Magnificent Obsession
1954
***½
Director: Douglas Sirk
Cast: Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Agnes Moorehead, Otto Kruger, Gregg Palmer, Paul Cavanagh, Sara Shane, Richard H. Cutting, Judy Nugent, Helen Kleeb
After causing repeated heartache to a widow and her family, a wealthy and selfish playboy decides to dedicate his life to helping others without credit. Along the way, he falls in love with the widow. Douglas Sirk's romantic drama is based on a 1929 novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, which was previously filmed in 1935. This soapy story about love, sacrifice, and pursuing a fulfilling life is moving but it doesn't have the drama and intrigue of his best work.
