The 1936 classic Story of Louis Pasteur is a thought-provoking, forgotten classic. Sadly, it is not available on DVD and that is a true tragedy. This is a compelling movie about a caring, yet somewhat hostile Louis Pasteur. The movie mainly deals with his seemingly Sisyphean task of trying to convince the French scientific elite about the dangers of not washing their hands and inoculating their sheep against the dangers of anthrax. Slowly, Pasteur builds a small, but devoted following eager to help their leader in his quest.
Paul Muni, who would star in the equally magnificent Oscar winner for Best Picture Life of Emile Zola the next year in the lead role, delivers a stupendous performance here that garnered him an Academy Award for Best Actor. One should see these two movies back to back. Muni is an excellent, seemingly forgotten early Hollywood stalwart. Here is an article from Filmbug about his career.
Other actors put in good performances as well. Fritz Lieber is oily and sarcastic as the nemesis, Dr. Charbonnet. Our Gang alum Dickie Moore has a small role as a child bitten by a rabid dog whom Pasteur is desperate to cure.
Who really steals the show are animal actors. The sheep are cute and make you want to hug them! I'm a sentimental fool, I admit.
See Story of Louis Pasteur now! You may have to go to your trusty library for that ol' rusty VHS Tape and dust off those VCRS. Once you finish coughing you will partake a forgotten classic!
Want a better copy released in the future? Write to Criterion! They have lots of great classics and more for the jaded movie viewer.
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