EDISON THE MAN
US, 1940, 107 minutes, Black and white.
Spencer Tracy, Rita Johnson, Lynne Overman, Charles Coburn, Gene Lockhart, Henry Travers, Felix Bressart.
Directed by Clarence Brown.
Edison the Man is an attractive and sincere biography of the great inventor. There had been a short previous film with Mickey Rooney as The Young Tom Edison. It had been a popular success as well as a tribute to the inventor. Clarence Brown, a veteran of many films at M.G.M. in the '30s and '40s, including some of Garbo's films and National Velvet and The Yearling, directs with dignity and taste. Spencer Tracy is at his best in the role - from the aged Edison reminiscing at the beginning and end, and in the enthusiasm of the inventor. The film could be compared with The Story of Alexander Graham Bell with Don Ameche as the inventor, also from this time. An excellent supporting cast makes this film, even though dated in many ways, an enjoyable and informative experience. At this period Spencer Tracy made Men of Boys' Town, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Tortilla Flat and was moving into war propaganda films like A Guy Names Mike. He was also beginning the series of films made with Katharine Hepburn, including Woman of the Year and Keeper of the Flame.
1. An enjoyable and satisfying tribute to Thomas Edison? Insight into his personality? His place in American history and science? His inventiveness and skills?
2. The sequel to Young Tom Edison? Continuity between the two films despite the change of director and cast? M.G.M. production values,, black and white photography, sets and decor, atmosphere, musical score? The recreation of Edison's period? Spencer Tracy and the M.G.M. cast?
3. The initial focus on Edison and the tribute to him in 1929? The flashback techniques? The sense of Edison's achievement? Edison's advice to the young admirers?
4. The quality of biography and the quality of Spencer Tracy's interpretation? Of portraying Edison over a long period of years? The presuppositions from the earlier film and Edison's young life? The way that he worked himself up to his initial stage of work, inventiveness? His talent for inventing? His ideas and enthusiasms? His skill in work? His busyness? The firms that he worked for? Rival groups and the means used to thwart him? The importance of ideas and the importance of patents? His response to the progress of science and technology, to human needs? The range of inventions? How adequately did the film present difficulties,, hard work, breakthroughs?
5. The initial encounter with Mary, the phone and the communication system, his financial success and proposal? The marriage? (And the humour about the umbrellas?) Mary in herself, her qualities, love for Edison, support over many decades? The bringing up of the family? Hardship and poverty, wealth and success?
6. Edison as a businessman? His having to keep pace with rivals and their means? The pros and cons of his methods? Gathering support, registering patents?
7. The film's emphasis on the invention of the phonograph? The details of study, experiments, success?
8. The importance of the challenge to light up New York? His working against time? The Gas Corporation's opposition? Legal impeding of Edison? His determination? The atmosphere when he succeeded?
9. The supporting characters - the business rivals., his loyal assistant, the people working for him and union difficulties, pay difficulties? His admirers and supporters?
10. The wisdom of Edison? His creative genius? His contribution to America, to the world? Typifying the 19th. century inventive geniuses?
