Grand biopic as only Old Hollywood could do so well. An excellent performance from Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Paul Ehrlich, who works to create a cure for syphilis while battling tuberculosis and his peers' small-mindedness. With direction by the great William Dieterle and a script co-written by John Huston, this is an exceptional film. It's not easy to make a great movie out of what is essentially a medical research story, but they pull it off. Terrific supporting cast including Ruth Gordon, Donald Crisp, Otto Kruger, Donald Meek, Henry O'Neill, Maria Ouspenskaya, Albert Bassermann, Louis Calhern...so many more. Just a great lineup. Pretty daring to make a movie about syphilis at a time when the Production Code was in full effect. Wonderful biopic you should definitely check out.

I really love the old 1930s-40s Warner Brothers Biographical films and this is one of the best. Madame Curie, Emile Zola, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison and others all come to life in these terrific, mostly black & white, films. Had this movie never been made I would never have heard of Dr. Paul Ehrlich, who led the way to find and defeat bacteria and micro-organisms. All of these geniuses had to overcome detractors who labelled them as quacks and lunatics. What gave them the gumption and tenacity to go on, even after failures? How did others trust them, support and finance them? Thank God for these people who fought to serve humanity. Edward G. Robinson is always good, but never more so as Dr. Ehrlich. A fine German-American supporting cast led by Otto Kruger, Sig Ruman and Albert Basserman add to the enjoyment as does a fine Max Steiner score. Director William Dieterle keeps the film moving along and it never gets slow or boring. The story starts with Ehrlich's discovery of staining slides so the bacteria and micro-organisms are better defined and diseases diagnosed, which leads to creation of vaccines. After finding a cure for diphtheria using inoculations, his colleagues still are skeptical and distrustful of him when he attempts to research man-made, chemical vaccines, which he calls "Magic Bullets". The film is so involving that I headed for Wikipedia to learn more about this fabulous genius. This is what movies do best!

Well made and accurate film illustrating the great efforts Dr. Ehrlich made in strict scientific method and his ability to comprehend disparate events. This culminated in Dr. Ehrlich's nearly single-handed development of cytology, histology, hematology, hypothesis of immunity and antitoxins and cure for syphilis. Illustrates what one determined individual willing to work may accomplish to the betterment of mankind. Paul Ehrlich was a dedicated physician and scientist of the first order. His efforts likely saved the lives of some of your ancestors if not you, yourself. I regret I can not afford to buy the movie, nor find it re-listed on the TV guide or movie listings. I would be happy to see it again, though it illustrates how little I have made of my life in comparison to that of Dr. Ehrlich.

It's very hard to believe that this movie was made in 1940, as much of the plot centers on Dr. Ehrlich's attempts to create a cure for syphilis. At times, the studio appeared to dance around the whole STD aspect of the disease, but it was extremely daring to try to cover such a taboo topic.It's actually quite amazing that a story as seemingly mundane and medical research is as compelling as it is. I think this is due to excellent directing, writing and acting. In particular, Edward G. Robinson is a standout as the lead. This movie clearly demonstrates that his range far exceeded playing gangsters or that annoying Egyptian in The Ten Commandments.