The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) Movie Script

Justin, your carriage is waiting.

All right, all right. One moment.

Dr. Francois

Yes?

Might?

No, justice!

In what way did he wrong you?

He killed my wife!

With his very hands.

He gave her fever.

Childbed fever.

But you can't blame a doctor for that.

Yes. Read this.

Louis Pasteur.

Now who is he?

He is a menace to science

The shooting of Dr. Francois proves it.

Now, monsieurs

If Pasteur is allowed to continue

He will make the practice of

medicine unsafe

for us physicians and

surgeons of France.

You have all read the pamphlet.

Louis Pasteur

He isn't even a doctor, sire.

He's a mere chemist.

A chemist

You don't say.

You remember a few years ago

he was the cause of a slight controversy

on the subject of sour wine.

Oh yes. I recall.

He claimed to have found

little animals in it

Infinitesimal beasts.

But are there such creatures?

Do they really exist?

Your majesty, microscopic organisms

have long been observed.

They spring into being

of their own accord.

Wherever there is putrid matter

or fermentation.

They are the result rather than

the cause of disease.

By heating wine to certain temperatures,

M. Pasteur was able to destroy them.

I presume he plans to cure

blood poisoning in the same manner.

Namely by boiling our blood.

Heaven forbid.

It's not unlikely I assure you.

But I won't have it, Charbonnet.

I won't tolerate such practices.

We're not living in the middle ages.

This is France. Paris.

The nineteenth century.

I think M. Pasteur should be allowed

to defend himself.

But, your majesty...

I too have read the pamphlets,

Dr. Charbonnet

They said nothing about boiling blood.

Merely to boil the instruments

that you surgeons use.

Your majesty, if I did

anything so absurd

as to boil my instruments

or scrub my hands

they'd think I was a witchdoctor

resorting to charms

and laugh me out of the hospital.

That would be a novelty, monsieur.

Most people who go to hospitals

are carried out.

dead

Yes, Charbonnet

Why?

Because our criminal disregard of germs

and their power to invade

the bloodstream

is causing a death rate

in childbirth alone

of three out of every ten mothers.

Or in the city of Paris so that twenty

thousand innocent and

helpless women annually

This being the case, gentlemen,

I leave it to you to decide.

which of us should be called murderer.

I know what they'll say to that.

"Give us proof."

proof

As if the dead and dying

weren't proof enough

for their stupidity.

But, Louis

You can't be sure.

You haven't found the germs.

Roux?

Yes

How about those slides.

Do they show anything?

Fifty eight tests. All negative.

-And yours.

-Here's one.

With a few short chains.

Let me see it.

According to Semmelweis

There has never been

a case of childbed fever

unless the doctor or midwife

had been in recent contact

with another victim of the disease.

What luck.

Nothing definite

Try again

Again?

Yes, again, again and again

Remember our aim.

Find the microbe.

Kill the microbe.

Mother?

Yes, Annette?

There's someone at the door.

-Who is it?

-I don't know. I didn't look.

Service of his majesty the emperor

of France

A letter for M. Pasteur.

He isn't here, monsieur.

No? Then who is that?

M. Pasteur.

"invitation to the palace"

The emperor.

If I could only convince him.

No, no, no, thank you.

Now, Annette, we must hurry and

get the surprise ready.

-Can I help?

-We'll all help, darling.

This isn't the palace.

Excuse me stopping, monsieur.

One moment.

My wife is very sick.

The doctor warned me.

Louise!

You could have done nothing, doctor.

She's been in a coma for two days.

-Childbed fever?

-No doubt.

A pity.

It was an act of providence.

Providence

No, ignorance.

You are going to another confinement?

Yes, monsieur.

The Countess Devilleveau

for Dr. Charbonnet.

Please, use a clean one.

Charbonnet!

Charbonnet

Your majesty

I have a surprise for you.

Who do you think is here?

I am most curious, your majesty.

Who?

Pasteur.

Pasteur?

-Here at the palace?

-Yes

I sent for him.

The emperor has never seen a germ.

He's very skeptical.

If he will honor me

by looking at these slides...

M. Pasteur

You are wanted.

I wonder how you handle this apparatus.

The empress

Let me see.

Oh, well

Come come, Pasteur, tell us precisely

what you mean.

Sire

The hospitals of Paris are pest houses.

There's scarcely a doctor in the city

who's not carrying death

on his hands and instruments.

Because of microbes, monsieur?

Your private menagerie

of invisible beasts?

Exactly.

Dr. Charbonnet could see them

for himself.

If he took the trouble

to use his microscope.

He could watch them multiply

into murderous millions.

They breed in filth.

They may start from the gutters

of Paris tonight

and by tomorrow claim some mother

from this very court.

Preposterous!

To think that a human being

could be destroyed

by an animal ten thousand times

smaller than a flea.

It's as though an army of ants

were to overthrow

your majesty's empire.

Monsieur

A young woman

the wife of one of the court servants

died here this evening.

A victim of your bigotry.

You dare accuse me of murder?

