The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)

Director: WILLIAM DIETERLE. Screenplay and original Story: Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings. Uncredited script contributor: Edward Chodorov. Photography: Tony Gaudio. Film editor: Ralph Dawson. Art director: Robert M. Haas. Costumes: Milo Anderson. Make-up: Perc Westmore. Music composed by Heinz Roemheld and Bernhard Kaun, directed by Leo F. Forbstein. Dialogue director: Gene Lewis. Assistant director: Frank Shaw. Associate producer: Henry Blanke. Historical research: Herman Lissauer. Producer: Hal B. Wallis. Executive producer: Jack L. Warner.Copyright 31 January 1936 by Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. A Cosmopolitan (William Randolph Hearst) Production. New York opening at the Strand, 10 February 1936. U.S. release: 22 February 1936. U.K. release: 3 July 1936. Australian release: 20 May 1936. 85 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Chemist has a bug about germs.NOTES: Academy Award, Best Actor, Paul Muni (defeating Gary Cooper in Mr Deeds Goes To Town, Walter Huston in Dodsworth, William Powell in My Man Godfrey and Spencer Tracy in San Francisco).Academy Award, Original Story, Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings (defeating Fury, The Great Ziegfeld, San Francisco and Three Smart Girls).Academy Award, Screenplay, Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings (defeating After the Thin Man, Dodsworth, Mr Deeds Goes To Town and My Man Godfrey). Also nominated for Best Picture (The Great Ziegfeld). Number 6 in the annual poll of U.S. film critics conducted by The Film Daily. Number 2 (after Mr Deeds Goes To Town) on the National Board of Review's 1936 list of Best American Pictures.Negative cost: a paltry $260,000. Shot in 5 weeks from mid-August to late September 1935. The subject is also treated in the French film Pasteur (1935) from writer/producer/director/star, Sacha Guitry.COMMENT: Dieterle's direction is not as impressive as his subject matter, though it has its memorable moments (the darkened laboratory as Pasteur goes to fetch his rabies vaccine and enters the door with the light behind him). Fortunately, the film itself with its exceptionally lavish production values and its grand array of character performances, is one that can be enjoyed again and again. The pace is brisk and the screenplay crystallizes Pasteur's opposition quite excitingly. I also liked the way Pasteur is shown working with a team of assistants. The film breathes authenticity. And I loved Lister's ironic comment as the crowd cheers some acrobats, "Such is fame!".

Warner Brothers Studio Condensed the Accomplishments of the Great Chemist into an 85 Min. Movie that would become an Example of the Biopic. It is Quite Remarkable how they Managed to put so Much into such a Restrictive Running Time.It is a Testament to the Skill of the Screenplay and the Dynamic Acting of Paul Muni that Supercharged this Film into an Exciting and Informative Experience. Muni Captures Every Scene with Expressions that a Full Beard can do Little to Hide as He Searches for Clues and Cures to Find and Kill the Invisible Monsters.The Production Design is Elegant but Simple and the Supporting Cast of Family Members, Doctors, and Politicians add a Backdrop of Intensity to Pasteur's Work. A Rich and Educational Movie that is Easily Understood for Youngsters and is Highly Dramatic for Adults. The Result is a Nice Packaging of an Important Man, His Breakthrough Science, and the Ridicule that is Typical of Anything that goes Against the Status Quo. An Unnecessary and Shameful Obstacle that has been Overcome by Many Innovators Throughout History.

Paul Muni has the title role in "The Story of Louis Pasteur," a 1935 film also starring Josephine Hutchinson, Anita Louise, Donald Woods, and Fritz Lieber.The biopic focuses on Pasteur's work in sterilization, rabies, and anthrax, and includes his inoculation of the small boy Joseph Meister (Dickie Moore) which is a famous - and risky - moment in Pasteur's life. Strangely, there is nothing about pasteurization, although with a great scientist who was responsible for so many innovations, you can't show everything. And certainly the rabies and anthrax stories are more dramatic.Some of the film, I believe, is fictionalized - his nemesis, Dr. Charbonnet, was probably created to represent some of the criticism Pasteur faced in his lifetime. The love affair between his assistant, Dr. Martel (Donald Woods) and Pasteur's daughter Annette doesn't seem to be true either. Typical Hollywood.Nevertheless, this is a reverent biography with a strong performance by Muni and good work by the rest of the cast. It seems crazy to think that before Pasteur, doctors did not sterilize instruments and wash their hands, but apparently, they didn't.Good movie.

Story of Louis Pasteur, The (1935) *** (out of 4) Bio pic of chemist Louis Pasteur (Paul Muni) who found a cure for the black plague but was then blacklisted when he made the claim that childhood fever was caused when doctors didn't wash their hands before delivering babies. This is a pretty strong film from start to finish that features a terrific performance by Muni who rightfully deserved his Best Actor Oscar. I was really shocked at how well Muni was here because I was a little skeptical going in. God knows he's given countless great performances throughout his career but I was shocked at how well he play Pasteur who of course used his brains more than his muscles or mouth like many of Muni's other roles. There's not a single second where Muni comes off as himself but the entire film he gives the performance that we think we're actually watching Pasteur work. The supporting cast is also very good with Josephine Hutchinson, Anita Louise and Donald Woods all turning in good work.