Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet (1940): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet is a 1940 drama directed by William Dieterle, starring Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Paul Ehrlich, Ruth Gordon and Otto Kruger. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $205 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- William Dieterle
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet About?
The premise of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set against a backdrop of rampant syphilis, the film follows a determined physician who launches a crusade against what he calls the deadliest public enemy. Convinced that seeking a therapeutic remedy is a moral duty, he pursues a groundbreaking drug to eradicate the disease, portraying his scientific resolve and the ethical debate surrounding his quest.
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- medical research
- child in jeopardy
- 1880s
- medical breakthrough
- medical drama
- medical clinic
- death of protagonist
- diptheria epidemic
- medical lecture
- 1890s
- 1900s
- death of husband
+38 more Show fewer
- 1910s
- melodrama
- costume drama
- historical drama
- social drama
- reference to paul ehrlich
- cure
- experiment
- physician
- bacteriologist
- nobel prize winner
- widow
- german man
- salvarsan
- antimicrobial
- berlin germany
- death from snake bite
- vaccination
- medical institute
- wealthy widow
- german jew
- dye
- antisemitism
- reference to robert koch
- desert adder
- grandchild
- frankfurt germany
- std sexually transmitted disease
- dieterle and calhern
- syphilis
- chemotherapy
- serum
- laboratory
- magic bullet
- tuberculosis
- anti toxin
- immunology
- antibody
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet Cast & Characters
Edward G. Robinson leads the cast as Dr. Paul Ehrlich, with Ruth Gordon as Mrs. Ehrlich and Otto Kruger as Dr. Emil Von Behring. Directed by William Dieterle; 55 actors are credited in all.
- Director William Dieterle
-
Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Paul Ehrlich - Ruth Gordon as Mrs. Ehrlich
- Otto Kruger as Dr. Emil Von Behring
- Albert Bassermann as Dr. Robert Koch
Also Starring in Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet
· 51 more- Sig Ruman Dr. Hans Wolfert
- Ernst Hauessermann Hans Weisgart
- Maria Ouspenskaya Franziska Speyer
- Irving Bacon Becker
- Henry O'Neill Dr. Lentz
- Frank Reicher Old Man
- Charles Halton Sensenbrenner
- Donald Crisp Minister Althoff
- Donald Meek Mittelmeyer
- Louis Calhern Dr. Brockdorf
- Robert Strange Koerner
- Ann E. Todd Marianne
- Stuart Holmes Male Nurse
- John Hamilton Hirsch
- Paul Harvey Defense Attorney
- Frank Mayo Assistant in Hospital
Show all 55 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Theodore von Eltz Dr. Kraus
- Cliff Clark Haupt
- Torben Meyer Kadereit
- Harry Davenport Judge
- Howard M. Mitchell Dr. Virchow
- Douglas Wood Speidler
- Montagu Love Professor Hartmann
- Louis Jean Heydt Dr. Kunze
- Frank Jaquet Banker
- Robert R. Stephenson Merk - Patient
- Egon Brecher Martl
- Frank Lackteen Arab Man
- Edward Norris Dr. Morgenroth
- Herbert Anderson Medical Assistant
- Wilhelm von Brincken Officer
- Greta Meyer Female Nurse
- Wolfgang Zilzer Kellner
- Lisa Golm Nurse
- Paul Phillips Patient
- Hermine Sterler Miss Marquardt
- Gisela Werbisek Mother
- Louis Adlon Hospital Attendant
- Norman Phillips Jr. Stable Boy
- Brandon Tynan Doctor
- Louis V. Arco Dr. Bertheim
- Rolf Lindau Patient
- Walter O. Stahl Doctor
- Hedwiga Reicher Nurse
- Gretl Dupont Mother
- Wilfred Hari Dr. Hata
- Ludwig Hardt Court Clerk
- Frederic Mellinger Court Stenographer
- Rolla Stewart Steffi
- John Henrick Dr. Bucher
- Elaine Renshaw Arab Woman
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet Plot Summary
What happens in Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Paul Ehrlich, a dedicated doctor working in a German hospital, faces frequent dismissal due to his persistent disregard for strict hospital rules, which are often hindered by bureaucratic red tape. Despite these obstacles, Ehrlich’s true passion lies in pioneering groundbreaking research, specifically focusing on selective color staining, a technique that involves marking cells and microorganisms with dyes or agents that have a specific affinity for their targets. His innovative approach to optical microscopy becomes a beacon of hope in medical diagnostics.
Full summary
The whole story of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet, scene by scene
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet Box Office
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet grossed $205 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$205
- International
- $205
How Well Do You Know Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main protagonist of the film?
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “The Story of Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet” and “Die Lebensgeschichte Paul Ehrlichs”.
- Also known as
-
- The Story of Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet
- Die Lebensgeschichte Paul Ehrlichs
- Paul Ehrlich – Ein Leben für die Forschung
- Un uomo contro la morte
- La Balle magique du Docteur Ehrlich
- Магическая пуля доктора Эльриха
- 埃尔利希博士的魔弹
- A Vida do Dr. Ehrlich
- La bala mágica
- 埃爾利希博士的魔彈
Seen Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet?
Movies Like Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Einstein of Sex: Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld, In the Shadow of the Reich: Nazi Medicine and The White Disease.
-
The Einstein of Sex: Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld 1999 -
In the Shadow of the Reich: Nazi Medicine 1997 -
The White Disease 1937 -
Breaking the Mould 2009 -
Hospital of the Transfiguration 1979 -
Doctor Mordrid 1992 -
Eichmann 2007 -
The Magic Box 1951 -
The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler 1943 -
Hitler: The Rise of Evil 2003 -
The Quiet Duel 1949 -
The Doctor of Stalingrad 1958
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet?
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet released?
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet was released on February 8, 1940.
Who directed Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet?
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet was directed by William Dieterle.
More films by William Dieterle Who is in the cast of Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet?
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet stars Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Paul Ehrlich, Ruth Gordon as Mrs. Ehrlich and Otto Kruger as Dr. Emil Von Behring, among 55 credited actors.
How much did Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet make at the box office?
Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet grossed $205 worldwide.
Does Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet have a post-credit scene?
No. Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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