But that isn't the end.

The midwife who attended her

will carry the infection to your next

and more illustrious patient

Countess Gabrielle Devilleveau

Stop!

You should know better, monsieur.

The Countess Gabrielle

is her majesty's sister.

I forbid any more.

Oh, M. Pasteur, it's most fascinating

If you please, my dear.

Your majesty, I...

Is it not true that you are

the author of a pamphlet

which caused the death

of a noted physician?

And also that you practice

medicine of a kind?

I don't practice medicine.

I'm trying to put a stop

to the negligence of those who do.

Pasteur

In the preservation of wine and beer

you have been of service to France.

We appreciate it.

In the future you will

confine your work to that field.

It is my wish, nay, my command.

And if you have any

more theories to offer

you will first present them in writing

to the Academy of Medicine.

which is the proper guardian

of our national health.

Sire

What about the pamphlet

he's already written?

As for that pamphlet, monsieur

You will publish an immediate retraction

or suffer my displeasure.

Permit me, monsieur.

I'm Jean Martel, physician and surgeon.

Graduate of the Institute Frances

doctor of medicine from Le Sorbonne

Secretary of Hygiene,

member of the International

Association of Doctors at Edinburgh

Personally, I'm convinced there is

some truth in what you say

You honor me.

Charbonnet is a fool when it comes

to anything new or the least bit...

I beg your pardon.

Aren't you Dr. Charbonnet's assistant?

Yes I suppose I am.

It's your duty to respect him then.

Not to ridicule him.

I, monsieur?

Good night.

He's coming!

-He's coming.

-Light the candles

-Light the candles quickly

-Light the candles

Stop that.

Marie

You have to pack.

We're leaving Paris tomorrow.

You all are aware of the conditions

upon which Bismark has consented

to withdraw the German

armies from France

In addition to forfeiting

Alsace-Lorraine

we must pay an immediate indemnity

of five billion francs

The question is

how are we to raise such a sum?

Your excellency

Our industries are at a standstill.

Farms are being neglected.

A devastating plague destroys our cattle

at a cost of millions of francs annually

This being the case

my efforts to raise money

have failed everywhere

except

in one small province.

the district of Arbois

But if Arbois can pay

why not the others?

For some reason they haven't been

affected by the plague

Is that true, Dr. Radisse?

I don't know, your excellency.

If there is no disease

in the cattle of Arbois

it is our duty to learn why.

Perhaps they've found

some means of preventing it.

Your excellency,

every farmer has a so called

cure for anthrax

The Academy of Science has

listened to thousands

How do you account for this phenomenon?

Sometimes it happens

a few would be immune.

Arbois, it seems is

particularly fortunate.

That is only guesswork, Dr. Radisse.

I suggest that you make

a thorough investigation immediately.

France is in desperate need.

Her resources must be

tapped to the limit.

Every animal that you

can save for slaughter

will buy back some Frenchman's

liberty and self respect

They really don't look sick.

Luck, that's all, pure luck.

Let's ask that boy a few questions.

Come on, come please.

Hello there, young man.

hello

Have any of your animals

died of anthrax lately?

Anthrax? What's that?

You know. The Black Plague.

Oh, Black Plague.

They used to but not any more.

Just as I thought. These fields

have become immune.

But how, doctor? Why?

My dear friend, that question

is beyond the scope of science.

When you ask me how or why,

I must refer you to the theologian.

When the sheep were sick

did your master do

anything to help them?

He couldn't do much for the sick ones.

But there's a man who does

something for the others.

And they stay well.

Like these here.

What man?

See that house over there by the bridge?

-Yes?

-He lives there

I beg your pardon.

I'm Jean Martel.

This is Dr. Radisse.

Chairman of the agricultural board

of the new republic.

Well

Oh, visitors.

See here. What is this nonsense?

Monsieur?

What do you think you're doing

to those sheep?

Vaccinating them against

the anthrax bacillus.

-The what?

-The microbe, monsieur.

The germ that causes anthrax.

Do you hear that, Martel?

The germ.

We were sent to Arbois

to discover, if possible,

why your sheep escaped the plague.

You're quite welcome, monsieur.

My name is Annette. Annette Pasteur.

You. You mean...

I'm quite sure Father would

be delighted to see you.

Not Louis Pasteur. That, that chemist?

Father

Louis

Now where are you going?

Didn't you promise me to rest?

I'll be right back, dear. Be right back.

So you are now the saviour

of the sheep, monsieur?

Very interesting

He's the man who was responsible

for the death of Dr. Francois

Remember? He was run out of Paris.

Not quite, doctor.

Don't deny it. You were. And you were

warned not to practice.

Positively forbidden.

A prophet is never without

followers it seems.

But rarely such intelligent ones.

These animals know what's good for them.

Perhaps you will tell me

what's good for them.

I'd like to know too.

I'm afraid it's hopeless but I'll try.

Roux?

Yes?

Will you try and explain to Dr. Radisse

what we're doing?

He's a member of the

Academy of Medicine.

