Meticulous but standard-issue biopic of the great 19th century French microbiologist, with a story arc that's a little too predictable. We know the medical Establishment will refuse to admit it's wrong about germs causing disease; we know Pasteur will have to fight long and hard to win respect; we know he'll have a quiet, supportive, loving wife; we know the daughter and his colleague will form whatever love story there is. It's nicely photographed, and Best Actor Muni lands somewhere between his Thirties extremes of hamminess ("Juarez") and restraint ("I Am a Fugitive"). He's affecting in the final scene, but that's due more to the fail-safe story engineering than any histrionic genius. He was a dedicated and versatile actor, and this is another worthy portrait in his gallery, but it's just not exciting or surprising.
Review of The Story of Louis Pasteur
