The Man Who Played God
The Man Who Played God is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and directed by John G. Adolfi. George Arliss stars as a concert pianist embittered by the loss of his hearing, who eventually finds redemption by helping others; it also features a then little-known Bette Davis as the much younger woman engaged to the protagonist.
Plot
While giving a private performance for a visiting monarch, renowned concert pianist Montgomery Royle is permanently deafened when a bomb is detonated in an attempt to assassinate the foreign ruler; for him, his love of music and his career are over. Royle returns to New York City from Paris with his sister Florence, close friend and confidant Mildred Miller, and his considerably younger fiancée Grace Blair. His longtime manservant and admirer saves him from committing suicide. Mildred convinces Royale that he has never known true adversity, and he reveals that he no longer believes in God.
More details
| author | Julien Josephson |
|---|---|
| contentLocation | New York City |
| director | John G. Adolfi |
| editor | William Holmes |
| genre | drama |
| keywords | central park concert pianist draw lip read lip reading philanthropy pianist playing god read young man |
| musicBy | Leo F. Forbstein |
| producer | Darryl F. Zanuck |
| publisher | Warner Bros. |
| theme | silent |