This is an interesting film to watch in the context of recent political agitation to put some limits on malpractice reform. Poor ice skater Bonita Granville (who has some shades of gray to her character, and is therefore permitted sporadic attempts at acting) gets into an auto wreck and has her life saved by Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres), who performs an operation at the scene of the wreck. But, she wakes up paralyzed, and sues the good doctor. As usual, things look pretty black for Young Doctor Kildare (allowing all the characters to make bitter statements about lawyers), but Dr. Gillespe (overacted by a bored Lionel Barrymore) saves the day.
What's striking about this movie is that, while the main characters are all cursed with hearts of gold, and the grouchy characters are really just sweet brave misunderstood people, the view of the world is downright bitter and angry. Nobody appreciates doctors. Nobody cares how hard they work. The old reliable nurse has a secret melancholy -- she never married and had children, though she had the opportunity. The only person who seems happy is the orderly played by Red Skelton, and that's because he's dumb (as well as in desperate need of material).
As Dr. Kildare movies go, this one is no better or worse than usual. It's a window into a not very attractive set of societal attitudes shared by a lot of people as of 1941.
What's striking about this movie is that, while the main characters are all cursed with hearts of gold, and the grouchy characters are really just sweet brave misunderstood people, the view of the world is downright bitter and angry. Nobody appreciates doctors. Nobody cares how hard they work. The old reliable nurse has a secret melancholy -- she never married and had children, though she had the opportunity. The only person who seems happy is the orderly played by Red Skelton, and that's because he's dumb (as well as in desperate need of material).
As Dr. Kildare movies go, this one is no better or worse than usual. It's a window into a not very attractive set of societal attitudes shared by a lot of people as of 1941.