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Author Topic: MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION 1954 Claude S. Ayakawa Film God Posts: 2738 From: Waipahu, Hawaii, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 02-02-2009 06:22 PM                        I now have the Criterion DVD of MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION which include both the 1935 and the 1954 screen version from a novel by Lloyd C Douglas who also wrote THE ROBE. I have not yet seen the 1935 version but I have always remembered the 1954 remake by Douglas Sirk starring Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman when it was released by Universal-international when I was a high school freshman. Beside enjoying the touching story, I remember wearing out the long play recording of the movie soundtrack featuring a very beautiful score utilizing the main theme from the 4th movement "Ode To Joy" from Beethoven's 9th Symphony and an Etude by Chopin. Being Criterion and acceptable, I expected the 1954 version to have better color but just like another Douglas Sirk film, WRITTEN ON THE WIND they had released, the color looked very drab compared to the beautiful hues of dye transfer Technicolor the film had when I first saw it in a movie theatre. Actually, the thing a lot of people remember the most about a Douglas Sirk movie was the way he had used Technicolor. Universal Pictures released a 2002 film that was rumored to be a homage to him and the way he had used Technicolor. The title of the movie is FAR FROM HEAVEN starring Dennis Quaid,and Jullianne Moore and the radiant color hues in the film was made to look like IB Technicolor of his era. When MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION was released in 1954 with a wide screen aspect ratio, not all theatres had a wide screen and I saw it in open matt because my home town theatre, the Waipahu did not have scope screen yet. I just watched the 1954 version last night and despite the color not being what it should be, the picture quality was excellent and so was the mono soundtrack. I also saw the first couple of minutes of the 1935 version starring Robert Taylor and Irene Dunn and the Black and white picture quality was superb. It looked like the DVd was replicated from a brand new print. -Claude  |  IP: Logged Claude S. Ayakawa Film God Posts: 2738 From: Waipahu, Hawaii, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 02-03-2009 02:12 PM                        I made an effort to see the 1935 version last night of MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION and although it was entertaining, I felt it was not as good as the 1954 remake which is very unusual. Although Robert Taylor and Irene Dunn had played their parts very well, I thought Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman were better and more convincing. Another thing that made me prefer the 1954 remake was the use of a very lush musical score throughout the movie. As I had mentioned in my original post,, I fell in love with the music because it was so stunning when I saw the movie during it original theatrical release and promptly bought the Lp soundtrack album. With the exception of the title credits and the ending and a few moments during the film, there was no background music during the original version and I guess this was due to the way films were produced in the thirties. Beside the original as well as the remake of MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION, there is an hour and twenty three minute film about the career of Douglas Sirk as well as the original theatrical trailer and a few other extras including an commentary during the 1954 version. I listened to about fifteen minutes of it and it is excellent! -Claude  |  IP: Logged Joe Tommassello Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 547 From: Coatesville, PA, USA Registered: Jan 2008 posted 02-06-2009 04:46 PM                  Claude - How did you reply to yourself? Won't let me do that! Joe  |  IP: Logged Claude S. Ayakawa Film God Posts: 2738 From: Waipahu, Hawaii, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 02-06-2009 05:41 PM                        Joe, The reply to my post was done over twenty four hours later after I had submitted the first one. I did try to reply to my my post once before shortly after I wrote the first one but I was not able to do it. -Claude  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 04-12-2010 08:37 PM                 It has been 430 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Bruce McGee Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1776 From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular. Registered: Aug 1999 posted 04-12-2010 08:37 PM                     I've seen both versions of M. O, and like the 1935 version the best. It's not as dead serious as the '54 version. BOTH of them are good. The color was stunning on the print that I saw back in the 1970's at my TV station. I might have to see it again now that it is available in wide screen.  |  IP: Logged

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