
The Melbourne Cinémathèque & ACMI present
Magnificent Obsession
When
Wed 10 Dec 2025
See below for additional related events
Stahl’s quintessential melodrama begins with a tragic (and avoidable) accident that inextricably entwines the lives of a young woman (Irene Dunne) and a reckless playboy (Robert Taylor) accustomed to carelessly paying for his misdemeanours by material means.
A tale of spirituality, redemption, tragedy and devotion, it explores the limits of romantic love and the sacrifices undertaken in the ultimately selfless pursuit of a “magnificent obsession”.
The first of Stahl’s films to be critically reworked by Douglas Sirk, its full commitment to the plot’s dramatic contrivances demonstrates Stahl’s full commitment to the emotions and situations of his characters.
About Melbourne Cinémathèque
Australia's longest-running film society, Melbourne Cinémathèque screens significant works of international cinema in the medium they were created, the way they would have originally screened.
Melbourne Cinémathèque is self-administered, volunteer-run, not-for-profit and membership-driven.
