The Magnificent Yankee
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Magnificent Yankee |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1950 |
| length | 89 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | John Sturges |
| script | Francis Biddle |
| production | Armand German |
| music | David Raksin |
| camera | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| cut | Ferris Webster |
| occupation | |
| |
The Magnificent Yankee is an American biography by John Sturges from 1950. The film, based on the 1942 novel Mr. Justice Holmes by Francis Biddle and the following play The Magnificent Yankee from 1946, tells the story of the US -American jurist, lawyer, and US Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935).
action
The writer Owen Wister tells the life story of the judge Oliver Wendell Holmes . Wister begins his story in 1902. Holmes, now 61 years old, leaves his home in Boston and moves to Washington, DC There he works as a judge at the US Supreme Court . He and his wife Fanny move into a new house. You will visit the site of an American Civil War battlefield , where Holmes fought as a young Union soldier in 1864. The thought of working as a judge with former Confederates delights Holmes.
Cynical Congressman Adams, great-grandson of former President John Adams , sees President Theodore Roosevelt , who has appointed Holmes as judge, a threat to the country. Soon after, Fanny suffers from depression because she cannot have children. But Holmes assures her of his love. Holmes wants to do his work from home and plans to hire a Harvard graduate as secretary every year. In this way, both can enjoy a kind of parenting by caring for the young men.
After the swearing in, Holmes and his staff will discuss the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and the pros and cons of the Sherman Antitrust Act . Holmes is an opponent of the act, whereupon he is personally attacked by an advocate Roosevelt. Even when the Sherman Act is approved after a vote, Roosevelt continues to grumble.
Holmes is a tough boss to his employees, who are forbidden to marry while they are working for Holmes. Baxter, one of the young secretaries, quits so that he can marry his girlfriend. Fanny asks her husband to reconsider his request and rejects Baxter's resignation. Holmes realizes that his wife is right and keeps Baxter in his service.
In 1916 the new President named Woodrow Wilson Holmes' friend, the Jewish attorney Louis Brandeis , as Supreme Court Justice. The nomination will be discussed in Congress for six months. Holmes endorsed the nomination, making Brandeis' appeal easier. Although Holmes is seen as a deviator, he and Brandeis can progressively modify the legal methods. Their friendship deepens as they work to legalize trade unions and define the right to freedom of expression. Holmes has many opponents, many of his judgments are being challenged, but most of his judgments are confirmed.
Holmes celebrates his 80th birthday in 1921. But the celebration is marred by the fact that Holmes was passed over in the nomination of the Chief Justice. When his wife Fanny was dying in 1929, he promised her to continue working for his country. Holmes will remain in court until he reaches the age of 90. Shortly after his resignation, the stock market collapsed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is forced to close the Landesbank for the first time in US history. Finally he announces that he will visit Holmes to consult with him. Holmes proudly prepares for the visit. He wants to give the president the only advice he knows: in times of war you have to fight hard for your country. He decides to bequeath most of his fortune to the government.
background
The premiere took place on December 20, 1950 in Los Angeles . This was done in order to qualify for the 1951 Oscar competition. The actual theatrical release took place on January 18, 1951.
Louis Calhern also embodied the judge in the film's underlying play. After the Broadway success, Calhern went on tour with the piece for ten months. When the film rights were bought by MGM , Calhern was the logical first choice for the lead role. Cedric Gibbons and Edwin B. Willis were the production designers for the film . Douglas Shearer was responsible for the sound , the special effects are by A. Arnold Gillespie .
Francis Biddle, author of the literary template for the film and the play, was a judge and was appointed chief judge in the US at the Nuremberg Trials in 1946 . After graduating from university, Biddle was Oliver Wendell Holmes' private secretary.
Reviews
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times called the film a "warm, engaging character study." Variety attested the film to be an "elegant transfer [of the original] onto the screen".
Awards
Walter Plunkett received an Oscar nomination in 1951 for the best costume design / black and white category . Louis Calhern has received nominations for an Oscar for Best Actor and a Golden Globe .
Web links
- The Magnificent Yankee in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The Magnificent Yankee at Turner Classic Movies (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ "A warm and appealing characterization." Bosley Crowther : Culhern in Moving Performance as Associate Justice Holmes in 'Magnificent Yankee' . In: The New York Times , January 19, 1951.
- ^ "Fine translation to the screen" Cf. The Magnificent Yankee . In: Variety , 1950.