Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

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 General Video. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film and and vintage Italian documentary. In English, with optional Italian SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

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 heavy a 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 his 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 which 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.

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 General Video.

I am quite certain that this older Italian release of Magnificent Obsession is sourced from the same master that the folks at Criterion worked with to prepare this upcoming North American release. Its back cover even notes that it is distributed on behalf of Universal Pictures International. The important point that needs to be underscored is that obviously this is the best master in circulation, and it is neither ancient nor poor (as some old reviews have argued). As I mentioned in our review of the Criterion release, it is pretty obvious that it has inherited source limitations -- likely from an interpositive -- so areas that may appear problematic are not damaged by questionable digital tweaking. There is additional work done on the Criterion release that removes some blemishes, nicks, and marks. Also, in some areas grain is slightly better exposed and resolved. But overall depth, density, clarity, and fluidity are more or less the same. My score if 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English Dolby Digital 2.0 and Italian Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional Italian SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossy English track is very good. To be honest, however, I am not surprised because I think that when the current master was created the audio was cleaned up and optimized as well. The only minor discrepancy that I could spot was in the mid-/upper registers where if I turn up the volume a lot the lossless track on the Criterion release sounds a tad healthier to me. The overall quality of the lossy track, however, is quite nice.

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

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

• "Fuori 500 Fazzoletti" di Valentina Pattavina - an Italian documentary about post-war American cinema and Magnificent Obsession. In Italian, not subtitled. (30 min).

Magnificent Obsession Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I purchased this Italian release of Magnificent Obsession in 2012 because I wanted to have a decent copy of the film in my library. I don't think of it as one of Douglas Sirk's masterpieces, but from time to time I revisit it because it has that old and very classy Hollywood look that I adore. I think that Criterion's upcoming release is the one to own not only because of its slightly better technical presentation of Sirk's film, but because it also has a brand new digital restoration of John Stahl's 1935 film, which is quite wonderful. Obviously, if you reside in a Region-B territory, this Italian release should be on your radar. RECOMMENDED.