So you'll have to use

very simple language.

We're convinced, doctor, after eight

years of experimenting

that this vaccine when injected

into the animal

will set up an immunity.

Ridiculous. It would take eighty years

to convince me.

Eighty?

Aren't you a little optimistic?

You're wasting your money.

But I don't pay. It's free.

Bah!

Come along, Martel. I've heard enough.

Are you coming?

No. I'm going to stay.

Drive on.

Still disobeying your superiors, eh?

I didn't think

you remembered me, monsieur.

I remember you indeed.

The night at the palace

when I told the emperor

Countess Devilleveau would die.

You were right. She did die.

And Charbonnet has never forgiven you.

May I ask why you want to stay?

I'm no longer an

idle courtier, monsieur.

I work for the government. My job is to

help the farmers of France.

So

So if you don't mind...

-Annette

-Yes, Father?

Ask your mother if we have

room for a guest.

Oh, I'm quite sure we have.

I mean I'll go find out.

So you want to render your country

a real service, is that it?

Why, yes I do.

Good.

Come with me.

This should be of interest to you.

I have here the complete life history

of the anthrax bacillus in a form

even the layman can understand.

For example,

this slide reveals a number

of dormant germs

or spores, as we call them

which are found in the grass and soil

wherever diseased animals

have been buried.

In this state

the germ hibernates, so to speak

the way a caterpillar does in a cocoon.

And they remain inanimate for years.

But the moment these germs

find themselves

in a favorable medium

such as the warm blood of a sheep

they immediately change form

and grow into long rods.

Like this.

Amazing!

Let us now look at the blood of

a healthy animal.

Before any germs have entered it.

Those are living blood cells

as we find them

in a normal healthy sheep.

How do the spores get

into the bloodstream?

They're swallowed with the grass

that the creature eats.

But soon we find that

the spores have changed

into fully developed germs.

Deadly and prolific.

Here we have the blood of a sick animal.

This time with the anthrax

bacillus present.

Note the rods that occur among the cells

Those are the culprits we're fighting.

At this stage, the animal

is doomed to die.

Once it is buried, however, the germs

cease to be active

and become spores again.

As time goes on

they're liberated into the soil.

to be blown about in the dust

and pollute the grass.

Hence the continued

recurrence of the plague.

And you say these spores

are present even here?

In the pastures at Arbois?

Every acre of ground that I've tested.

The only reason our cattle stay healthy

is because of my vaccine.

For an animal that hasn't

been vaccinated

Arbois is one of the worst areas

in all of France.

Where are they taking these sheep?

I don't know.

Boncourt, find out where they're going.

What's that?

Look

Radisse is responsible for this.

Government field.

-That stupidity is inexcusable.

-We must stop them

Stop!

Stop them! Stop them!

Stop!

Stop them!

We're not letting the sick ones through.

Only the healthy ones.

They'll die I tell you.

The fields aren't safe.

They're raging with contagion.

As a representative of the government

I've inspected these fields

and they're safe.

But that's so wrong. It's been proven

that they're not.

-stop them

-come on, come on. stand back.

Isn't there anyone we can appeal to?

I've seen with my own eyes

what Pasteur can do.

And has done for the sheep

and cattle of Arbois.

We on the other hand, members

of the Academy of Medicine,

have contributed nothing

in the fight against anthrax.

Then why in heaven's name

don't we listen to a man who has?

Pasteur was discovered to be a charlatan

ten years ago

when he made ludicrous claims

concerning the cause of childbed fever.

Claims that he was never able to prove.

Consequently I see no reason

for humoring him further.

I disagree.

If someone has a cure for anthrax

I want to know about it.

So do I.

Will the visitors in the gallery

please keep quiet.

-Dr. Radisse

-Thank you.

There is just one question

I want to raise.

And that is this.

Whether Dr. Martel's purpose here

is to further the cause of science

or the cause of love.

Personally I am of the latter opinion.

For having met M. Pasteur's

amiable daughter

I can hardly blame our young collegue

for wishing to become his son-in-law.

I protest, Mr. Chairman.

I'm here because I think

Pasteur is right.

I know he's right.

And he will doubtless reward you

for your splendid efforts on his behalf.

Dr. Rossignol

Friends, collegues,

I should like to propose an experiment

that will rid us once and for all

of this medical mountebank,

Louis Pasteur.

In my laboratory I found that

I can produce anthrax in healthy sheep

by injecting into them

the dark poisonous

blood of an animal already

affected with the disease.

This treatment invariably

results in death.

Let us take fifty normal healthy sheep

twenty five of which will

be vaccinated by M. Pasteur

the other twenty five will

remain as they are.

I shall then infect all fifty

sheep with anthrax

by the method I've just explained.

And i defy any man or any vaccine

to save one of them.

-Splendid!

-Nonsense!

Pasteur would be a fool to try it.

He wouldn't dare.

Dr. Martel

Well, I...

I can't take it upon myself.

Well, if this treatment

is all that you say it is

-Yes, let him prove it, let him prove it

-I dare him to try it.

