 
Lloyd C. Douglas ... (novel "Magnificent Obsession")
 
Finley Peter Dunne ... (additional dialogue) (uncredited)
 
Philip Dunne ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
Maurice Hanline ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
David Hertz ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
Aben Kandel ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
Elizabeth Meehan ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
Alden Nash ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
Lynn Starling ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
Eugene Walter ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)
 
Rena Yale ... (contributing writer) (uncredited)

Produced by

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E.M. Asher ... associate producer
Fred S. Meyer ... executive producer (uncredited)
John M. Stahl ... producer

Music by

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Franz Waxman ... (uncredited)

Cinematography by

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John J. Mescall

Editing by

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Milton Carruth

Editorial Department

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Maurice Pivar ... supervising editor (uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Charles D. Hall

Costume Design by

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Vera West ... (gowns)
Brymer ... (uncredited)

Makeup Department

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Jack P. Pierce ... makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Charles S. Gould ... assistant director (uncredited)
Joseph A. McDonough ... assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Gilbert Kurland ... sound supervisor

Visual Effects by

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John P. Fulton ... special cinematographer

Camera and Electrical Department

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William Dodds ... assistant camera (uncredited)
Alan Jones ... first assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department

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Franz Waxman ... musical director
Clifford Vaughan ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Franz Waxman ... musical adaptation (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Mary Frey ... script clerk (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Carl Laemmle ... presenter
Bert Lytell ... rehearsal director (uncredited)
Cecil E. Reynolds ... medical advisor (uncredited)
Kathryn Stanley ... stand-in: Irene Dunne (uncredited)
Peggy Vaughan ... production secretary (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

The life of spoiled rich Robert Merrick is saved through the use of a hospital's sole resuscitator, but because the medical device cannot be in two places at once, it results in the death of Dr. Hudson, a selfless, brilliant surgeon and generous philanthropist. Merrick falls for Hudson's widow Helen, although she holds him responsible for her husband's demise. One day, he insists on driving her home and makes a pass at her. She gets out of the car and is struck by another car, then goes blind. Merrick talks to a friend of Dr. Hudson who tells him that her husband had a philosophy: to help people, but never let it be known that you are the one helping them. Only then, he believed, could there be true reward in life. Merrick watches over Helen and visits her during her recuperation, concealing his identity and calling himself Dr. Robert. When he finds out that she is nearly penniless, he secretly pays for specialists to try to restore her vision. Finally, she travels to Paris and is told that her eyesight is gone forever. Robert follows her, confesses his true identity, and proposes marriage. She forgives him but leaves, not wanting to be a burden to him. Years later, Robert puts himself through school and becomes a brain surgeon. He learns that Helen urgently needs an operation, which he performs. When she awakens, her sight has miraculously returned.

Plot Keywords
Taglines After You See It You'll Never Be the Same! See more »
Genres
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Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Le secret magnifique (France)
  • Sublime obsesión (Spain)
  • Le secret magnifique (Belgium, French title)
  • En läkares samvete (Sweden)
  • Dein Leben gehört mir (Austria)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 112 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia This film is featured as a bonus on "Magnificent Obsession" (1954), released by the Criterion Collection, spine #457. See more »
Goofs When operating on Helen's eyes, Merrick asks for an otoscope. He should have asked for an opthalmoscope. An otoscope is for ears. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in The Universal Story (1996). See more »
Soundtracks Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture See more »
Quotes Robert Merrick: Take back to the cook and tell her that if she brings back again, I'm gonna buy this hospital and fire her and everybody else in it. I want some decent breakfast.
Nurse: It's the same breakfast we serve all the patients.
Robert Merrick: Yeah, but I am "The Special".
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