H.G. Wells: The Man Who Could Work Miracles
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The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1937) is a British fantasy comedy based on the 1898 short story by H.G. Wells, who also wrote the screenplay. The film serves as a fantastical morality tale, reflecting Wells' social and political observations.
The central premise involves:
Divine Experiment: A group of celestial beings, curious about human nature, decides to test humanity by granting an ordinary, unremarkable individual near-limitless power (0:02:13 - 0:04:14).
The Protagonist: They randomly select George McWhirter Fotheringay (Roland Young), a humble draper's assistant, to wield this divine ability (0:04:14).
Unintended Consequences: Fotheringay quickly discovers his power to perform miracles—such as manipulating objects, healing the sick, and altering reality—but he struggles with the moral and social implications of his newfound influence (0:05:42 - 0:29:22).
Social Conflict: As he begins to use his gifts, those around him—including his employers and local officials—attempt to exploit his power for personal gain, business monopoly, and social control, leading to chaotic results (0:31:21 - 0:38:31).
The central premise involves:
Divine Experiment: A group of celestial beings, curious about human nature, decides to test humanity by granting an ordinary, unremarkable individual near-limitless power (0:02:13 - 0:04:14).
The Protagonist: They randomly select George McWhirter Fotheringay (Roland Young), a humble draper's assistant, to wield this divine ability (0:04:14).
Unintended Consequences: Fotheringay quickly discovers his power to perform miracles—such as manipulating objects, healing the sick, and altering reality—but he struggles with the moral and social implications of his newfound influence (0:05:42 - 0:29:22).
Social Conflict: As he begins to use his gifts, those around him—including his employers and local officials—attempt to exploit his power for personal gain, business monopoly, and social control, leading to chaotic results (0:31:21 - 0:38:31).
Credits
- Production
- A London Film Production
- Scenario and Dialogue
- H.G. Wells
- Director
- Lothar Mendes
- Set Design
- Vincent Korda
- Photography
- Harold Rosson
- Special Effects
- Ned Mann, David Cunynghame, William Hornbeck
- Recording
- A.W. Watkins
- Film Editor
- Philip Charlot, Imlay Watt
- Distributed by
- United Artists; Main Cast:
- George McWhirter Fotheringay
- Roland Young
- Colonel Winstanley
- Sir Ralph Richardson
- Maggie Hooper
- Sophie Stewart
- Bill Stoker
- Robert Cochran
- Lady Tree
- Lady Tree
- Mr. Bambridge
- Laurence Hanray
- Police Constable Winch
- George Zucco
- Effie
- Joan Hickson
Sources
- 16mm Filmography (legacy record) — title, year, creator, description, credits, video
Record added 2026-11-11 00:31:58