The Miracle Woman (1931)

87 or 90-91 mins | Drama | 20 July 1931

Director:

Frank Capra

Producer:

Harry Cohn

Cinematographer:

Joseph Walker

Editor:

Maurice Wright

Production Company:

Columbia Pictures Corp.
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HISTORY

The film opens with the following quote and title: "Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing. . . Mat. VIII,15" and "The Miracle Woman is offered as a rebuke to anyone who, under the cloak of Religion, seeks to sell for gold, God's choicest gift to Humanity---FAITH." In his autobiography, director Frank Capra states that the play Bless You Sister was inspired by the life of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. Although the British magazine Kinematograph Weekly reported on 31 Dec 1931 that the film was "ready for immediate release," records of the British Board of Film Censors state that the film was "rejected" on 26 Oct 1931, confirming the statement Capra made in his autobiography that the picture was not released in Britain.
       Copyright material for the film states that the bust of the Miracle Woman, bought by "John Carson" in the film, was sculpted by popular thirties actor Richard Cromwell. The copyright material also notes that the tabernacle that was burned seated 25,000 people and had to be built outside Hollywood city limits for safety reasons. Although most contemporary reviews and modern sources list Russell Hopton's character as Dan Welford, in the film and one instance in the copyright material, he is called Bill Welford. Modern sources list the following additional cast: Ed Le Saint (Parishioner); Ivan Linow (Gunboat); John Kelly (Stagehand); Bud Osborne (Man in audience); Fred Warren (Pianist); Mary Doran (Party guest); Lorraine Hubbell and Mary Bracken. The treatment of evangelism and the climactic temple fire in ...

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The film opens with the following quote and title: "Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing. . . Mat. VIII,15" and "The Miracle Woman is offered as a rebuke to anyone who, under the cloak of Religion, seeks to sell for gold, God's choicest gift to Humanity---FAITH." In his autobiography, director Frank Capra states that the play Bless You Sister was inspired by the life of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. Although the British magazine Kinematograph Weekly reported on 31 Dec 1931 that the film was "ready for immediate release," records of the British Board of Film Censors state that the film was "rejected" on 26 Oct 1931, confirming the statement Capra made in his autobiography that the picture was not released in Britain.
       Copyright material for the film states that the bust of the Miracle Woman, bought by "John Carson" in the film, was sculpted by popular thirties actor Richard Cromwell. The copyright material also notes that the tabernacle that was burned seated 25,000 people and had to be built outside Hollywood city limits for safety reasons. Although most contemporary reviews and modern sources list Russell Hopton's character as Dan Welford, in the film and one instance in the copyright material, he is called Bill Welford. Modern sources list the following additional cast: Ed Le Saint (Parishioner); Ivan Linow (Gunboat); John Kelly (Stagehand); Bud Osborne (Man in audience); Fred Warren (Pianist); Mary Doran (Party guest); Lorraine Hubbell and Mary Bracken. The treatment of evangelism and the climactic temple fire in The Miracle Woman are depicted in a similar fashion in the 1960 United Artists film Elmer Gantry, based on the book of the same name by Sinclair Lewis, which was directed by Richard Brooks and starred Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons.

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PERSONAL & COMPANY INDEX CREDITS
HISTORY CREDITS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Film Daily
2 Aug 1931
p. 10
Hollywood Reporter
11 Mar 1931
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
4 Jun 1931
p. 3
Motion Picture Herald
22 Aug 1931
p. 27
New York Times
17 Aug 1931
p. 18
Variety
28 Ju 1931
p. 14
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
PRODUCTION TEXT
Frank R. Capra Production
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
PRODUCER
Prod
WRITERS
Scr and dial
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photog
FILM EDITOR
Film ed
SOUND
Rec eng
MAKEUP
Makeup
PRODUCTION MISC
Sculpture by
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the play Bless You Sister by John Meehan and Robert Riskin (New York, 26 Dec 1927).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHORS
DETAILS
Release Date:
20 July 1931
Production Date:
10 Mar--10 Apr 1931
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Columbia Pictures Corp.
13 July 1931
LP2345
Physical Properties:
Sound
Western Electric System
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
87 or 90-91
Length(in feet):
8,370
Length(in reels):
9
Country:
United States
SYNOPSIS

