Thomas Edison overcomes all obstacles to invent, among many other things, the electric light. Semibiographical. [Dir: Clarence Brown/ Spencer Tracy, Rita Johnson, Lynne Overman/ 107 min/ Biography, Drama/ Creator as Hero]
When Edison died at eighty-four, he had patented over one thousand inventions, including the motion-picture projector, the phonograph, and the electric light. If anyone ever deserved to be the subject of a flattering biopic, it was Edison.
This one, however, doesn’t entirely do him justice because it places inadequate emphasis on the creative process. It is, as the title suggests, as much about Edison the man (his personal life and characteristics) as Edison the inventor.
On the plus side, the film gives considerable focus to Edison’s development of the electric light and a few other inventions. We see the endless experiments he performed trying to create a light bulb that would work; how he had to fight the entrenched natural gas monopoly to be allowed to lay the wire necessary to implement electrical power; and how he finally lit the cities of the world. True to his maxim that “genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration,” most of what is depicted is the perspiration. Edison relentlessly overcomes all obstacles through sheer effort to finally succeed. So far, so good.
However, too much of the film is spent demonstrating that Edison was a nice guy, concerned about his employees, forgiving of mistakes, generous, and altogether eccentric and cute. Worse yet, in the last moments of the film, Spencer Tracy (as Edison) gives a speech in which he questions the usefulness of science and suggests the need for regulation. Yeah, less science and more regulation, that’ll help everything. Whether or not Edison, in some whimsical moment, ever said anything like that, it is telling that the writers chose such a comment as the appropriate ending.
Despite these flaws, the overall thrust of the film does fit the creator-as-hero theme beloved of libertarians. The portrayal of Edison’s struggle and eventual success in perfecting the light bulb is particularly satisfying. Spencer Tracy gives an outstanding performance as Edison. In the final scenes, I thought he actually was Edison for a moment, until I remembered that Edison had died nine years before this film was made. Tracy is supported by a fine cast in this quality production, typical of classic 1940s film. Made in conjunction with Young Tom Edison.
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