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IMDbPro

The Man Who Could Work Miracles

  • 19361936
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
  • Comedy
  • Family
  • Fantasy
An ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.An ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.An ordinary man suddenly finds that anything he says comes true. Or at least, almost anything.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Lothar Mendes
    • Alexander Korda(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • H.G. Wells(scenario by)
    • Lajos Biró(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Roland Young
    • Ralph Richardson
    • Edward Chapman
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Lothar Mendes
    • Alexander Korda(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • H.G. Wells(scenario by)
    • Lajos Biró(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Roland Young
    • Ralph Richardson
    • Edward Chapman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos21

    Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Mark Daly and Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Ralph Richardson and Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Joan Gardner and Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Wallace Lupino, Bernard Nedell, Ernest Sefton, and Ben Welden in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Joan Gardner and Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Joan Hickson in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Joan Gardner and Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)
    Mark Daly, Bruce Winston, and Roland Young in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Roland Young
    Roland Young
    • George McWhirter Fotheringayas George McWhirter Fotheringay
    Ralph Richardson
    Ralph Richardson
    • Colonel Winstanleyas Colonel Winstanley
    Edward Chapman
    Edward Chapman
    • Major Grigsbyas Major Grigsby
    Ernest Thesiger
    Ernest Thesiger
    • Maydigas Maydig
    Joan Gardner
    Joan Gardner
    • Ada Priceas Ada Price
    Sophie Stewart
    Sophie Stewart
    • Maggie Hooperas Maggie Hooper
    Robert Cochran
    • Bill Stokeras Bill Stoker
    Lady Tree
    Lady Tree
    • Grigsby's Housekeeperas Grigsby's Housekeeper
    Lawrence Hanray
    • Mr. Bamfyldeas Mr. Bamfylde
    George Zucco
    George Zucco
    • The Colonel's Butleras The Colonel's Butler
    Wallace Lupino
    Wallace Lupino
    • Constable Winchas Constable Winch
    • (as Wally Lupino)
    Joan Hickson
    Joan Hickson
    • Effieas Effie
    Wally Patch
    • Supt. Smithellsas Supt. Smithells
    Mark Daly
    Mark Daly
    • Toddy Beamishas Toddy Beamish
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Indifferenceas Indifference
    Ivan Brandt
    • Playeras Player
    Torin Thatcher
    Torin Thatcher
    • Observeras Observer
    Gertrude Musgrove
    • Effie (replaced by Joan Hickson)as Effie (replaced by Joan Hickson)
    • (scenes deleted)
    • Directors
      • Lothar Mendes
      • Alexander Korda(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • H.G. Wells(scenario by) (dialogue by) (short story)
      • Lajos Biró(screenplay) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Torin Thatcher, George Sanders, and Ivan Brandt are Celestial Bodies who appear at the beginning and end of this movie.
    • Goofs
      The sequence in which the constable is transported to San Francisco was obviously filmed in Los Angeles.
    • Quotes

      George McWhirter Fotheringay: You just stand there looking lovely, until I notice you!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown over a background of outer space.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 20 Movies Where the World Actually Ends (2021)

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    H.G. Wells' Fantasy of Anarchy
    What would a world without want be like? The answer has been the subject of countless stories, not a few movies, & every sensitive soul's nighttime sighing for ages. H. G. Wells poses the question by having godlike beings give a department store clerk, George McWhirter Fotheringay, that ability, & watching it evolve, as he bounces from adviser to adviser, from the sexy girl he desires to a retired British Army man.

    The film is a treat, especially for those of us accustomed to (& maybe a little bored by) the Star Trek treatment of absolute power conferred on lowly mortals. I don't know much about the history of science fiction in the movies, but Wells goes about everything (he wrote the script, based on his novel) with the fabulous in mind, while adding purely sci-fi touches, which I won't give away.

    Fotheringay is no bleeding-heart aching to turn the world into a painless utopia, nor is he a selfish, power-hungry perve, but a nondescript man who takes his time to figure out just what has happened to him before bringing everything to a head. In the meantime, we're given what amounts to a funny English comedy of manners, as well as a peek into a time (& place) where science fiction took a different direction. (For example: if you found out you had miraculous powers, would you tell anyone? I don't think I would. & if you told anyone, wouldn't you imagine the authorities pouncing on you at the first opportunity? Not so in 1930's Essex!)

    The ending seems Gene Roddenberry-esque, & perhaps the Star Trek creator admired & shared Wells' humanism; but the film shines with neat-o special effects (some cool stuff, for the time) & a wonderful performance by Roland Young. A must-see for those who like their sci-fi earthbound & thought-provoking.

    (My subject line, by the way, refers to anarchy as a form of government in which there are no governments, just self-government; I don't mean it in the common usage of disorder or chaos. The movie touches on the idea that, without their lives being controlled by those in power, who have a vested interest in people needing money & goods, people might find other ways to spend their time - like, for example, in creation.)
    helpful•17
    2
    • selfhelpradio
    • Aug 28, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 19, 1937 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • H.G. Wells' The Man Who Could Work Miracles
    • Filming locations
      • Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • London Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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