Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 3, 2019

Douglas Sirk's "Magnificent Obsession" (1954) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; vintage interview with screenwriter Robert Blees; documentary by Eckhart Schmidt; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien as well as technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

New friends

The foundation of Magnificent Obsession is the old myth that money can’t buy love and happiness. Before I comment on the film, I would like to share two examples clarifying why it is a very flawed and in fact utterly irrelevant myth:

Your financial status is actually way, way down the list of things that determine the progression and quality of your life. At the very top of it is your health, because nothing that you currently do, or plan on doing, in your life is possible without it. In other words, your search of true love and pursuit of happiness cannot even begin if you don’t have your health.

The modern world that you know has been shaped up by two socio-cultural systems defined by contrasting philosophies of economics. One supports and promotes individualism and growing wealth, the other supports and promotes collectivism and the redistribution of wealth. The defenders of these systems believe that they are uniquely just and provide the economic tools that would ultimately allow you to discover true love and happiness. Ignore the political ideas that give these systems their structure and ponder the following: Why is it that both insist on operating with wealth -- which is ultimately measured by money -- to accomplish their goals?

Magnificent Obsession actually does plenty to validate the dismissal of the old myth in these examples, but at the same time pours a heavy dose of melodrama on top of the truth to hide it. It does not take long to see through it, though, and in an odd sort of way this is what makes the film charming.

Rock Hudson plays a reckless and filthy rich playboy named Bob Merrick whose life is a mess. But he does not realize it, and more importantly does not value it, which is why in the very beginning of the film he nearly loses it after he foolishly crashes a powerful speedboat. Injured and unconscious, Merrick is then transported to a local hospital and hooked to an advanced medical machine that belongs to Dr. Phillips. When the good doctor has a heart attack and dies because he is unable to use the machine, Merrick becomes the area’s most resented man.

Eventually, Merrick recovers and resumes his old lifestyle, but soon after crashes his fancy car. On the night of the accident he is welcomed by Edward Randolph (Otto Kruger), an elderly intellectual artist, who makes him ponder a drastically different way of life. (The basic concept behind it is giving away his money to people that really need it while keeping the donation secret, which provides him with a new and positive appreciation of life). He gives it a try while attempting to earn the heart of the good doctor’s widow, Helen Phillips (Jane Wyman), who has just discovered that she is facing some very serious financial challenges. As the playboy begins to see the light, however, he makes another awful move and causes a horrific accident that leaves Helen blind. Overwhelmed by guilt, he disappears for a while, and then when the widow gets back on her feet returns determined to do whatever it takes to help her regain her sight.

Douglas Sirk was reportedly quite frustrated with the quality of the script that Robert Blees delivered, and it is actually very easy to understand why. For example, even though the film essentially transformed Hudson into a legit Hollywood star, his character arc is actually shockingly unconvincing. Most of the time the actor simply looks like a bored model that was forced to do a part that was far more complex than he had anticipated and as a result the wide range of emotions that are supposed to define it basically never appear authentic. On top of this the different phases of his transformation are shot in a way that screams ‘scipted’, which adds that bad soapy flavor that these types of romantic melodramas desperately need to avoid in order to be effective.

The underlying themes about the value of money, class and status, and spirituality are also all over the place, and as implied earlier many actually contradict each other. For example, by giving his money away Merrick is essentially buying the things that the less fortunate around him need in order to be happier. His romantic relationship with the widow is also strengthened by his ability to offer her, meaning buy again, cutting-edge medical care, which by default equates hope that she desperately needs.

The film is worth seeing because it is beautiful and often quite elegant. However, it is one of Sirk’s least convincing efforts.

*This upcoming two-disc set also contains a new digital restoration of John Stahl's 1935 cinematic adaptation of Lloyd Douglas' novel.

