The Miracle Woman is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film[1] directed by Frank Capra and starring Barbara Stanwyck, David Manners, and Sam Hardy. Based on the play Bless You Sister by John Meehan and Robert Riskin, the film is about a clergyman’s daughter who becomes disillusioned by the mistreatment of her dying father by his church. Having grown cynical about religion, she teams up with a con man and performs fake miracles for profit. The love and trust of a blind veteran, however, restores her faith in God and her fellow man. The Miracle Woman was the second of five film collaborations between Capra and Stanwyck. Produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures, the film was reportedly inspired by the life of Aimee Semple McPherson.[2]

The Miracle Woman
theatrical release poster
Directed byFrank Capra
Written byDorothy Howell (continuity)
Screenplay byJo Swerling
Based onBless You Sister
1927 play
by John Meehan and Robert Riskin
Produced byHarry Cohn
StarringBarbara Stanwyck
CinematographyJoseph Walker
Edited byMaurice Wright
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 7, 1931 (1931-08-07) (US)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Florence Fallon is outraged when church elders, in order to make way for a younger preacher, fire her minister father after his twenty years of selfless service. Following her father's death, she tells the congregation what she thinks of their ingratitude and hypocrisy. Her bitter, impassioned speech impresses Bob Hornsby, who convinces her to become a phony evangelist so they can squeeze donations out of gullible believers. Promoted as Sister Fallon, Florence then travels about the country with Bob, who manages her "Temple of Happiness". Soon, she attracts a devoted national following, but the religious sham comes tumbling down once she meets and falls in love with John Carson, a blind war veteran. When Florence is blackmailed by Bob, she tells John of her charade. John then puts a plan in motion to expose Hornsby and the organization.

Cast

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See also

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  • Leap of Faith, a 1992 film with a similar plot
  • The Miracle Man, 1919 film starring Lon Chaney, with a plot generally identical to the 1992 "Leap of Faith" starring Steve Martin. Only a few minutes of the 1919 film are known to still exist.

References

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  1. ^ "The Miracle Woman". prod.tcm.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. ^ Judd Blaise. "The Miracle Woman (1931)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.

Further reading

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