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The Man Who Played God

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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Concert pianist Montgomery Royale (George Arliss) is performing for a visiting king when a bomb goes off in an attempt on the king's life. Struck deaf as a result, his career is ruined. Feeling lost, Royale discovers he can read lips and begins eavesdropping on other people's conversations, using what he learns to help them. This new skill gives him a selfless outlook on life, and he goes so far as to call off his engagement to Grace (Bette Davis) after learning she is in love with another man.

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The Man Who Played God

Critics Reviews

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David Nusair Reel Film Reviews May 22, 2026
1.5/4
...an almost astonishingly sluggish and tiresome effort... Go to Full Review Roy V. Bailey Sacramento Bee Feb 10, 2021
If you enjoy a picture that Is clean and wholesome an has a philosophy of true optimism back of It you will like this George Arliss vehicle. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D @RT35616104 Mar 1, 2024 Fine but no one is given much to do. See more Sep 10, 2015 good pre-code rom-dram See more Mar 30, 2011 I'm disposed to like this film if only because Bette Davis was about to give up on a movie career when George Arliss offered her this part, which in turn got her signed to Warner Brothers, and the rest of course is history. Besides that, I find this film a bit dry, and at certain points just plain dull, but all of the actors do an excellent job, which makes it very watchable at times nonetheless. See more Apr 29, 2008 Not a silent movie (but it could easily have been), about why pianists should never perform before European heads of state. See more Read all reviews
The Man Who Played God

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Cast & Crew

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John Adolfi

Director

George Arliss

Montgomery Royle

Bette Davis

Grace Blair

Violet Heming

Mildred Miller
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The Man Who Played God

The Man Who Played God (1932) The Man Who Played God (1932) The Man Who Played God (1932) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Concert pianist Montgomery Royale (George Arliss) is performing for a visiting king when a bomb goes off in an attempt on the king's life. Struck deaf as a result, his career is ruined. Feeling lost, Royale discovers he can read lips and begins eavesdropping on other people's conversations, using what he learns to help them. This new skill gives him a selfless outlook on life, and he goes so far as to call off his engagement to Grace (Bette Davis) after learning she is in love with another man.
Director
John Adolfi
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 17, 2017
Runtime
1h 21m
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