TimR

This is a marvelous fantasy.

Roland Young had the ability to play an everyman so well that he transcended the stereotype. The supporting cast includes Ralph Richardson, Ernest Thesiger, and Joan Hickson - as well as a brief appearance by George Sanders as a god manipulating mortals.

There is a sequence that is among my favorites in film: miracle worker George McWhirter Fotheringay has decided to gather all of the major people of influence in the world and force them to solve all the world's problems immediately. He transforms his home into a palace, the pretty shopgirl he wants into a queen, and his would-be advisors into the figures of a Renaissance court.

Then he calls forth all the very important people from all over the world. They appear in the palace by the dozens, by the hundreds, by the thousands. The special effects may be a bit crude - but it is a wonderfully effective scene.

Also - the score by Mischa Spoliansky and Muir Matheson's musical direction fit the film perfectly: a combination of witty self-mockery and triumphalism.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

andytaft44

This rather engaging film from 1936 and featuring Ralph Richardson has been shown periodically on TV over the years. Has this flick made an impression on anyone?

Andy H

Yes Andy. I think I first saw this in the early 70's and I often find myself wondering why it gets so little attention - it's ages since I've seen it on TV. It's a very strange film that has a rather unsettling edge about it.

TimR

I ran a thread on this film in this section many months ago. It's one of my favorites.....

Here it is: http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/yo...-miracles.html

I didn't have any responses - I just assumed no one had heard of it.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

penfold

Pretty sure it got a VHS release in The Korda Collection.....it's interesting enough, but not one of my favourites...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Nick Dando

It's been realeased on Region 2 DVD.

The Man Who Could Work Miracles DVD

Nick

Pendlebury

If this is the same film I have in mind, I remember a scene where one of the cast tells another to, "Go to hell," at which the unfortunate man bursts into flames. I had just started school, so it must have been around 1960/61, and my brother convinced me he had the identical power. Thereafter he made my life a wretched misery with threats to incinerate me, made all the more real because he had a red devil toy - complete with horns, and trident, which he claimed conveyed these powers upon him! It wasn't until my father discovered what was going on, that my mind was finally put to rest: my brother was, like myself, just a mere mortal!

For all sad words of tongue, and pen, the saddest are these: it might have been.

Lord Lionheart

Saw this HG Wells adaptation many years ago when I was a child living in the UK. Starred Roland Young of Topper fame. One of those afternoon movies I saw on a rainy day a long time ago and loved it. Been longing to see it again just for nostalgia. Wonder if anyone else has saw it or if it's ever played in the UK. Bit of an oldie as it's made in 1936. But then again so are many of my favorites such as 'The 39 steps'