Review of Magnificent Obsession (1935) by Keenan S — 12 Oct 2013

Magnificent Obsession is a romantic drama with a premise that would normally make me roll my eyes and it's also a premise that would never churn out a good film again. Still, it's hard not to love Magnificent Obsession since it is so well made and so well performed.

I would go as far as to say that this film must have been the product of divine intervention that had all the right pieces come together and that we will never see anything this good from a premise so horrifically cheesy ever again.

While it will never rank among my all-time favorite romance films, Magnificent Obsession is a great romantic drama that can actually make you believe in its cheesy premise thanks to the superb acting and steady direction from Douglas Sirk.

While sometimes the melodrama becomes a bit too covered in syrup, the film thankfully mostly avoids that pitfall and is rather engaging with just the right amount of tear-jerking drama to its dramatic scenes.

It's a wonderfully made and very enjoyable romantic drama that is worth seeing if you love a film of this type.