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Poster for The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

Seen it?

1939 | 98 min | Drama, History

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It was critically acclaimed, though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for history buffs. If you loved Darkest Hour or Rudy, start here.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 38 min.
What might put you off
Made in 1939: an older pace and style.

Alexander Graham Bell falls in love with deaf girl Mabel Hubbard while teaching the deaf and trying to invent means for telegraphing the human voice. She urges him to put off thoughts of marriage until his experiments are complete. He invents the telephone, marries and becomes rich and famous, though his happiness is threatened when a rival company sets out to ruin him.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    Critically acclaimed

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 9K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Irving Cummings

  • Don AmecheAlexander Graham Bell
  • Loretta YoungMrs. Mabel Hubbard Bell
  • Henry FondaThomas Watson
  • Charles CoburnGardner Hubbard
  • Gene LockhartThomas Sanders
  • Spring ByingtonMrs. Hubbard
  • Sally BlaneGertrude Hubbard
  • Polly Ann YoungGrace Hubbard
  • Georgiana YoungBerta Hubbard
  • Bobs WatsonGeorge Sanders