Edison the Man

Edison the Man (1940) starring Spencer Tracy, Rita Johnson

Edison the Man – A biography of Thomas Alva Edison, starring Spencer Tracy. It’s the story of Edison, starting as a young man, beginning his career, through the fight to bring electric lighting to New York City.

Editorial review of Edison, the Man courtesy of Amazon.com

In 1940, MGM produced two pictures spanning the life of legendary inventor and thinker Thomas Alva Edison. This sequel to YOUNG TOM EDISON (starring Mickey Rooney) is a thought-provoking portrait of the man behind some of the most important inventions of the 20th century. On the 50th anniversary of Edison’s greatest invention, the incandescent lightbulb, the elderly man thinks back on his life and his most creative period. He remembers the early setbacks in his career, his undaunting determination, and his happy family life with his wife, Mary Stillwell (Rita Johnson).

This well-researched biopic features a remarkable lead performance from Spencer Tracy, who spent a period of time in Edison’s hometown of Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he stayed in his laboratory and researched his journals and letters. In an attempt to create continuity between the two Thomas Edison projects, MGM hired the same screenwriters to work on both pieces.

Cast of characters in Edison the Man

• Spencer Tracy (Judgement at Nuremberg, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner) … Thomas A. Edison
• Rita Johnson (The Major and the Minor) … Mary Stilwell
• Lynne Overman (She Loves Me Not) … James G. ‘Bunt’ Cavatt
• Charles Coburn (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) … General Powell
• Gene Lockhart (Miracle on 34th Street) … Mr. Taggart
• Henry Travers (The Invisible Man) … Ben Els
• Felix Bressart (Ninotchka) … Michael Simon
• Peter Godfrey (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1941) … Ashton
• Guy D’Ennery (The Mark of Zorro 1940) … Lundstrom
• Byron Foulger (The Man They Could Not Hang) … Edwin Hall
• Milton Parsons (Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome) … ‘Acid’ Graham
• Arthur Aylesworth … Jack Bigelow
• Gene Reynolds (Boys Town) … Jimmy Price
• Addison Richards (The Mummy’s Curse) … Mr. Johnson
• Grant Mitchell (Blondie’s Holiday) … Snade
• Paul Hurst (Island of Lost Souls) … Sheriff
• George Lessey … Toastmaster
• Jay Ward … John Schofield
• Ann Gillis … Nancy Grey

Product Description 

Academy Award-winner Spencer Tracy (“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde“) stars in this Oscar-nominated biography of Thomas Edison, the famous inventor who rose from poverty to invent the electric light bulb. With Oscar-winner Charles Coburn (“The Lady Eve“) and Oscar-nominees Gene Lockhart (“Meet John Doe“) and Henry Travers (“It’s A Wonderful Life“). Directed by Academy Award-nominee Clarence Brown (“National Velvet,” “The Yearling“). This acclaimed sequel to “Young Thomas Edison” was nominated for Best Writing.