I accept.

M. Pasteur

Thank you.

-Dr. Rossignol

-One moment, please.

Just Dr. Rossignol, please.

This is the last one.

If you wait for me,

I'll go home with you

Don't you have to stay here?

Oh no. No, that's against

the rules of the experiment.

Then Father can go home with us too?

yes

Having treated these twenty five animals

with your magic vaccine

your contention is that

they are now immune?

correct

And I am at liberty to inject into them

the blood of an animal

that has died of anthrax?

If you insist, doctor.

But it's a very clumsy way

of introducing the disease.

Much simpler if you

use the germ instead.

Who said anything about germs?

Well, what do you think causes anthrax?

Anthrax is generated within the body.

It does not come from an outside source

Well, why inject anything?

-Why not let it generate?

-Monsieur

Are you going to abide by

the rules of this experiment?

Or would you rather admit your defeat

here and now?

Proceed, doctor.

By all means, proceed.

-It merely occurred to me

-Too many things occur to you.

That's your trouble.

We're ready, doctors.

Oh. Go ahead.

I say, M. Pasteur

would you care to make a statement

to the London Times?

The sheep that have not been

treated by me

will die of anthrax

within forty eight hours.

The others won't even be ill, I suppose.

At least let us hope they won't.

For the sake of France.

To the end of microbes.

And their high priest, Louis Pasteur.

Try not to worry, Louis

I should have stayed.

I shouldn't have left them.

Who's there?

Besides Dr. Rossignol said

it was against the rules.

Rules. what nonsense.

Louis

You realize what this means?

Tomorrow if you're successful,

every farmer in Europe

will want your vaccine

You won't have a moment's peace

day or night.

The benefits of science

are not for scientists, Marie.

They're for humanity.

Our opponents are on their way.

Well, Rossignol or Pasteur.

Which is it going to be?

I say Rossignol. He's a member

of the academy.

I say M. Pasteur will win.

Please, one moment.

Well, they're having quite a crowd.

It's amazing. People have come

from all over Europe

To see the acrobats or the Punch

and Judy show?

These rural entertainers are like fleas

the slightest crowd attracts them.

Thank you, monsieur.

Dr. Lister, one moment, please.

Lister? Well, well.

Dr. Lister from England?

The press would appreciate a statement

Lister. How extraordinary.

What brings you here?

The same reason that

brings you, my friends.

How do you do.

Please

-I'm sorry. After you.

-No, after you.

-After you.

-No, after you.

-Dead.

-Yes.

-Pasteur was right.

-So far.

Now let's see the ones he treated.

Well, they won't die, eh?

You couldn't convince me.

They're all alive and healthy.

As you predicted.

Roux

My faithful friend.

Let me shake your hand.

Father, Father, I'm so happy.

And I'm so proud, dear.

Annette

Jean, isn't this wonderful?

At last, monsieur, a triumph!

For you too, my boy.

Congratulations.

Father?

Jean has something to ask you.

Well, let him ask.

M. Pasteur, what I wanted to say was

Yes?

M. Pasteur

Since my arrival at Arbois

I have come to know you

and your family quite well.

And

M. Pasteur...

Yes, well, well?

Well, I feel...

Father?

Jean is trying to ask you for my hand.

Yes, we want to be married.

Well, I should hope so.

Congratulations

It doesn't seem possible.

How can they be alive?

I can't understand it either.

It's very easy to understand. Pasteur

was right and we were wrong.

His vaccine does prevent anthrax.

We have a great man in our midst.

A great man.

I quite agree.

I forsee marvelous benefits

for the world.

Especially in the field of surgery.

Why not tell Pasteur

yourself, Dr. Lister?

I'd be delighted to. I want to meet him.

Oh, here he is now. Pardon me.

Excuse me.

Look at those eyes

sparkling with health.

M. Pasteur

If I've been skeptical, I

I beg of you to forgive me.

It's a miracle.

Thank you, thank you.

Dr. Lister. He wants to meet you.

He's travelled all the way from England.

I feel it a great honor to be present.

The honor is mine, doctor.

I'm well acquainted with the work

you're doing in antiseptics.

Thanks to you and your

brilliant leadership.

Such is fame.

Mad dog!

He bit me!

Take him to the blacksmith's.

See? This is one.

Make ten of none.

Count two and three

before let be. Come five and six

the witch's fix.

late seven and eight, this

can be straight

And nine is one and ten is none.

And this is the witch's once once one.

No!

Not all the doctors in Europe

could do more for him.

He'll be lucky if he doesn't

get rabies even now.

And yet if we could find the cause.

The cause of rabies, doctor.

Perhaps a cure would follow.

There must be a way.

Mother

Annette

At this hour

Why doesn't Jean come home?

-He's working with father.

-But he's my husband.

Bu dear, he hasn't forgotten that.

Science, science

Everything's science.

I'm going to have a baby.

Doesn't he realize that?

When I was your age, I had babies

but I didn't cry about it.

Yes, and how many of them lived?

