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The Man Who Could Work Miracles

Jane Baxter (Actor), Ivan Brandt (Actor), Lothar Mendes (Director) Rated:
Unrated
Format: DVD
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
IMDb6.9/10.0
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
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DVD
July 9, 2015 		—
1
$12.22
$9.78 $12.21
DVD
January 15, 2008 		—
1
—
$29.98 $24.98
DVD
June 12, 2006 		—
1
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$38.35 $24.98

Product Description

The gods give a British clerk the power to change everything but human thought. From the H.G. Wells story.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ CHZY87DVD
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Lothar Mendes
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Multiple Formats, Black & White, AC-3
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 22 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ January 15, 2008
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Jane Baxter, Ivan Brandt, Edward Chapman, Robert Cochran, Mark Daly
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Cheezy Flicks Ent
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000WS4SBC
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
101 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

U. N. Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun old film based on HG Wells story with Roland Young (Topper)
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
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Fun old movie about an everyday man who suddenly is given the power to work miracles - and what happens. Watch for George Sands and Michael rennie in very early appearances
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JP Fish
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a little known classic of fantastic scope and humor.
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2020
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Written by H.G.Wells the story was a perfect springboard for an amazing motion picture. It has been overshadowed by other fantasy and horror films of its day. But the story of an inconsequential man given god-like powers rings more true in its Old English setting than it ever did in the Star Trek episodes that "borrowed" the idea so freely. The cast is first rate and the special effects are amazing for any time period. Movie magic was always 90% creativity, and 10% technology. For any student of film making techniques this one is a must see, repeatedly.
And did I mention that as a total film experience, this movie is amazing?!!!
2 people found this helpful
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Especially For You
4.0 out of 5 stars Droll film stops just short of being an absolute classic
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2015
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H. G. Wells' adapted and expanded his own short story "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" into a screenplay for a film which ultimately is a delightful romp. Roland Young was always a character actor who provided reliable support in films such as "King Solomon's Mines" (1936) and "And Then There Were None" (1945), but here, as in "Topper" (1937), he is the leading man, and is capable of carrying the film...though he doesn't have to: the fine supporting cast includes Ralph Richardson, Ernest Thesiger (Dr. Pretorius from "Bride of Frankenstein"), and Joan Gardner amongst others. George Sanders and Torin Thatcher have what are almost cameo roles in the opening and closing of the film.

The film quality on DVD (courtesy of Cheezy Video---what a name, eh?) is about the same as it was on VHS: not that great, but sufficient until a restoration is done by the likes of Criterion, or if another digital transfer is made, this time from BFI's master print.

Amusing and engaging, but just a whisker below being a genuine classic.
4 people found this helpful
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Jillygal
5.0 out of 5 stars gods and miracles
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2013
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The gods discuss giving the power of miracles to all humans. A test subject is chosen. It shows how absolute power gaggles the mind of an average human and he goes cosmic with the power. Roland Young is perfect as the ordinary man who gains power as a gift from the gods and acts out the power. The curious part of the storyline is that as the man who works miracles, Young takes control to right the wrongs that men in power on the earth have created. But he has no scientific knowledge that would curb his excess use of power. He is unaware of repercussions and so causes disaster. And then he has the presence of mind to delete the power of miracles and prevent damage to the whole earth by preventing the incident from happening in the first place. Later Roland Young is the star of 'Topper' and is perfectly cast.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great fantasy films.
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2010
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Be sure to buy the Nostalgia Video version rather than the cheaper Cheezy version. Anybody who buys a DVD from a company named Cheezy knows what to expect.

