How I felt about it. It is easy to say that The Story of Louis Pasteur reminds me of Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940), since I watched the films nearly back to back. The films share the same studio (Warner Bros.) and director, and the plots are also similar. A European scientist shows imagination and determination in fighting disease, although blocked at every turn by obnoxious doctors and bureaucrats.
Both films can be broken into three chapters in which the great man makes a separate major contribution. And both films go to lengths to demonstrate the personal sacrifices of our hero: in the case of Pasteur, he works himself to near death, he may go to prison, even get executed, and he's certain to be ridiculed. But of course he has his moments of triumph, which he humbly accepts before taking on the next challenge.
Of the two movies, I prefer The Story of Louis Pasteur, despite its slightly lesser production values. The difference is largely due to Paul Muni, who relished playing ethnic and heroic historical figures. Muni's quirky and unknowingly comic presence necessitates Dieterle to subtly alter the film into a straight-faced comedy where all the supporting characters become ingratiatingly campy and quirky as well.
Thus, we can enjoy Pasteur's assistant Donald Woods as he energetically protests the insightful judgment of a doctor accusing him of brown-nosing Pasteur to earn the hand of his hottie daughter (Anita Louise). Oh no, it's all for science, monsieur!
Another classic camp moment occurs when the preening Dr. Charbonnet (Fritz Leiber) impulsively seizes Pasteur's rabies-laden syringe and injects himself with it, just to prove it doesn't cause rabies! Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Charbonnet, that was the embalming fluid, you took the wrong vial.
How others will see it. The biographical film, starring a hero rising from humble origins to great achievement despite incalcitrant opposition, is a Hollywood staple. The Story of Louis Pasteur rises above most such movies, partly because of Muni's eccentric charm, but primarily because Dieterle is cagey enough to know how to use it.
Skeptics may wonder if Pasteur really had a beautiful and wonderful wife and daughter devoted to him, and whether he in fact lived his entire life without smoking, cussing, or showing bitterness toward his confounding enemies. But critics should regard all that as part of the comedy, which doesn't have to be out in the open to be entertaining.