In this stunningly romantic classic film, Rock Hudson stars as Bob Merrick, a rich, spoiled playboy who spends his time living wild and ignoring the consequences. Jane Wyman is Helen Phillips, married just six months to the doctor of her dreams. One day Bob is out in his speedboat, pushing speeds of nearly two hundred miles an hour, and flips over. The police swing by the Phillips’ house to borrow a resuscitator and save Bob’s life. Meanwhile, however, Dr. Phillips himself suffers a heart attack and passes away. The physician who attends him says that if the resuscitator had been where it belonged, he might have had the chance to save Dr. Phillips’ life. Everyone who knows and loves Dr. Phillips now has feelings of resentment – why did a scoundrel like Bob Merrick get to live, while Dr. Phillips had to die?
Bob himself asks that question. Trying the only way he knows how to make amends, he writes out a check for Mrs. Phillips in the amount of $25,000, but she refuses it, telling him that he can’t use his money to buy his way out of situations forever. Feeling terrible, Bob goes and gets drunk, then runs his car into a ditch right in front of a cottage belonging to Edward Randolph, a good friend of the Phillips. Edward gives Bob a bed for the night and lets him sleep off the hangover, then he tells Bob of a philosophy of living that he and Dr. Phillips had been practicing for years, one of utter and complete service to those around them. They used their money and their time to help those around them, on the conditions that it remain a secret and that the recipient never try to repay. This way of living brought tremendous blessings, but it was a hard road. In fact, the first person to truly practice it died on a cross.
Bob leaves Edward’s house curious to try the experiment. When he hears that a friend needs money for medical bills, he doles out the cash, hoping that the forces in the universe will give him a chance to make things right with Mrs. Phillips. Turning, he sees her in the crowd, and chases after her. She makes it clear that she doesn’t want to see him, and in getting away from him, gets in the way of a car, which plows her down. Her life is spared, but she’s lost her sight.
Bob tries to see her repeatedly but she won’t have him in. Finally, six months have gone by and Helen is able to go sit on the beach and visit with friends. Bob approaches her there, gives her the name of Robbie Robinson, and they strike up a friendship which quickly turns to romance. Bob, in the meantime, has taken up the medical school courses he abandoned so long ago and is trying to make something good of his life. He contacts some experts in Switzerland who might just be able to help Helen regain her eyesight, and without her knowledge, finances the whole thing.
This movie is one of those richly romantic films that you can just immerse yourself in. Full of drama and emotion, it’s not terribly realistic, but who cares. My only complaint is with Jane Wyman’s hair, but I’ve never really cared for how she styled it so that’s a moot point.
This film was not rated.
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