Once again, Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon use that remarkable chemistry of theirs to liven up what was probably the world's most boring real-life couple! (I saw a miniseries about Marie and Pierre; they actually spent what should have been a romantic picnic talking about uranium, tellurium, and all those other iums that turned them on more than each other! I'm surprised they didn't name their daughter after their "darling" radium!)
Greer was her usual best as Madame Curie, though without doubt more charming than the real persona, and ditto for Walter as Pierre. The movie does put emphasis on their dedication to their scientific careers, and you feel as though you're going through it all right along with them, as they try and try (and try) again to isolate radium. Such perseverance! I'd have quit after two or three tries! (Then again, I'm no scientist, thank you God!)
By concentrating on their career and relationship, the movie leaves out quite a bit, like Marie's family, and her first love, Kazimierz Zorawski. (In real life, it didn't take her long to move on to Pierre.)
Also, not long after Pierre's death, Marie took up (or should I say hooked up) with a former student of Pierre's, Paul Langevin, who was a married man. Not exactly something the Production Code would approve of, so of course it was omitted. (I'm also surprised Marie took time off from her scientific discoveries to engage in adultery, of all things! Guess she wasn't such a bore, after all.)
While I was never impressed with the real couple, the onscreen one always has my approval! The stars in my rating are for the stars on the screen, as Greer and Walter are always winners!
Greer was her usual best as Madame Curie, though without doubt more charming than the real persona, and ditto for Walter as Pierre. The movie does put emphasis on their dedication to their scientific careers, and you feel as though you're going through it all right along with them, as they try and try (and try) again to isolate radium. Such perseverance! I'd have quit after two or three tries! (Then again, I'm no scientist, thank you God!)
By concentrating on their career and relationship, the movie leaves out quite a bit, like Marie's family, and her first love, Kazimierz Zorawski. (In real life, it didn't take her long to move on to Pierre.)
Also, not long after Pierre's death, Marie took up (or should I say hooked up) with a former student of Pierre's, Paul Langevin, who was a married man. Not exactly something the Production Code would approve of, so of course it was omitted. (I'm also surprised Marie took time off from her scientific discoveries to engage in adultery, of all things! Guess she wasn't such a bore, after all.)
While I was never impressed with the real couple, the onscreen one always has my approval! The stars in my rating are for the stars on the screen, as Greer and Walter are always winners!