The Man Who Could Work Miracles The film begins in the celestial realms, with three superhuman entities—gods, or perhaps, angels (one of them played by a young, highly-made-up, shirtless George Sanders in an early role)—regarding the planet Earth. The story of a century: a decades-long second World War leaves plague and anarchy, then a rational state rebuilds civilization and attempts space travel. 1937 82 min TVG Fantasy Feature Film SD. Was this review helpful to you? The giver of power defends that humans were only apes yesterday, and need time to grow up. [1] Reputedly the best-known of Mendes' 20 films, it's a greatly expanded version of H. G. Wells's 1898 short story of the same name and stars Roland Young with a cast of supporting players including Sir Ralph Richardson, in a London Films production from the famous Hungarian-born British producer, Sir Alexander Korda. After being thrown out of a bar for what is thought to be a trick, he tests his powers and eventually sends a policeman to Hades by accident. Reputedly the best-known of Mendes' 20 films, it's a greatly expanded version of H. G. Wells's 1898 short story of the same name and stars Roland Young with a cast of supporting players including Sir Ralph Richardson, in a London Films production from the famous Hungarian-born British producer, Sir Alexander Korda. When he arrives home, he performs the same trick with a small candle and finds that it works. Marine hero Al Schmid is blinded in battle and returns home to be rehabilitated. The Man Who Could Work Miracles. Mr. Wells, in brief, is doing well in his new medium. Released in 1936 (UK). He's sacked when he's caught stealing, but he pretends to commit suicide, and a Captain he befriended agrees to take him to a secret trading post. Wells at his best! He dresses up like a king and appoints the girl he loves as queen, then commands the leaders of the world to create a utopia, free of greed, war, plague, famine, jealousy, and toil. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" is a marvelous humorous fantasy the screenplay of which was both written by and based on a short story by the great early science fiction writer H. G. Wells of "Time Machine" and "The War of the Worlds" fame. In Shanghai amidst Sino-Japanese warfare an adventurer (Sanders) collecting money from gun suppliers falls in loves with a French singer (Del Rio). Movie Mirrors Index The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936 b 82') En: 6 Ed: 7. Wells from a story by H.G. The Man Who Could Work Miracles is a black-and-white 1937 British fantasy-comedy film directed by the German-born American director Lothar Mendes. Synopsis: An ordinary man, while vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them. Sign Up. Shady stockbroker and abusive husband Gerald Parker is found dead in the penguin pool of a NYC aquarium after being knocked cold by his wife's boyfriend. Alas, he fails to consider the basic physics of the rotation of the planet and so sends his palace, all living creatures and objects whirling off the world's surface. A British brain surgeon punishes the murderess of his lover. For the short story by H. G. Wells upon which it was based, see, Destination Hollywood: The Influence of Europeans on American Filmmaking by Larry Langman p. 79, The Man Who Could Work Miracles (short story), Learn how and when to remove this template message, "BFI Screenonline: Man Who Could Work Miracles, The (1937)", "THE SCREEN; Mr. Wells, in 'The Man Who Could Work Miracles,' Finds We're Not Ready for Utopia", The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth, Mr. Belloc Objects to "The Outline of History", Travels of a Republican Radical in Search of Hot Water, The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind, The Country of the Blind and Other Stories, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Man_Who_Could_Work_Miracles&oldid=1016752845, Films based on science fiction short stories, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from April 2020, Articles needing additional references from June 2015, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 April 2021, at 21:31. He relinquishes his power and returns to the time before he had it. Adaptation of the H.G. His first shot misses Fotheringay, who manages to make himself magically invulnerable. I don't know much about the history of science fiction in the movies, but Wells goes about everything (he wrote the script, based on his novel) with the fabulous in mind, while adding purely sci-fi touches, which I won't give away.Fotheringay is no bleeding-heart aching to turn the world into a painless utopia, nor is he a selfish, power-hungry perve, but a nondescript man who takes his time to figure out just what has happened to him before bringing everything to a head. The vicar thinks up a plan to bring about a Golden Age and have Fotheringay abolish famine, plague, war and poverty—and, while they're at it, the British ruling class. ... Can't find a movie or TV show? Or at least, almost anything. Written by Worried, he sends the police officer to San Francisco, and seeks advice from the local clergyman, Mr Maydig. Share on: Share via Facebook; Share via Twitter; Share via Email; The Man Who Could Work Miracles. George McWhirter Fotheringay, while vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them. In a fit of reckless pompousness, he changes the Colonel's house into a spectacular palace of real gold and marble. Gallery of 8 movie poster and cover images for The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936). ... Movies Like The Man Who Could Work Miracles. Here's our roundup of the best new series of the year so far, and where to watch them. (1936). Indeed, the basic messages behind Miracles are familiar ones of H.G. Seventy years before Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty, there was The Man Who Could Work Miracles, one of only two movies scripted by H.G. A man occupies a position of trust with a merchant in an East Asian port. 82m/B VHS . The last show of the season. Fotheringay points out that, of course, it works fine for the Colonel, but not really for the rest of them, himself included. 1937 82 … The idea of the world stopping rotating was taken up in 1972 by Lester del Rey, who suggested to three SF writers to write stories based on the assumption that God does it in order to unequivocally prove His existence to all humanity. The movie touches on the idea that, without their lives being controlled by those in power, who have a vested interest in people needing money & goods, people might find other ways to spend their time - like, for example, in creation.). The Man Who Could Work Miracles ★★★½ 1937A mild-mannered draper's assistant becomes suddenly endowed with supernatural powers to perform any feat he wishes. 