SPENCER TRACY is well cast as Thomas A. Edison, the prolific inventor who had many obstacles facing him before he became the successful inventor known all over the world for his achievements.
MGM has created a simplified version of his life and times but filled it with interesting vignettes on his various inventions and obviously hired some good technical advisers to give the film a look of authenticity when it comes to Edison's laboratory experiments and all of the incidents paving the way toward new discoveries.
A typical Hollywood touch is the romance between Tracy and RITA JOHNSON who plays his wife, but at least the incidents are a creative blend of fact and fiction with some humorous elements thrown in.
GENE LOCKHART is outstanding as the wealthy Mr. Taggart who worries that his gas company will face bankruptcy if Edison's electric experiments are successful. Taggart is the man who first gives Edison support when he fixes the office stock indicator and is rewarded with a job at Western Union. CHARLES COBURN, FELIX BRASSERT and GENE REYNOLDS lend sterling support.
Tracy gives his usual credible performance as the determined inventor, although the opening scene tends to be on the corny side as it leads to an extensive flashback of his life.
By keeping the obstacles in the path of several of Edison's most noteworthy inventions, the story has all of the required conflict guaranteed to hook the viewer from start to finish.
MGM has created a simplified version of his life and times but filled it with interesting vignettes on his various inventions and obviously hired some good technical advisers to give the film a look of authenticity when it comes to Edison's laboratory experiments and all of the incidents paving the way toward new discoveries.
A typical Hollywood touch is the romance between Tracy and RITA JOHNSON who plays his wife, but at least the incidents are a creative blend of fact and fiction with some humorous elements thrown in.
GENE LOCKHART is outstanding as the wealthy Mr. Taggart who worries that his gas company will face bankruptcy if Edison's electric experiments are successful. Taggart is the man who first gives Edison support when he fixes the office stock indicator and is rewarded with a job at Western Union. CHARLES COBURN, FELIX BRASSERT and GENE REYNOLDS lend sterling support.
Tracy gives his usual credible performance as the determined inventor, although the opening scene tends to be on the corny side as it leads to an extensive flashback of his life.
By keeping the obstacles in the path of several of Edison's most noteworthy inventions, the story has all of the required conflict guaranteed to hook the viewer from start to finish.