Magnificent Obsession

Synopsis: When churlish, spoiled rich man Bob Merrick foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team resuscitates him with equipment that's therefore unavailable to aid a local hero, Dr. Wayne Phillips, who dies as a result. Phillips had helped many people, and when Merrick learns Phillips' secret, to give selflessly and in secret, he tries it in a ham-handed way. The result further alienates Phillips' widow, Helen, with whom Merrick has fallen in love. Merrick's persistence causes another tragedy, and he must remake his life, including going back to medical school, in an attempt to make amends and win her love.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Director(s): Douglas Sirk
Production: Universal
  Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.
 
IMDB:
7.1
Rotten Tomatoes:
90%
APPROVED
Year:
1954
108 min
476 Views


Wow! Bob, take it easy!

- Easy? Where does that get you?

- On dry land, I hope!

It's doing 150 or better.

He's coming in, believe it or not.

Help Miss Daniels off.

- I'm making another run.

- It's not safe out there!

That's why you'll just watch.

- It's starting to kick up, Mr Merrick.

- You keep this engine toned, that's all.

What's wrong with him?

Hasn't he got any brains?

He doesn't have to.

He's got four million bucks.

He must be doing

better than 180 now.

I knew that would happen!

Miss Daniels, phone Emergency right

away! Come on, Joe, hurry up!

- He's starting to breathe, Bill.

- I'll switch off the ventilator.

- That was a close one.

- Bob Merrick just lives right.

- Is that the ambulance?

- Yeah. Nothing more we can do here now.

All right, everybody. There's nothing

to see. You can take off now.

181. Come in, 181. 181, come in.

Go ahead.

Return the resuscitator to Dr Phillips'

home as soon as possible. Emergency.

181. Understood.

They want the resuscitator

right away, Bill.

Leaving assignment now. Victim being

picked up by a hospital ambulance.

- Return the resuscitator...

- Yes, I know.

Returning the resuscitator

to Dr Phillips.

- Did they say why they wanted it?

- Just to rush it back to Dr Phillips' house.

Hurry. Dr Phillips. An accident.

- What's the trouble, Miss Ashford?

- Take it inside to Dr Phillips, Bill.

- Did you see Mrs Phillips' car anywhere?

- No, we didn't.

Oh, I hope they get back in time.

181 reporting.

We're at Dr Phillips'.

Is it too chilly to eat on the terrace? We

could fix the tables with hurricane lamps.

Helen, it's a lot of swank for practically

no reason. You bought out half the town.

Isn't a wedding anniversary

enough reason to have a party?

- Wait till you get married.

- But a six months anniversary?

I've never been married six months before

and I want to tell the world that I love it.

Shouldn't you have

given Dad some hint?

I should say not! He'd have

nine reasons at the hospital

why he couldn't come

home for dinner.

Wayne can invent an emergency

operation at the drop of a hat

if he knows he's to be the guest

of honour at a dinner party.

Now what's the matter?

I was just thinking of the

toast I'd give you two.

To Wayne Phillips, a great surgeon,

a fine man and my wonderful father.

And to you. Love and

affection to my mother.

Mother? Oh, Joyce, you wouldn't.

You married my father. You're certainly

the only mother I've ever known.

And I'm all in favour

of the arrangement.

I sure feel sorry for them.

Oh, Joyce, it's so pleasant. We can have

dinner outside without any trouble at all.

- Helen...

- Nancy, what are you doing over here?

- Oh, Helen...

- What's the matter?

- It's Wayne.

- What?

He's had an accident.

Dr Dodge is with him.

- Where is he?

- Here. Oh, Helen...

Helen...

- Wayne had an attack and...

- No.

Dad!

Those poor girls.

He was such a wonderful man.

He did so much for people.

Why, Dr Dodge? Why?

How many times I've been

asked that question.

I've never learned the answer.

Nancy, you go in with her.

Joyce, I know there's

nothing I can say.

What happened, Derwin?

Nancy and I had come from the hospital

to go sailing with him this afternoon.

He must have had the occlusion just

a few minutes before we got here.

We saw him down at the

pier, all slumped over.

- The resuscitator didn't help at all?

- No. It wasn't here.

- It wasn't here?!

- No.

But Dad's kept it here for years because

he had a coronary. You knew that.

In heaven's name, where was it?

Bob Merrick capsized his boat

at the other end of the lake.

- The police came for it just before this...

- Bob Merrick!

Oh, you don't know him. I do.

He's a stupid, spoilt darn fool.

And now, to think Bob Merrick is

alive because of Dad's resuscitator

and Dad is dead...

I could kill him!

Helen...

Helen...

I loved him so much, Derwin.

With all my heart.

And we only had these few

short months together.

I don't know how you're supposed to do it.

Just take the barge out and get her up.

Don't bother me with

excuses. Get it done.

When does Campbell

get in from Detroit?

I don't want anybody else touching

those engines. Don't argue.

- If I may take your temperature.

- Nonsense. I'm not even lukewarm.

That's better. And have Jerry call me as

soon as he hears about the insurance.

- Am I getting out of here today?

- The very instant you're able to leave

we shall be happy to

sign your discharge.

- But first...

- This is ridiculous. I'm perfectly healthy.

A small respiratory infection, a slight

concussion, but no subdural clot.

A subdural clot, Doctor, is a haematoma

anywhere in the cranial cavity.

Thank you. I merely wondered where

you acquired that piece of information.

Let me have a line. I was in med

school when my father died.

I haven't wasted all my time.

Why did you quit?

Too rough for a Merrick?

I'll tell you why.

My father died at 42...

Hello. Val?

Who?

No.

Suddenly it seemed sensible to enjoy life

while I could. Let me have another line.

My, how you've succeeded

Hello, Val. How have

you been, baby?

Don't go in, Nancy. You have to make a

formal request to take his temperature.

When I think Dr Phillips died

so that he could live.

Yes. What a complete waste.

- Have you talked to Helen today?

- No. Not since yesterday.

She's coming over this morning to

go through the doctor's things.

You can count on it, baby.

It's a date. Goodbye.

Would you do me a favour? Get Dr Phillips

down here to look at me so I can get out.

- Here.

- Look, I haven't got a temperature.

It's immaterial to me, Mr Merrick,

but I'm going to take your

temperature one way or another.

- A human being.

- Under the tongue, please.

Where have you been all week?

What kind of an establishment

is this? Will you tell me?

I've been here five days and I'm

treated like a leper. No visitors.

- It seemed advisable.

- My doctor doesn't even come.

No, when Dr Albert

talked to Dr Dodge,

he agreed the case didn't warrant his

coming up. He's very busy in New York.

Then why don't I get Wayne Phillips?

It's his hospital, isn't it?

It's obvious I get to pay his bill.

- Don't look shocked. I'm used to it.

- I wasn't shocked, Mr Merrick.

- I was only thinking.

- You were thinking what?

I was thinking, when your father left

you the Merrick Motor Company millions,

what a pity he couldn't also bequeath

you a little common courtesy.

I don't know where you got those

pyjamas, or these cigarettes...

your pharyngitis is bad

enough without them.

In words of one syllable, Mr

Merrick, you talk too much.

Now that's settled, how about getting Doc

Phillips to give me my separation papers?

The reason the staff may have

seemed so distant, Mr Merrick,

is that Dr Phillips

died a few days ago.

It was rather sudden and he was

quite admired by all of us.

- All you had to do was tell me.

- It hasn't been easy to talk about.

When will I get out? I have too

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Robert Blees

Robert Blees (June 9, 1918 Lathrop, Missouri – January 31, 2015) was an American writer and producer of films and TV. He died on January 31, 2015. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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