17 of 20 people found this review helpful. Favorite Movie Based on a Novel by H.G. The next day, Fotheringay makes his miracles known to the public—or, rather, that small portion of the clothing store where he works, impressing the girls with vanishing freckles and a co-worker with how quickly he can make shirts fold neatly and put themselves away. He is so overjoyed that he spends the better part of the night working miracles such as lifting his table, lifting his bed, enlarging a candle-extinguisher to a brightly painted cone, making a kitten appear under it, and turning his bed into a cornucopia of fruits and fluffy bunnies. [2] H. G. Wells himself worked on the adaptation, revising the plot to reflect his socialist frustrations with the British upper class, and the growing threat of Communism, Fascism and Nazism in Europe at the time, something which Mendes, Korda and Wells were all committed to combating in their creative work.[3]. Wells' light-hearted comedy about what happens when some bored celestials decide to give "an ordinary little fellow" the power to work miracles just to see what he will do with it. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Wells novel about a meek clerk who, as a result of a discussion among a trio of gods over the true worthiness of Earth, is suddenly given the power to fulfill his every wish. The script was subsequently used on "Escape" on December 31, 1950. Learn more. "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" is a marvelous humorous fantasy the screenplay of which was both written by and based on a short story by the great early science fiction writer H. G. Wells of "Time Machine" and "The War of the Worlds" fame. Maydig, after having Fotheringay's powers demonstrated to him, quickly planning for reform of the world by means of miracle, but eventually Fotheringay orders a miracle which, due to clumsy wording, backfires. Not so in 1930's Essex! H.G. Use the HTML below. – where the poor bobby then finds himself surrounded by flames and swirling smoke. Wilshire Blvd. Maydig, after having Fotheringay's powers demonstrated to him, quickly planning for reform of the world by means of miracle, but eventually Fotheringay orders a miracle which, due to clumsy wording, backfires. (For example: if you found out you had miraculous powers, would you tell anyone? After being thrown out of a bar for what is thought to be a trick, he tests his powers and eventually sends a policeman to Hades by accident. Exasperated at being unable to change the man's mind, the Colonel consults with his equally embattled fellow gentry and decides the only sensible solution is to shoot the man dead, his guns having helpfully not been converted by the earlier miracle. Directed by Lothar Mendes (and Alexander Korda uncredited). Fotheringay enters the Long Dragon Pub and begins arguing with his friends about miracles and the impossibility of them. IMDB rating 7.1. The Girl Who Believes in Miracles (2021) In the Earth (2021) The Courier (2021) The Croods: A New Age (2020) ... Buy Movies. From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. This FAQ is empty. The Man Who Could Work Miracles Movie Rating NR Movie More Info. Collect bonus rewards from our many partners, including AMC, Stubs, Cinemark Connections, Regal Crown Club when you link accounts. English nurse Edith Cavell is matron in a small private hospital in German-occupied Brussels during WWI. Wells; screenplay by Lajos Biró 1936/UK London Film Productions First viewing [box] “The subsequent meditations of Mr. Fotheringay were of a severe but confused description. Movie Info Based on the H.G. The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. An ordinary man, while vigorously asserting the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them. Green criticizes the direction and production as "shocking [with] slowness, vulgarity, [and] over-emphasis", the casting and characterization as "quite the wrong type", the special effects as "grimly repetitive, [...] dull and unconvincing and [apt to] destroy[] illusion", and Wells' original story as "pretentious". They celebrate this by playing a miraculous trick on one of the local gentry, Colonel Wistanley (quite severely but endearingly overplayed by Ralph Richardson, who appears to be made up for the stage, not film), having his whisky turn to undrinkable soap water, and his swords and weapon collection turn into a wild display of agricultural tools. Overview. Login. He then summons up all the pretty girls, not to mention the Colonel's entire regiment, dressed as Beefeaters, after which he summons the butlers in Essex, the leaders of the world, the teachers, musicians, priests, etc. Wells, Movies Seen on Sony Movies Action When the murder of a young woman happens, her next-door neighbor is under suspicion due to his previous stay in a mental hospital. Gods in heaven discuss people and give power to one man at random - George Fotheringay (Roland Young). But he finds he is being sidelined at work and his private life manipulated by his father-in-law. Title: Fotheringay appears again in the pub as in the early scenes of the film, again tries the trick with the lamp, and fails. The others think the end result will be the same but are dared to come back in an age or so and see for themselves. [Lajos Biró; Alexander Korda, Sir; Lothar Mendes; Roland Young; Ralph Richardson, Sir; Joan Gardner; Edward Chapman; Ernest Thesiger; H G Wells; Cheezy Flicks (Firm); Cheezy Flicks Entertainment (Firm);] -- A bored group of celestials decide to give an "ordinary little fellow" the power to work miracles. The Man Who Could Work Miracles Reputedly the best-known of Mendes' 20 films, it's a greatly expanded version of H. G. Wells’s short story of the same name and stars Roland Young with a cast of supporting players including Sir Ralph Richardson and in a London Films production from the famous Hungarian-born British producer, Sir Alexander Korda. Login to create it. Great special effects (for an early film) and fine performances result in a classic piece of science fiction. (My subject line, by the way, refers to anarchy as a form of government in which there are no governments, just self-government; I don't mean it in the common usage of disorder or chaos. 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