Review of Magnificent Obsession (1954) by Mloy X — 30 Oct 2013

Edward Randolph (Otto Kruger): Once you find the way, you'll be bound. It will obsess you, but believe me, it will be a magnificent obsession.

I understand the nostalgia for this picture and I had to keep in mind the era in which this film was made. All the incredible incidents, the few laughable events and somewhat convenient outcome, all of these are products of a much simpler time and I'm afraid doesn't really hold up with the cynicism of this era but as cheesy and far-fetched the plot may seem, this movie had a good heart and a truly inspiring message. The actors were pretty likeable too, which added to the appeal of the movie. I mean, during the time, you couldn't get a hotter and more bankable star than the truly gorgeous Rock Hudson (who played Bob Merrick), who had a good on-screen chemistry with leading lady, Jane Wyman (who played Helen Phillips), who was also wonderful. Even the supporting cast was great: the spunky Joyce Phillips (played by Barbara Rush); Randolph, the wise old sage, who becomes Bob's moral compass (played by the brilliant Otto Kruger) and last but not least, ever enchanting Agnes Moorehead, who plays Nurse Nancy (Ashford) but who will always be endeared to me as the flamboyantly mischievous Endora from "Bewitched". Overall, as melodramatic as this film was and one-evil-twin short of the stereotypical soap opera, it's simply a well-intentioned love-story and I can't begrudge it for that.