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.00:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVCand granted a 1080p transfer, Douglas Sirk's Magnificent Obsession arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This high-definition transfer was created from a 35mm interpositive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using MTI's DRS, while Digital Vision's Phoenix was used for jitter and chroma breathing. The original soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm DME magnetic track using Pro Tools HD and iZotope RX.

Transfer supervisor: Phil Defibaugh.
Colorist: Brent Eldridge/IVC Digital Film Center, Burbank, CA."

Magnificent Obsession (1954)

I purchased this Italian release of Magnificent Obsession back in 2012 and after performing some direct comparisons with this release what I can tell you is that the technical presentations look very similar. There is additional cosmetic work done on the Criterion release and it makes a difference because it either minimizes or completely removes background color flutter (basically light color pulsations). Also, a lot of specks, nicks, and blemishes are removed, so overall the film looks quite a bit healthier. This said, the key weaknesses of the existing elements that were used to prepare the master remain. For example, it should be easy for you to see that in many larger panoramic shots depth isn't optimal. In darker footage there are also nuances that are not healthy and as nicely balanced as they should be. Color ringing pops up as well, so registration and balance should be better. Density can be good but can be improved as well. Image stability is good.

Magnificent Obsession (1935)

This earlier film has been digitally restored and actually looks better in high-definition. Even though there are minor blemishes and some flecks, overall depth is much better and there are even stronger ranges of nuances. Also, grain exposure is more consistent, which is something that helps image fluidity as well. The grading is convincing. Overall image stability is very nice. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The two films that are included on this release come with English LPCM 1.0 tracks. Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Italian release of Magnificent Obsessions has only a lossy English 2.0 track, but there isn't a substantial gap in quality in terms of overall dynamic balance. On the other hand, the lossless track on this release sounds healthier to me, especially in the mid-/upper registers where it appears cleaner and perhaps a tad more even.

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Magnificent Obsession. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Robert Blees - in this archival interview, screenwriter Robert Blees recalls his arrival in Hollywood in the early 1940s and talks about his mentors and jobs that he did at the time, and discusses his collaboration with Douglas Sirk on Magnificent Obsession. There are some very nice observations about pitfalls that had to be avoided in order to make the drama in the film look believable. The interview was filmed in Menlo Park, California, in 2009. In English, not subtitled. (20 min, 1080p).

• From UFA to Hollywood: Douglas Sirk Remembers - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the life and legacy of Douglas Sirk. It features a rare interview from the early '80s in which the director discusses Written on the Wind and The Tarnished Angels, which he made for Universal. The documentary was produced by Eckhart Schmidt in 1991. In German, with optional English subtitles. (83 min, 1080i).

• Tributes to Sirk - presented here are two interviews with directors Kathryn Bigelow and Allison Anders in which they discuss their admiration for Douglas Sirk's films. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Interview One (Allison Anders) - filmed in Los Angeles in 2008. (10 min, 1080i).
  2. Interview Two (Kathryn Bigelow) - filmed in Venice, Italy in 2008. (14 min, 1080i).

• Commentary - this archival commentary features film scholar Thomas Doherty, author of Hollywood's Censor: Joseph I. Green and the Production Code Administration. The commentary was recorded for Criterion in 2008.

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Magnificent Obsession (1935) - presented here is a new digital restoration of John Stahl's film, starring Robert Taylor and Irene Dunne. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. (103 min/English LPCM 1.0/ 1080p).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Geoffrey O'Brien's essay "Magnificent Obsessions" as well as technical credits.

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I enjoy Douglas Sirk's Magnificent Obsession because it has the classic vintage Hollywood look that I find incredibly elegant. However, it is the film's only strength. I think that its story is quite unbelievable and the virtue signaling that is attached to it frequently makes it almost unbearably melodramatic. (Yes, even for a Sirk film). This upcoming release offers a technical presentation of the film that is perhaps easiest to describe as decent because it has a fair share of inherited source limitations. On the other hand, it also includes a brand new digital restoration of John Stahl's 1935 film, which is really nice. RECOMMENDED.