Magnificent Obsession (1954)

One of the early Douglas Sirk soapers has Jane Wyman (Johnny Belinda (1948) who received her last of four Best Actress Oscar nominations) as a woman whose husband’s death (and her subsequent blindness!) was in part caused by a reckless wealthy playboy played by Rock Hudson. That’s the simplest part of this otherwise convoluted ( unbelievable) and almost religious-based story which begins with Hudson’s character wanting to make it up to the older yet attractive widow with whom he falls in love. This remake of the 1935 film by the same name was responsible for launching Hudson’s career as the original had been for Robert Taylor’s. Supporting cast members include Barbara Rush as Wyman’s skeptical daughter Agnes Moorehead as her nurse-friend and Otto Kruger as the purveyor of Wyman’s deceased husband’s do unto others anonymously “religion”.

Purchase this DVD now at