H.G. Wells: The Man Who Could Work Miracles

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).

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

  1. 16mm Filmography (legacy record) — title, year, creator, description, credits, video