Despite himself, accomplished physicist and avowed bachelor Pierre Curie falls for brilliant student Marie, and together they embark on the discovery of radium.Despite himself, accomplished physicist and avowed bachelor Pierre Curie falls for brilliant student Marie, and together they embark on the discovery of radium.Despite himself, accomplished physicist and avowed bachelor Pierre Curie falls for brilliant student Marie, and together they embark on the discovery of radium.
- Nominated for 7 Oscars
- 7 nominations total
- Madame Eugene Curie
- (as Dame May Whitty)
- Tall Woman
- (uncredited)
- Man at Accident
- (uncredited)
- Swedish Queen
- (uncredited)
- Lecturer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Professor
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOnly one scene in the entire film--a long shot of the Curies on honeymoon--was actually filmed outside of the studio, and even that was second unit.
- GoofsWhen Marie determines chemical composition of pitchblende, 7 minerals add to 99%, one mineral (magnesium oxide) is .99% and the "extraneous matter" of .001% all adds up to 99.991%. Presumably the mag-Ox should be .999%, otherwise, the actual extraneous matter would be 10 times greater (.01%) than Marie's stated measurement.
- Quotes
[last lines]
[Madame Curie addresses a large gathering of scientists]
Marie Curie: Even now, after twenty-five years of intensive research, we feel there is a great deal still to be done. We have made many discoveries. Pierre Curie and the suggestions we have found in his notes, and his thoughts he expressed to me have helped to guide us to them. But no one of us can do much. Yet, each of us, perhaps, can catch some gleam of knowledge which, modest and insufficient of itself, may add to man's dream of truth. It is by these small candles in our darkness that we see before us, little by little, the dim outline of that great plan that shapes the universe. And I am among those who think that for this reason, science has great beauty and, with its great spiritual strength, will in time cleanse this world of its evils, its ignorance, its poverty, diseases, wars, and heartaches. Look for the clear light of truth. Look for unknown, new roads. Even when man's sight is keener far than now, divine wonder will never fail him. Every age has its own dreams. Leave, then, the dreams of yesterday. Youth, take the torch of knowledge and build the palace of the future.
- ConnectionsFeatured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006)
- SoundtracksTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
(uncredited)
from the French melody "Ah ! vous dirai-je, Maman" (music first published 1761)
Played on piano by Linda Lee Gates and Marie Louise Gates
I would like to propose that all high school students watch this film at least twice and complete a report on what the film meant to them. Maybe it would inspire even a very small percentage of our future scientists to maintain a semblance of perseverance, get rid of their cell phones and social media presence and remember how difficult life and romance was for Marie and Pierre Curie.
This is a romantic and epic documentary film that all teenagers should enjoy sitting through and learning a bit about the hardships that our predecessors and science leaders endured for our benefit and the better future of all mankind.
A deservedly 8 out of 10 rating
- Ed-Shullivan
- Mar 19, 2020
- Permalink
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Details
- Runtime2 hours 4 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1