THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR
US, 1935, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Paul Muni, Josephine Hutchinson, Anita Louise, Donald Woods, Fritz Leiber, Henry O'Neill, Porter Hall, Akim Tamiroff.
Directed by William Dieterle.
The Story of Louis Pasteur is one of several biographies made by Warner Bros and directed by William Dieterle. Dieterle also directed Paul Muni in The Story of Emile Zola and made films like Juarez and A Dispatch from Reuters.
Paul Muni won the Oscar for Best Actor of 1936. He plays Pasteur as a crotchety genius. The film gives us a glimpse of 19th century questions about scientific advancement, experimentation, suspicions and confrontations of medical pioneers. The running time of the film is brief but is quite effective in reminding us of what Pasteur contributed to modern health.
1. Interesting biopic? Information about Pasteur? Tribute to him?
2. The quality of the film, Oscar nominations, Paul Muni's Oscar-winning performance?
3. Warner Bros. production values, the contribution of William Dieterle? Black and white photography? Musical score?
4. France in the 19th century, evocation of Paris, the world of medicine, academia? The French countryside?
5. The portrait of Pasteur in his time: as a man, family, French, his work, insights, experiments, theories, society, the attacks and his vindication?
6. The world of medicine and hygiene, cleanliness and lack of cleanliness, the death toll through carelessness and lack of cleanliness, the discovery of microbes and germs? Theories, the use of the microscope, experiments? The questions of anthrax and the testing of cattle, injections, vaccinations?
7. The medical fraternity and their reaction to Pasteur? The dramatic opening sequence of the husband who shot the careless doctor who killed his wife? Dr Charbonnet and his advice to the Emperor? The rivals to Pasteur? His friends? John and his interests, his marrying Pasteur's daughter? Lord Lister coming for the anthrax experiments, the final acclaim?
8. Medical progress, public opinion, public experiments, the reporters? The incident of the anthrax tests, the planning of it, the public interest, doctors and their rivalries, jealousies of Pasteur? His self-confidence? The sheep seeming to be dead - and then getting up?
9. Pasteur and his care of humans, their illnesses, his care, vaccinations? The German doctor, the German patients and his help? Even though he had a stroke? The sketch of his family life, the support of his wife, John?
11. The personal side of Pasteur - a blend of the irascible and the genius?
12. The tribute to Pasteur? History repeating itself in its treatment of those who break through like Pasteur?
