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While it can't compare to the gloriously soapy 1954 remake, which benefited from Douglas Sirk's total glossy commitment to the story, the original version of Magnificent Obsession is not without its rewards. True, without Sirk and his yummy color production values, this Obsession is more of a standard soap opera. Too, the story's truly incredible plot seems more ridiculous without Sirk masterfully pulling the strings. Still, for those who love the genre, it's the very unbelievability of the piece that is rewarding. John M. Stahl's version also has a bit more "mysticism" about it, which adds a little extra something to the proceedings. Most of all, Obsession has the pairing of Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor. They play things a bit straighter than the stars of the remake; the melodrama is not sacrificed, but they're trying to keep their feet planted a little more firmly on the ground here. This does mute things a bit, but it also allows one to appreciate the special qualities of Dunne and, to a lesser degree, Taylor. There's also fine comic support from Charles Butterworth and a rather good turn from Ralph Morgan. If it fails to achieve the cinematic heights of the remake, it's still a very acceptable "women's film" of the period.