Annette

Oh, Mother, I'm so frightened.

Now, now

I want to see Father.

I want to talk to him.

You'll alarm him needlessly.

Aren't you ashamed?

You know how easily worried he is.

Where is M. Pasteur?

He can't be disturbed just now.

What is it?

It's about the veterinarian.

You wait here. I'll speak to him.

It doesn't work.

Nothing works.

We've been following the same

procedure that we did with anthrax.

Which only shows how little we know

about disease.

Nature's far too subtle

to repeat herself.

I'm sorry, Jean, darling.

You're in the middle of an experiment.

I didn't mean to disturb you.

It's all right, dear.

You better go back.

Father might need you.

In a while. I'll see you home.

It won't be necessary. I have

the coach with me.

Attention, all of you.

So far we've been unable to find

the microbe

that causes rabies.

Yet our experiments have shown

that it exists.

Now listen carefully.

As soon as the veterinarian comes

wait

Where's Martel?

Just a moment, please.

Martel!

Martel

-Good night, dear.

-Good night.

-Good night

-Martel

Martel

coming

-Where is he? What is he doing?

-Annette was here.

Annette?

-How is she?

-She's all right.

It's eleven o'clock, Louis. Now what

about your supper?

Oh, a minute, dear. Just a minute.

You said a minute three hours ago

and you've eaten nothing.

And we could all do with

a little supper, I think.

well

All right. Tell them to stop.

but

We're to resume in half an hour.

-Cecile

-yes, Madam

Supper

Hello

There you are.

That's the veterinarian. Open the door.

-Louis?

-Yes?

I have a letter for you.

It came by special post from England.

From Dr. Lister. Let me see it.

Not until you've eaten.

-Oh, but it's important, Marie.

-Very well.

I'll read it to you.

Dear, sir

My observations lead me to believe

you are a scoundrel.

What?

I'm told you are a slave driver

to your assistants.

That you neglect your wife,

abuse your family

This is no time to joke.

No. Not until you've eaten.

I'll tell you what he said.

My dear Pasteur,

That's different.

Your recent paper on the known sources

of infection is admirable

in every detail.

Forgive the frankness with which

a common love of science

inspires me. I embrace you.

My fellow workers

in Brussels and Prague

have reported that their hospitals

are rapidly becoming safe.

Mothers can go to them without fear.

That's where Annette should be sent

for her confinement.

These doctors in Paris

That isn't all he says.

I do not hesitate to acclaim you

the most valuable man yet to enter

the field of science.

it's nothing, Marie

It's a dog.

A mad dog.

Open his mouth.

I want to get as much of it as I can.

Steady now.

Louis

Louis, stop!

-Not hydrophobia.

-Marie

I've pledged myself to find a cure.

I can't stop now.

Not until I've exhausted every effort

to rid the world of this deadly disease.

M. Pasteur refuses to attend our meeting

But he continues to impose on

the credulity of the people.

Too often has he touted the columns

of the papers with his theories.

What about his vaccine for anthrax?

That's not a theory. It's a fact.

It not only elected him to this academy

But it helped our poor farmers

save enough money

to pay for the entire

Franco-Prussian war.

In the name of French science

Science? You abuse the word.

I stand here to defend

the honor of French medicine

against the tricks of a charlatan.

Dr. Zaranoff

I am a Prussian.

I came here for a different purpose.

Commissioned by my government

to investigate Pasteur's efforts.

His fame has spread to the peasantry

of my country

who for centuries have been preyed upon

by rabid wolves.

I have spent

all my life studying rabies or

hydrophobia as we call it.

And monsieurs

I would worship

I would kneel to any man who

would point the way to a cure.

I deny that miccrobes can be the cause

of rabies or any other disease.

Dr. Charbonnet

How do we know that

bacteria are not harmful?

How do we know they do not do

their deadly work as Pasteur claims?

If Pasteur is not willling to come to us

let us go to Pasteur.

To be humiliated further? You, I,

the whole academy?

Humility is a virtue, monsieur.

Not only in those who suffer

but in those who hope to heal.

All right, let us go.

Let us see what this great man

can teach us.

Thank you, madam

better

Fortunately we found you in, monsieur.

It's the wish of some that

the Academy of Medicine honor you.

Honor me?

And to be brief

Dr. Zaranoff here has been reading your

recent statements in the journal.

How do you do, doctor?

Promising a cure for rabies.

The press takes liberties, doctor.

As usual, my remarks were

grossly exaggerated.

In other words, you have no grounds

for making such a prediction?

-Grounds?

-Proof

No

not yet

I didn't think so.

What an odor!

In your last paper

to the academy, monsieur

you stated that you were on

the threshold of a vast new world.

Might I inquire if you've

crossed that threshold?

Science takes a step

then another

then it stops and reflects

before taking a third.

A mother takes a nursing child,

puts it down, says, "walk"

The child takes the first step.

then another

then it stops unsteadily.

Would the mother be right

to say to him, "You are hesitating."?

You will never walk?

Put out that pipe. It stinks

to high heaven.

