The Man Who Could Work Miracles
by Nick Cooper © 2021
Compared to Things to Come, the production of The Man Who Could Work Miracles was much less troubled, but producer Alexander Korda was not totally happy with it, so it was initially shelved, pending the completion of TTC. Once TTC had been released, Korda returned to TMWCWM, directing re-shoots of certain scenes himself, and it premiered in Southend on 4 July 1936. Unlike TTC, the version of TMWCWM that survives to this day is essentially the same as first released.
Note that just at the production stills for TTC are coded "WM" for the working title of Whither Mankind?, those for TMWCWM are coded "MM" as it was originally to be called Miracle Maker.
BEHIND THE SCENES
With regulation cigar in hand, Alexander Korda blocks out an exterior scene with Ralph Richardson. Behind Korda, mostly obscured, is actual director Lothar Mendes. Cinematographer Harold Rosson can be seen (with the viewfinder) behind the script assistant on the right.
With Korda still hovering around the set, Mendes looks like he can't wait for him to leave. Note that while this appears to have been shot at the same time as the previous photograph, Richardson has changed costume.
Mendes finally gets to it his own way, with Richard having been joined by Roland Young.
The "nine next prettiest girls in Dewhinton... beautifully dressed, too," doing exactly what it says on the tin. Next after Ada (Joan Gardner - above) that is. Wells treatment only specified the "next six" - Korda obviously went for a 50% increase.
Eight of "the next nine." Playing with a kitten. Under a tree. Obviously.
PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL
Early UK Trade Advert
UK trade advert from the 9 January 1936 issue of the trade newspaper Kinematograph Weekly. The other side of the page featured a trade advert for Things to Come. [Original in the author's collection]
Later UK Trade Advert
UK trade advert from the 30 July 1936 issue of Kinematograph Weekly. [Original in the author's collection]
US Release Poster
[Modern reproduction in the author's collection]
US Lobby Card
One of the US lobby card set. [Modern reproduction in the author's collection]
US Trade Advert
US trade advert from an unknown magazine. [Original in the author's collection]
Spanish Front-of-House Still
Rare Spanish front-of-house photograph of Joan Gardner, cheaply two-colour litho-printed on plain paper. [Original in the author's collection]
1937 Wood Green Empire
During the 1930s there was much emphasis on the "showman" side of the cinema trade, and the industry press often arranged competitions to see who could come up with the best promotional ideas. This shows the special facade added to the ticket booth at the Wood Green Empire in North London by manager Percy Swanwick. This photograph appeared in the 11 March 1937 issue of the trade newspaper Kinematograph Weekly, which reported:
"The man in costume, to be seen on the left, paraded the streets and at vantage points he stopped and performed conjuring tricks, much to the amusement of the crowds which gatahered. Mr Swanwick also secured a number of tie-up window displays."
1947 Film Classics Lobby Cards
Two of the set of eight 14" x 11" (358mm x 280mm) lobby cards used to advertise the 1947 Film Classics re-issue. [Originals in the author's collection]
1948 British Lion Re-Issue Trade Advert
Advert from the industry magazine Kinematograph Weekly of 12 February 1948 for trade shows of Things to Come and The Man Who Could Work Miracles, re-issued by British Lion, at 10.30 am at the Rialto, London, on 17 & 18 February 1948 respectively. The British Lion Film Corporation was a small-scale film renting organisation formed in November 1927, in which Alexander Korda bought a controlling interest in January 1946, at the same time he resurrected London Films as a private company, with all but 2% of the shares being held within his family (the London Films that made Things to Come ten years previous was partly owned by the Prudential Insurance Company). Both these ventures provided Korda with not only the means to produces new films, but also to continue to earn a direct profit from his older ones. [Original in the author's collection]
Double-bill Re-Issue Poster
27" x 41" (685mm x 1045mm) poster used to advertise a double-bill of Things to Come and The Man Who Could Work Miracles. Undated and with no distributor's name, this is certainly later than the 1947 Film Classics and 1948 British Lion re-issues, since it cribs certain elements from the publicity material of both. Touting Miracles as "uncensored" is a bit cheeky. [Original in the author's collection]
RETURN TO THINGS TO COME INDEX
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| 24/03/21 | First upload |
| 02/04/21 | Additional images |