The Magnificent Yankee

A biopic of Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935), the Supreme Court judge famous for his witticisms and his espousal of liberal causes, which earned him the nickname "The Great Dissenter". The story charts Holmes's career between the presidencies of two Roosevelts, taking in such key historical events as the Great War, the Depression and so on. As Holmes, Louis Calhern has to age considerably, dispense justice and have a private life with his wife (Ann Harding). No wonder his performance earned him an Oscar nomination! (That said, he had played the part on Broadway for two years.) A stagey, talky movie that oozes prestige.