You were saying.

Step by step, I'm reaching

the ultimate conclusion.

That microbes are

the cause of all disease.

If you men are still skeptical

if microbes are still

a myth to you then listen.

One drop of this rabies virus

on the slightest scratch

will kill a man.

I hold enough in my hands

to wipe out a whole city.

Ridiculous!

To think that this could kill a man.

All I want now is to have you

predict the hour of my death.

It's over a month now

and he's still in perfect health.

Really.

-I saw him here yesterday

-You did?

Oh, here he comes now.

-Hello, Charbonnet. How are you today?

-Splendid. Never felt better.

According to Pasteur, you ought

to be in your grave.

The more germs I take the better I feel.

Cecile, please tell Monsieur that

Dr. Rossignol is here.

yes, madam.

Something ought to be done.

I've just come from the boulevard.

Charbonnet is making a

laughingstock of your husband.

Parading up and down, showing off

doing everything he can

to attract attention to himself.

And ridiculing M. Pasteur.

Louis doesn't mind ridicule.

If he thinks he's right,

that's all that matters.

M. Pasteur, I've come to warn you

about Charbonnet.

You can't afford to be made ridiculous.

The work you're doing is too important.

Important?

I wish it were.

It isn't. Not yet.

My results have all been negative.

You haven't been able

to discover the microbe?

Is that what you mean?

Not a sign.

You seemed so confident

the day we were here.

I still am.

Every animal that was inoculated with

the contents of that test tube died.

Charbonnet, for some reason,

resisted the disease.

Why I don't know.

Louis, are you sure

it was the same tube?

Positive. It was the only

specimen I had.

You may have let it stand too long.

You told me once the germs grow weaker.

Less virulent with age.

Wait

It might be.

-Roux

-Yes?

How old was that virus when Charbonnet

injected it into his arm?

Fourteen days.

And when was it last used on the rabbit?

Oh, about a week before, I believe.

A week. Are you sure?

Just a moment. Here's the record.

-Nine days to be exact.

-There's your answer.

It must be.

It's the only conceivable explanation.

You think by allowing the virus to age

you were able to render it harmless?

Not harmless but weak.

Weak enough for the system to overcome.

Even if that's true,

it won't help you any.

When a man is bitten

he gets the germ full strength.

Not attenuated.

Precisely.

But suppose we started with

a fourteen day old virus

that's no longer deadly?

Suppose we injected it

into a healthy animal

and day by day as nature

builds up its resistance

we increase the dosage

with stronger fresher virus

Until the animal is able

to withstand the actual

disease that we find

in the world at large.

Would he not then be immune?

It would be impossible.

It would never work.

If the first injection didn't kill him

the second would.

Or the third.

Roux

Where are those tubes

you've been preparing?

Right here.

Let me have them.

They're all in order.

Each one is dated.

Here we are.

Fourteen days.

Jean?

Yes, monsieur.

-Jean, how many dogs do we have left?

-Ten

Are they well, healthy?

In perfect condition.

They've never been exposed.

Give them hydrophobia.

You mean?

Give them hydrophobia.

Open the door.

There you are.

Everybody gets his share.

If it hadn't been for Charbonnet

we might never have

discovered this treatment.

Poor Charbonnet.

Little does he know that

he's been our favorite guinea pig.

Louis?

Yes, dear.

Will you come, please?

There's a doctor to see you.

A doctor?

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

M. Pasteur, I am Dr. Pfeiffer.

I apologize for not giving you notice

but we came all the way from Alsace.

We?

Oh, I beg your pardon. Here they are.

Madam Meister, monsieur.

Her child is a patient of mine.

The boy has been bitten by a dog.

I have done everything I could

but there is very little.

-Should he develop hydrophobia

-You can help him

They told us you could.

Give me your hand, little fellow.

Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you.

My little boy.

My little Joseph.

How long has it been?

Five days.

Have you cauterized the wound?

Not right away.

It must have been twenty four hours.

Does that mean I'm going to die?

Of course not.

Little boys don't die.

They have too much to live for.

He won't live. He won't. I know he won't

Last year it was

the laborer's child of ours.

-Now he...

-Keep quiet!

-What does that have to do with you?

-Oh, save him!

Save him, save him!

Marie

Put him to bed

and see that he's kept warm.

There now

You mustn't be frightened.

We'll go upstairs, shall we?

You must be tired

after all that long journey.

-Mother

-I'm coming, darling.

I'm coming.

Are you quite sure the dog was rabid?

Beyond a doubt. I made the test myself.

Is there anything you can do?

I don't know. I'm just experimenting.

I have hopes but I...

Roux

Find Dr. Rossignol for me at once.

What harm in this

is there, Dr. Rossignol?

I'm sorry.

Since death is the only

alternative for the boy

I would be willing to try anything.

Wouldn't you, Dr. Rossignol?

I'm sorry. I can't agree.

Much as I admire

Pasteur's accomplishments.

Nevertheless, when human

life is at stake

I'd have to take a long while before

going contrary to

the best medical knowledge.