Florence Fallon, the daughter of an elderly minister, chastises his congregation for their hypocrisy when her father, dismissed so a younger man could take his place, dies of a broken heart. The ashamed flock flees, except for Hornsby, a slick promoter, who convinces her to turn her anger into cash. Soon Florence becomes Sister Fallon, leader of the popular Temple of Happiness, where she performs fake "miracles." One day, John Carson, a blind former aviator, becomes so depressed that he attempts suicide, but Florence's radio sermon strengthens him. When John goes to hear Florence, he is skeptical, especially when she preaches from inside a cage of lions, but he does go to the stage when Hornsby's pre-arranged shill does not answer her call. After the show, Florence sneaks out and comes across John standing outside, hoping to meet her. She goes to his apartment, where they have a grand time laughing at Al, John's ventriloquist's dummy. After leaving his apartment, she goes to Hornsby's place, where a riotous party is underway. Hornsby's general sales manager, Bill Welford, threatens Hornsby and Florence with press exposure unless he is given more of the money he and Hornsby are fraudulently collecting. Hornsby acquiesces and Florence leaves in disgust, her eyes opened to Hornsby's shady deals. As time passes, Florence and John's relationship blossoms. One day, Hornsby shows Florence a newspaper article about Welford's apparent suicide, then tells her he loves her and forces a kiss. After Florence warns him never to touch her again, he steals her keys. Later, when she returns home after spending the evening with John, she finds Hornsby, ...

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Florence Fallon, the daughter of an elderly minister, chastises his congregation for their hypocrisy when her father, dismissed so a younger man could take his place, dies of a broken heart. The ashamed flock flees, except for Hornsby, a slick promoter, who convinces her to turn her anger into cash. Soon Florence becomes Sister Fallon, leader of the popular Temple of Happiness, where she performs fake "miracles." One day, John Carson, a blind former aviator, becomes so depressed that he attempts suicide, but Florence's radio sermon strengthens him. When John goes to hear Florence, he is skeptical, especially when she preaches from inside a cage of lions, but he does go to the stage when Hornsby's pre-arranged shill does not answer her call. After the show, Florence sneaks out and comes across John standing outside, hoping to meet her. She goes to his apartment, where they have a grand time laughing at Al, John's ventriloquist's dummy. After leaving his apartment, she goes to Hornsby's place, where a riotous party is underway. Hornsby's general sales manager, Bill Welford, threatens Hornsby and Florence with press exposure unless he is given more of the money he and Hornsby are fraudulently collecting. Hornsby acquiesces and Florence leaves in disgust, her eyes opened to Hornsby's shady deals. As time passes, Florence and John's relationship blossoms. One day, Hornsby shows Florence a newspaper article about Welford's apparent suicide, then tells her he loves her and forces a kiss. After Florence warns him never to touch her again, he steals her keys. Later, when she returns home after spending the evening with John, she finds Hornsby, who shows her newspaper articles he planted, describing their future trip to Palestine, which he really intends as a romantic tour of Monte Carlo. She refuses to go and is stunned when he reveals that he embezzled the donations. The accounts are in her name, he tells her, and she will be held responsible, just as she will for Welford's murder, which Hornsby arranged. Some time later, when Florence and John are saying goodbye, she tells him the truth about her phony preaching, but he says he loves her nonetheless. The next day, John tries to convince Florence that he has regained his sight, in order to build her morale, but he does not succeed. Florence is so moved by his compassion, however, that she resolves to tell her followers the truth. After she leaves, Hornsby, thinking that John has regained his sight, knocks him out. On the stage, Florence confesses to the audience, but Hornsby accidentally starts a fire when he tries to shut off the lights. The audience stampedes, but Florence urges them to sing, and her guidance saves them. The smoke revives John, who rescues Florence when she collapses. Six months later, Hornsby sees Florence, now a Salvation Army worker. She receives a telegram from John saying that his sight may be restored, and that Al wants to be best man at their wedding. While Hornsby laments the money Florence could have made, she marches by, content and full of faith.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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