This was a good movie, that didn't get either preachy or overly dramatic, which could easily have happened. Charlton Heston played the role of Tom Owen with the right amount of low-key intensity, convincing as the army colonel/doctor who returns to his Pennsylvania mining town after the Korean War and chooses the lucrative life of a Pittsburgh society doctor, rather than work where his skills are needed badly, like with the mine workers.
Lizabeth Scott is Helen Curtis, the socialite he falls for, whose father owns the mine where tom's late brother, Floyd worked, and unfortunately did a corrupt job, more concerned with money and the lifestyle his marriage to a rich woman gave him, than the health and safety of the miners. Though disapproving of his brother's actions, he more or less follows in his footsteps, putting ambition above all else, and planning to marry helen.
Dianne Foster plays the other woman in his life, Joan Lasher, who works as his nurse, aspires to be a doctor, and tries to encourage him to live up to his full potential as a physician, and not settle for treating wealthy, self-centered hypochondriacs, with too much time and money, just so he can join the ranks of the privileged few.
The title refers to Helen's not-so-good influence on Tom, as medical ethics come into play, a young idealistic doctor is shown in contrast to Tom, and a tragedy at the mine brings clarity.
The movie could have been longer, with more contrast between Helen and Joan emphasized, as well as more indication that Tom and Joan could have more between them than work. Also, a potential health crisis involving the mine workers is mentioned, then interrupted and not picked up again. This could have been made into a good turning point in the story, but the potential was wasted.
A good movie but could have been a tad better.
Lizabeth Scott is Helen Curtis, the socialite he falls for, whose father owns the mine where tom's late brother, Floyd worked, and unfortunately did a corrupt job, more concerned with money and the lifestyle his marriage to a rich woman gave him, than the health and safety of the miners. Though disapproving of his brother's actions, he more or less follows in his footsteps, putting ambition above all else, and planning to marry helen.
Dianne Foster plays the other woman in his life, Joan Lasher, who works as his nurse, aspires to be a doctor, and tries to encourage him to live up to his full potential as a physician, and not settle for treating wealthy, self-centered hypochondriacs, with too much time and money, just so he can join the ranks of the privileged few.
The title refers to Helen's not-so-good influence on Tom, as medical ethics come into play, a young idealistic doctor is shown in contrast to Tom, and a tragedy at the mine brings clarity.
The movie could have been longer, with more contrast between Helen and Joan emphasized, as well as more indication that Tom and Joan could have more between them than work. Also, a potential health crisis involving the mine workers is mentioned, then interrupted and not picked up again. This could have been made into a good turning point in the story, but the potential was wasted.
A good movie but could have been a tad better.