robert-temple-1 This film, the original title of which was simply DR. EHRLICH'S MAGIC BULLET, is a biographical film about Professor Paul Ehrlich (1844-1915), a Nobel Prize Winner who revolutionised medical science in many ways. His scientific and personal adventures are vividly portrayed in this dramatic film. He is played by Edward G. Robinson, in one of his finest performances. Robinson's makeup as he ages over the decades is superb, and the real Ehrlich's beard is exactly copied. Eddie Robinson was perfect casting for such a part, as he was a genuine intellectual himself. His favourite way of passing the time on film sets between takes was to study grammars of numerous languages, ancient and modern. He was a master linguist and philologist, a renowned art collector, and one of the most sophisticated people in Hollywood. But until the age of ten he could not speak a word of English. It was then that he was put on a boat at Bucharest to sail to America, where he arrived as a penniless Romanian Jewish immigrant. The story of his life is even more amazing than that of Ehrlich's. I have met numerous members of the Robinson family, though alas I never knew Eddie himself. Robinson certainly had the brains to appreciate someone like Ehrlich, which does help in portraying someone on screen. Ehrlich found the first cure for syphilis, discovered how to stain the tubercle bacillus so that TB could be conquered, brought a diphtheria epidemic to a halt, discovered serums for snakebite, and much more. Those interested in Ehrlich can find plenty about him on the web. This film was directed by the German immigrant William Dieterle, who four years earlier had directed another scientific biopic, THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR (1936), the same year also directed a film about the life of Florence Nightingale entitled THE WHITE ANGEL (1936), and the following year directed THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA (1937). So he was already well known for biopics and probably made more biographical feature films than any other director in cinema history. Immediately after finishing EHRLICH, he and Robinson teamed up to make THIS MAN REUTER aka A DISPATCH FROM REUTER'S (1940), about Julius Reuter, the founder of the Reuters News Agency, and two years later, Dieterle directed THE MAN ON AMERICA'S CONSCIENCE aka TENNESSEE JOHNSON (1942), about the life on Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, who became President of the United States after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. One of the Dieterle's finest films was LOVE LETTERS (1945), with a screenplay by Ayn Rand. The famous Maria Ouspenskaya, who worked under the direction of Stanislavski himself in Moscow, appears in this film in a supporting role as Frau Speyer, and of course is superb. Donald Meek does a particularly good job of playing the sceptic Mittelmeyer, Ruth Gordon is excellent as Mrs. Ehrlich, and all the cast do well. It is a rousing story of how Ehrlich rose from being a general practitioner in a hospital to become a famous research scientist, overcoming countless obstacles and struggling to find funding for his revolutionary research. John Huston was one of the three writers of the excellent screenplay. This is something of a classic, and, frankly, films of this sort should be shown in the science classes of schools in order to inspire young people to become heroes of science in the service of humanity. Or is that a hopeless notion in today's Society of Narcissism?

dbdumonteil Nowadays,people know Ruth Gordon for her sensational parts of Minnie in "Rosemary's baby" and Maude in "Harold and Maude" ,but she was featured in many comedies and she was a writer too.Here ,this is an unobtrusive part,the doctor's admirable wife,supporting him every step of the way and cooking her delicious Kartoffel Puffer (potato pancakes)for him.Edward G.Robinson plays the part of a great scientist who devoted his entire life to relieve his fellow men's sufferings.Many users have noticed how his fight is still relevant today when AIDS (and cancer) are still causing terrible losses.This is an interesting movie ,even for these who,like me,are not really good at biology.Dieterle makes a veiled reference to these viewers in this scene when Ehrlich explains his theory to Mrs Speyer (the marvelous Madame Ouspenskaya): when he stops speaking,the large table is completely empty.The same year,Robinson made "A dispatch from Reuter's " with the same director.Both movies have similar endings when the heroes stand accused and then the facts vindicate them

blanche-2 "Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet" is the story of the groundbreaking Nobel prize winner Paul Ehrlich, credited with many discoveries still critical in the practice of medicine today, and perhaps most importantly, for finding the cure for syphilis. This is an important film for the use of the word 'syphilis' which was the basis of a fight between the Hays code and Warners. But Ehrlich's story deserved telling, and you couldn't do it without using the word syphilis.The beginning of the film shows Dr. Ehrlich in Germany futilely treating patients who have the disease, though nothing can really help them. It chronicles his rise up the scientific ranks through his use of staining organisms so that they could be seen under the microscope, his work in disease resistance, and finally, after long experiments with an arsenical compound - 606, in fact - the discovery of a cure for syphilis.For me, one reason to watch bios is that I develop interest in the subjects and seek out more information; after all, some Hollywood stories are less factual than others. Though I'm sure a lot of Ehrlich's life had to be telescoped, the film certainly hits the highlights, and portrays him as a gifted scientist and vigorous innovator obsessed with his work.Edward G. Robinson was always a good actor in the right role, but as Dr. Ehrlich, he is magnificent, totally immersing himself in the character and drawing the audience in. Stage actress Ruth Gordon, for whom movie stardom was about 28 years off, gives a lovely, understated performance as Ehrlich's wife. The rest of the cast is excellent, from Otto Kruger as a fellow scientist and friend, right down to a small role by Louis Calhern.The movie is a little too sentimental at times by today's standards, I suppose, but the only thing that really bothered me was the lack of presence of Ehrlich's daughters at the film's end. At the beginning of the movie, we see them as youngsters, and reference is made to them later as being married. Would it have killed Warners to have two female extras at the end of the film? We would have known who they were.I don't know if Ehrlich really said that diseases of the body will not be conquered until we conquer diseases of the soul, but it's a great and true thought. He was in fact a victim of a disease of the soul: there was a street in Frankfurt named after him, but the name was changed in the '30s because Ehrlich was Jewish. Later, it was reinstated.This is a marvelous movie, a real must-see.

Draconis Blackthorne Tugs at the heart-strings. A compassion-laden film about a true-life German Doctor seeking the cure to some of the world's worst ailments, including syphilis, polio and influenza. When an epidemic hits the country, he goes about pulling out all the stops to find a so- called "magic bullet" as a veritable cure-all, and finally accomplishes his goal in pill 606, named after the number of tries to perfect this ideal drug. After some unfortunate losses in a few allergic reactions, despite his own warnings to the medical community that there still needed some tests to be done, he is vindicated and is eventually and rightfully awarded the Nobel Prize.There are some really moving and inspiring moments in the film, with the contemplation of nobility, ingenuity, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge. It is all worth it in the end when you see the faces of those formerly ill children and grown-ups beaming with healthy life again.