Don't let the wildly inappropriate art on the package put you off. The script is by H. G. Wells himself, and while there are comic elements, it is basically a serious look at what would happen if an average Englishman got absolute power. This, and Wells' other screenplay, Things to Come, remind me of the screenplays of George Bernard Shaw. One Shaw play is science fiction, by the way, "The Apple Cart" (a bonus on the DVD of "The Millionairess").
10 people found this helpful
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David N. Krafchick
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Wells, really!
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2012
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I watched this film with childlike wonder when I was very young. I had discovered H.G. Wells, and suddenly he's screenwriter. This is one of the delightful, logical fantasy as you watch this simple man deal with the Power of the Gods. Everyone has an opinion on what he should do and ignore the consequences of his actions. Watch for a very young George Sanders. If you love a good story with a whimsey beautifully crafted into a story that teaches a lesson about what total power does to one man. One of those rare great films written by the famous author we all know
2 people found this helpful
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S. J. Volk
5.0 out of 5 stars THE STORY IS LYRICAL,,, THE MOVIE, A MIRACLE!!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2018
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This movie casts a magical spell,,,You share Mr. Fatheringay's euphoria of suddenly being able to work miracles. And you feel the increasingly awesome responsibility of possessing such unlimited absolute power. With a compelling script by sci-fi master H.G.Wells, and a fascinating cast of immortal British actors, this rare vintage movie transports you to a quaint English village where the magic begins. No movie collection can be complete without this 1937 classic cinematic masterpiece.
One person found this helpful
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John J. Pocsik
2.0 out of 5 stars This "Miracle" Only a Minor Miracle
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2012
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I've always loved H.G.Wells' short story "The Man Who Could Work Miracles."
It's a light, frothy tale of fate and irony, about a timid nobody
drinking at a pub one night, who suddenly acquires the power of a god.
(Naturally, being a man of amiably dim ability, he immediately misuses this power.)

In 1936 Alexander Korda produced and Lothar Mendes directed a slightly expanded
version of this story. Roland Young is the simple commoner
who discovers he can send irritating bobbies literally to Hell (later San Francisco)
and ill-advisedly stop the Earth's rotation. (Very bad idea!)

The film, a frothy fantasy of accents and impossibilities, has always
stuck in my memory. Recently I ordered a copy through Amazon, from Hollywood's Attic.
No doubt public domain title, the vendor obviously took very little time or
care with the project. Sound is weak, and the picture extremely "soft".
Black and white images are anemic.

I'm glad I took a chance, but this will remain one of my "iffy" acquisitions,
until a better vendor take a shot. Only for Wells completists.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Colin
5.0 out of 5 stars The items are delivered in good condition and on time
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2024
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To watch on d v d and to share with family
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Allyn L. Terry
5.0 out of 5 stars Manditory Viewing.
Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2018
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Every one on this planet should be forced to sit and watch this movie. H.G. Wells was a great writer who thought in the future. He knew that humans were insular and bigoted creatures who could not handle big visions and practical truths. He did his best, but knew that but not even martians or miracles could help us. You cannot make time stand still. Get over yourself, help out.
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dave anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 22, 2018
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love these old movies with special effects
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b4-its-2-l8
5.0 out of 5 stars Unlimited Power
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2009
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For anyone who likes classic films, if you don't already have this one, it should be in your collection now, it's excellent!

Unlike a reviewer's copy below my copy (release date 2006 on the back cover original release date 1937) gave me no troubles whatsoever. In fact, as I was forewarned it would be grainy I was quite surprised how clear the film was, plus my copy also has the working subtitles too.

As for the storyline itself; an inconsequential middle-aged man from a haberdasher's store gets randomly bestowed with miraculous powers. When he realises it, he shares this knowledge and seeks advice from different people and discovers that nearly every person he asks has their own agenda to take advantage of his abilities.

And what follows is a virtual debate on the characteristics and quality of human nature but it's all done in a very lively pace, the 1 hour 22 minutes zips passed. The script is well written (HG Wells) and doesn't shy away from displaying the more unpleasant side of human nature without dwelling unnecessarily long on it and gradually he starts to realise there is a certain responsibility that comes from wielding such a an amazing power.

Finally, considering how long ago this was made, the effects are surprisingly effective. I thoroughly enjoyed it
15 people found this helpful
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Keith Phillips
4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a watch
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2012
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I saw this film many, many years ago when it used to be shown on TV quite regularly, I always remembered it fondly and when I saw it was available on DVD I just had to have a copy. It is still as good as I remember a very interesting idea, the only reason I gave it four stars is that the quality of the DVD is a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong the picture and audio are perfectly acceptable, quite remarkable in fact when you consider this film is 76 years old this year. Well worth watching for this price, I'm glad I have a copy in my collection.
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