Madame Curie (1943)

Admirable film.

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, with a screenplay by Paul Osborn and Paul Rameau that was based on Madame Ove Curie's book, this above average biographical (if fictionalized) drama features Greer Garson in the title role, with Walter Pidgeon as her husband and co-discoverer.It relates the first years of the woman scientist's educated life, from her early years as Polish student, Maria come Marie Sklodowska (Garson), of Professor Jean Perot's (Albert Bassermann) at the Sorbonne in Paris in the late 19th Century, to her working in Pierre Curie's (Pidgeon) laboratory, their marriage and then research which led to the discovery of radium (and the Nobel Prize in 1903).The film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, while Garson and Pidgeon received lead actor nominations; its B&W Art Direction- Interior Decoration and Cinematography, as well as its Sound and Score were also nominated. The cast also includes Robert Walker, C. Aubrey Smith, Dame May Witty, Reginald Owen, Van Johnson who appears as a reporter near the end, and Margaret O'Brien (though most of these appear only briefly). James Hilton narrates. #97 on AFI's 100 Most Inspiring Movies list.Marie was a student who earned the highest honors in her class of physics at the Sorbonne while she worked her last 6 months of school working in Pierre Curie's laboratory, something which had been arranged by her professor, Perot. She had impressed Curie who had previously thought, and communicated with his assistant David Le Gros (Walker), that women had no place in science. After her graduation, Pierre invites Marie to his parents' house in the country, where he plays croquet with his father Eugene (Travers, who like Pidgeon has to sport a ridiculous French mustache and beard) while his mother (Whitty) sizes up Marie.To keep Marie from returning to Warsaw to become a mere teacher, Pierre proposes to Marie in one of the most awkward, funny, and thoroughly delightful (for its professional nature) ways. During their honeymoon, they discuss her doctorate and she expresses an interest in exploring the special rocks that Dr. Becquerel (Owen, recognizable only by his unmistakable voice) had shown her.Upon their return, the Curies begin what was a multi-year series of experiments and research which eventually led to their discovery and then the successful isolation (which included crystallization) of a new element, radium, from the others found in ore. Lord Kelvin (Smith) and Perot visited them shortly before their moment of truth, which occurred in the shack that the university president (Victor Francen) had allowed them to use. During these years, the Curies had a child Irene (O'Brien), who was watched after by his father Eugene, who'd moved in with them after his mother had died of cancer. Gigi Perreau (uncredited) appears later, briefly, as their second child, Eve.Pierre is killed in a street accident and the last 25 years of Madame Curie's research without him isn't shown nor discussed, but merely honored at a speech she gives before an assembly at the film's end.

I can now tell my mother I finally viewed the film that inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.Other users say what needs be said in detail, so I'll confine my review to some observations...I half-expected the Minivers in lab smocks. I was proved wrong by both actors from start to finish.Read the biographies on the credited co-screenwriters. Paul Osborn was perhaps better known as a playwright. You may know of On Borrowed Time, but his comedy Morning's at Seven literally walks around your head.In the final scene between Madame Curie and Professor Perot try to take your eyes off of Greer Garson.And once again a film prompts me to read more about its subject. That is a most uncommon and justly deserved result.

I'm the first to admit I knew little about Marie Curie until watching "Madame Curie" on Turner Movie Classics today. I knew she was a renowned French scientist long before women were accepted in such fields.Madame Curie--as a historical drama--succeeds in telling her incredible and painstaking contributions to science in the discovery of Radium. The story never lulls, not even for one minute. This film succeeds in providing a unique perspective of the sacrifice and dedication great scientists of all generations have put forth for the betterment of all mankind. Perhaps more surprising to me was how this movie moved me to tears due to the artful portrayal of Madame Curie by Greer Garson. She was truly a great actress and the chemistry she shared with Walter Pidgeon (movie after movie) just does not happen on screen often. I really thought I would be bored to tears. Instead, my tears resulted from a compelling story and equally compelling performances--especially from Ms. Garson.

At times, this M Leroy directed film gets a little heavy handed as this is one of the rare times that Leroy, often an erratic director for hire, did an entire film himself & got credit for it. Overall though, his effort here is very satisfactory.Based upon Eve Curies book, this film follows along pretty factually the Marie Curie story leading to the couples isolating of Radium in their lab after 4 years of work. The film concentrates on the relationship that forms between Pierre & Marie & the science. The script actually allows for a nice balance there.Greer Garson is great as Madame Marie Currie. I can't see many other actresses doing as was as she does in this role. Walter Pidgeon is excellent as Pierre & it is these 2 leads that make the film a good one. There is some quick supporting work from Van Johnson but nothing about his cameo really does a lot for this particular film.This film does show the MGM studio quality as it existed in the 1940's as it goes over very well & is well produced. MGM came into World War 2 as the premiere studio & this film was a strong entry in the biographical film category. It is very obvious that even though the film is set in France near Paris, that Paris was not available for location filming due to the war. This is a very good film for it's era, being factually based & really painting a positive portrait of who Marie & Pierre Curie were & why they were important in the history of science. It does give short shrift to the couples kids but at over 2 hours the film has too much to cover to do otherwise.