Which in this case means

to let the boy die.

We do what we can,

administer drugs, sedatives

Is there a single cure

of hydrophobia on record?

I'm not arguing for it.

I'm merely pointing out

what the accepted treatment

happens to be.

To embark upon a new course

is always dangerous.

From a professional point of view.

And it would be doubly so for M. Pasteur

who is a chemist

not a doctor.

And could expect no support

from the medical profession.

For his sake, therefore,

I strongly advise

That nothing irregular be attempted.

Good evening, monsieurs.

You're not going to

listen to him, are you?

Don't misunderstand me.

My treatment has saved dogs.

Ten of them.

But I haven't the faintest

notion what effect

it would have upon a human being.

If I failed

It would mean prison

perhaps

the guillotine.

If you change your mind,

I beg of you, let me know.

Good night.

Louis

You didn't.

They'll put you in prison.

He's asleep.

Good morning, Jean.

Good morning, madam.

Any news of Annette?

Seems to me the time is drawing near.

That's what I want to talk to you about.

The doctor I've been counting on is ill.

-LeClaire?

-Yes

I'm sure Louis will find someone

to take his place.

Yes, but when it comes

to the use of antiseptics

It's very difficult to find

anyone you can trust.

Martel

Yes, monsieur.

How is the boy?

He has a fever.

The third injection made him ill.

Is Roux with him?

What are you going to do now?

Do?

Give him a fourth.

A fifth. A sixth.

If he lives.

Is that test finished?

-No, not quite.

-Why not?

What's wrong?

One of the vials was

accidentally broken.

Idiots! Clumsy fools.

I will not stand for it. Do you hear?

Do it yourself.

Very well.

Don't let another soul touch it.

Louis

You haven't closed your eyes

in forty eight hours.

There'll be time enough later.

But there won't.

That's just the trouble.

You'll go on and on.

Marie

I've been lucky all my life.

Luckier than I deserved.

But if i fail now

You won't fail.

The boy will recover.

And when he does, we'll go away.

We'll take a long vacation.

Martel, Roux

All of them.

They need it more than we do.

How fine they've been.

How patient.

They'll never know how grateful I am.

-Why don't you should tell them?

-I will.

I will.

And you, Marie...

You, most of all.

What have I done

to warrant such devotion?

Do you remember what you said

when you asked me to marry you?

You said,

There's nothing about me

to attract a young girl's fancy.

But those who've known me very well

have come to like me.

Did I say that?

Was I really that vain?

You knew better too.

You were looking in a mirror

when you said that.

This way, please.

A thousand pardons for intruding.

I just came from the Russian embassy.

Look out the window.

Look.

They are peasants.

Victims of rabid wolves.

My government has sent them to you.

So soon?

Madam, your husband's cure's

the talk of the country.

But it hasn't been proven yet.

That's why they're here.

To offer themselves

for the test, Pasteur.

It's a marvelous oppotunity.

Yes, a marvelous oppotunity. To kill!

To murder.

Stay away, Louis.

Don't let them see you.

Pasteur

I'm a scientist, Zaranoff,

not a magician.

My treatment was intended for dogs.

But these are men.

Pasteur, think of it.

Surely you won't refuse.

Pasteur, Pasteur, Pasteur

Take them to the hospital.

Isolate them.

I want a full report on every case.

Thank you, monsieur, thank you.

More than life.

What a triumph

Good day, madam. A thousand pardons.

Good day, doctor.

Madam?

Yes, Cecile.

How's the boy?

The same. He's had the injection.

That makes four.

-Roux

-Yes?

Tell the men they're not to leave

the laboratory under any circumstances.

Is that clear?

-I may need them at a moment's notice.

-Very well.

Now madam, what should

I tell the coachman?

Is he still here?

-He's waiting in the kitchen.

-Just a moment.

Louis

It's Annette and Dr. LeClaire is ill.

-LeClaire ill?

-I think I better call Jean.

Not a word to Jean.

-Jean stays here.

-Louis

-He's her husband.

-The work he's doing must be finished.

But what are we going to do?

Don't worry.

I'll see she gets the proper care.

Is the doctor in?

Dr. Ferrare is out on a case.

He won't be home until midnight.

Midnight.

Is Dr. Zomia in

I'm very sorry, monsieur,

but the doctor's gone

to the Riviera for a month's vacation

he was here last time

-Is there any message?

-No, no, thank you.

Dominic, hold on. I want to speak to you

I want to speak to you.

I need help. My daughter's

having a child.

Splendid but why come to me?

Is she all right?

This is my wife, Dr. Charbonnet.

She will help you.

-You can depend on her.

-Madam, I am deeply honored.

Charbonnet?

Cecile, boil some water.

I'll go back to Annette.

A large kettle full.

You're not going to use those

instruments without boiling them?

Certainly.

I won't permit it.

My dear Pasteur, I'm doing this

as a professional courtesy.

Do it my way.

Please.

All right. I'll do it your way.

But I'll make a bargain with you.

