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The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 3/24

LouPast
3/24: If you see the word "pasteurized" on milk cartons, then you know where that came from: Louis Pasteur.

Unrecognizable, Paul Muni won the Best Actor Oscar by transforming himself to play the character for The Story of Louis Pasteur. It's inspiring stuff just like The Life of Emile Zola. Although highly fictional, the writing is good and clear, but the pace slows down during the second half.

The subject matter is fascinating. Of course, it's an accepted fact by now there's such thing as a "microbe." It only takes a microscope to discover its existence, and soap and alcohol are among those that can kill it. Otherwise, the consequence is fatal due to the failure of disinfection. By the way, Joseph Lister is famous as in "Listerine," but he didn't invent the mouthwash.

All in all, Paul Muni proved again and again he could play anyone at any age and of any nationality in any period of time, and he should've won more Oscars during the 30's.