Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940)
Movie Info
Edward G. Robinson portrays real-life German medical researcher Paul Erlich, the man who discovered and perfected "Formula 606," the cure for syphilis. The world at large would prefer to treat the disease as though it does not exist, so Erlich spends most of his life underfunded and frustrated. A no-nonsense dowager (Maria Ouspenskaya) has faith in Erlich, however, and thus provides the necessary funds to develop Formula 606. Once the serum is released to the public, Erlich's reputation is threatened when a handful of syphilitics die, ostensibly as a result of the "cure." Brought up on criminal charges, Erlich is exonerated by his old colleague Dr. Von Behring (Otto Kruger). Considered daring in its time for its exploration of a "taboo" subject, Dr. Erlich's Magic Bullet holds up as one of Warner Bros.' most solid biopics, with a convincing performance from a nearly unrecognizable Edward G. Robinson.
Cast
Edward G. Robinson
as Dr. Paul Ehrlich
as Dr. Paul Ehrlich
Ruth Gordon
as Mrs. Heidi Ehrlich
as Mrs. Heidi Ehrlich
Otto Kruger
as Dr. Behring
as Dr. Behring
Donald Crisp
as Althoff
as Althoff
Maria Ouspenskaya
as Franziska Speyer
as Franziska Speyer
Montagu Love
as Hartmann
as Hartmann
Sig Rumann
as Dr. Wolfert
as Dr. Wolfert
Donald Meek
as Mittlemeyer
as Mittlemeyer
Henry O'Neill
as Lentz
as Lentz
Harry Davenport
as Judge
as Judge
Albert Basserman
as Koch
as Koch
Louis Calhern
as Brockdorf
as Brockdorf
Edward Norris
as Dr. Morgenroth
as Dr. Morgenroth
Louis Jean Heydt
as Dr. Kunze
as Dr. Kunze
Charles Halton
as Sensenbrenner
as Sensenbrenner
Irving Bacon
as Becker
as Becker
Douglas Wood
as Speidler
as Speidler
Theodor von Eltz
as Dr. Kraus
as Dr. Kraus
Theodore von Eltz
as Dr. Kraus
as Dr. Kraus
Hermine Sterler
as Miss Marquardt
as Miss Marquardt
John Hamilton
as Hirsch
as Hirsch
Paul Harvey
as Defense Attorney
as Defense Attorney
Frank Reicher
as Old Doctor
as Old Doctor
Torben Meyer
as Kadereit
as Kadereit
Louis V. Arco
as Dr. Bertheim
as Dr. Bertheim
Wilfred Hari
as Dr. Hata
as Dr. Hata
John Henrick
as Dr. Bucher
as Dr. Bucher
Ann Todd
as Marianne
as Marianne
Rolla Stewart
as Steffi
as Steffi
Ernst Hausman
as Hans Weisgart
as Hans Weisgart
Stuart Holmes
as Male Nurse
as Male Nurse
Frank Lackteen
as Arab Man
as Arab Man
Elaine Renshaw
as Arab Woman
as Arab Woman
Herbert Anderson
as Assistant
as Assistant
Ann E. Todd
as Marianne
as Marianne
Egon Brecher
as Martl
as Martl
Robert Strange
as Koerner
as Koerner
Cliff Clark
as Haupt
as Haupt
Robert Stevenson
as Merk, Patient
as Merk, Patient
Greta Meyer
as Female Nurse
as Female Nurse
Howard Mitchell
as Dr. Virchow
as Dr. Virchow
Walter O. Stahl
as Doctor
as Doctor
Norman Phillips Jr.
as Stable Boy
as Stable Boy
Louis Adlon
as Hospital Attendant
as Hospital Attendant
Frank Mayo
as Assistant
as Assistant
Frank Jaquet
as Banker
as Banker
William Von Brincken
as Officer
as Officer
Wolfgang Zilzer
as Kellner
as Kellner
Brandon Tynan
as Doctor
as Doctor
Ludwid Hardt
as Court Clerk
as Court Clerk
Fred Mellinger
as Court Stenographer
as Court Stenographer
Hedwiga Reicher
as Nurse
as Nurse
Louise Golm
as Nurse
as Nurse
Gisela Werbiseck
as Mother
as Mother
Gretl Sherk
as Mother
as Mother
Paul Phillips
as Patient
as Patient
Rolf Lindau
as Patient
as Patient
Critic Reviews for Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
All Critics (1) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (0)
(Robinson's Dr. Ehrlich) accumulates knowledge much like an investigator, for him an oppositional role he'd later take for Wilder in Double Indemnity.
January 30, 2014 | Rating: 10/10 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
Well made if a tad stodgy bio-pic that has a great performance at it's center by Edward G. Robinson. How is it possible this man was never even nominated for an Academy Award?
jay nixon
Super Reviewer
½
An amazing tale of breaking through cultural taboos to do the right thing.
Anthony Valletta
Super Reviewer
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet Quotes
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