A bargain?

I, Louis Pasteur,

hereby

acknowledge

If I live another month

without contracting hydrophobia

I shall be priveledged to publish this

in the leading scientific

journals of Europe.

-Keep them boiling

Yes, monsieur.

-Where's the patient?

-Wait, wait.

Wash your hands first.

Take it all off.

Now roll up your sleeves.

Wash them to the elbows.

What's that?

Don't be afraid. It's only

a little bichloride.

Now use the brush.

The brush, the brush.

Louis

Yes, yes. In a moment.

There. Does that suit you

Yes. That's better.

Now there's a clean towel over there.

Cecile, hurry.

You may go in now. My daughter's ready.

Don't touch it!

What?

Your hands.

You've spoiled it now.

You'll have to wash them again.

See here. I've brought hundreds

of babies into the world.

Remember our bargain.

Do as I say.

Such foolishness.

Now, hold them up high.

What next?

Touch nothing but the patient.

What about my instruments?

They'll be brought to you.

Louis

Louis, we have a grandson.

A grandson.

Louis

Dr. Charbonnet, come quickly.

My husband's ill.

Louis. Louis.

He's had a stroke.

My

My left side is paralyzed?

Only slightly.

It's nothing serious.

When did it happen?

A few days ago.

A few days.

You were more tired than anything else.

Feeling better?

The Meister boy.

He's doing splendidly.

Thank God.

And

The Russians.

Have you been able to help them?

The hospital refused

to allow our treatment

without permission from the academy.

The permission was granted this morning.

But it was too late,

Three of them died yesterday.

Horribly

-Let me up.

-Please, Louis.

I must go.

How many are left?

Nineteen. But it's no use.

It's hopeless.

If our efforts can save one

it will be well worth it.

Let me up, someone.

Get me dressed.

What's going on, doctor?

Pasteur himself is going

to treat the Russians.

But I'm afraid it's too late.

-Dr. Charbonnet, why don't you come in?

-I don't want to disturb him.

Patient number one

three cc's

Jean

Patient number two

Dr. Charbonnet

I didn't thank you for

delivering my grandchild.

You've been ill, monsieur.

I'm sorry.

Perhaps this note will help

speed your recovery.

A bargain's a bargain.

I want the Pasteur treatment

for hydrophobia.

How are they today?

Much better.

That's good.

Nineth day, patient number one.

-Any change?

-Not this morning.

Continue treatment.

-Eight day old virus?

-Yes.

Patient number five.

How are the Russian patients today?

Doing very well.

Pasteur makes his final visit tomorrow.

Good morning, doctor.

Good morning, madam.

How is my little Joseph this morning?

He's fine and such an appetite.

Go right in.

He's gone.

Joseph

You little rascal you.

Now get dressed.

But how can we ever get Monsieur there?

I'll take care of that part of it.

He won't consent to go if he suspects.

He won't suspect.

You leave that to me.

Marie

M. Pasteur

Joseph

Are you ready?

Now you wait a moment.

I've a little surprise for you

to take home.

M. Pasteur

Madam Meister wants to thank you

once more before leaving.

I think you are a man who

will always be remembered.

No, no, no, no

Good bye.

-Good bye

-Good bye, monsieur.

-Good bye.

-Joseph

-Can you write?

-Yes.

Would you like to write to me?

Yes, very much.

Then

Let me hear from you

every month.

Won't you?

Yes I will.

Don't forget.

I'll be looking for your letters.

Joseph?

Yes?

Thank you.

-Goodbye.

By the way, Louis

Roux's just told me

that a foreign scientist

is a lecturer at the academy tonight.

He claims to have disproven

your entire germ theory.

What?

Who is he?

What's his name?

I don't know.

Order me a carriage.

I've got to be there.

You're just in time.

Courage, dear.

I'll be listening from the balcony.

Whom are they applauding?

The speaker, Dr. Lister from England.

Lister?

Lister to speak against me?

Ladies and gentlemen

The tribute that we render

Pasteur on this occasion

is small indeed

compared to the countless millions

who will honor his memory

in generations to come.

The vaccines for anthrax

and hydrophobia

are great accomplishments.

But even greater still, I believe

is the fact

that thousands of people will be saved

from unnecessary death

from infection.

And mothers

need no longer fear

surgery or childbirth.

In the name of France I greet you.

M. Pasteur

I greet you in the name of humanity.

Lister

Great Lister

From his imperial majesty

The czar of all Russia

with profoundest gratitude.

I have no words to express.

You young men

doctors

and scientists of the future

do not let yourselves be tainted

by apparent skepticism

nor discouraged by the sadness

of certain hours

that creep over nations.

do not become angry at your opponents

for no scientific theory

has ever been accepted

without opposition.

Live in the serene peace

of libraries

and laboratories.

Say to yourselves first

what have I done for my instruction.

And as you gradually advance

what am I accomplishing?

Until the time comes

when you may have the immense

happiness of thinking

that you have contributed in some way

to the welfare

and progress

of mankind.

The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) - full transcript