WELCOME STRANGER

US, 1947, 107 minutes, Black and white.
Bing Crosby, Joan Caulfield, Barry Fitzgerald, Wanda Hendrix, Elizabeth Patterson, Percy Kilbride, Charles Dingle.
Directed by Elliott Nugent.

At first glance Welcome Stranger might seem like a rerun of Going My Way. This time Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald are two doctors in a country town – with the same kind of interactions as in Going My Way.

However, this time Bing Crosby has the opportunity to romance Joan Caulfield. Her fiancé is the son of the town mayor who employed Bing Crosby in the first place – this gives a bit of conflict to the screenplay although there is also the possibility of an epidemic breaking out.

The film is humorous, romantic – sentimental in the old-style way. Entertainment for all audiences.

It was directed by Elliott Nugent who directed Bob Hope in a number of films including The Cat and the Canary and Nothing But The Truth and My Favourite Brunette. He mainly made comedies but also filmed a version of The Great Gatsby in 1949 with Alan Ladd.

1. The film as an example of Hollywood in the forties, its values, expectations from audiences, presentation of human values in comedy?

2. The importance of the appeal to the ordinary audiences the presentation of the city, the small-town atmosphere, doctors' lives and problems, teachers, small-town organization and crises? The humane elements, easily identified with?

3. The film as a vehicle for Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald? How well were they presented, audience response to their styles? The style of comedy, sentiment, songs etc?

4. How credible was the character of Dr Mc Rory? Barry Fitzgerald, his crotchety style, 35 years at work, the small-town doctor, dedicated yet fussy? How real and credible? His self-centredness, his harshness yet sentimentality? Niggardly and generous? The need for mellowing?

5. The contrast with Dr. Pearson and his easygoing manner moving about, his background, pleasant personality, overtalking, presumptuous? A pleasant man but who needed settling down?

6. How did the film build up a contrast between the two, their conflict? Expectations about Dr Pearson? The tangles in the train, the comedy of these, the revelation of the traits of each?The irony of the arrival? The dance and Pearson's taking over? Teaching Dr Mc Rory how to fish? The preparation for the holiday? The Importance of the operation?

7. How did each change? The importance of the operation and Dr Mc Rory's directing it?

8. The importance of the atmosphere of the small towns its ordinary way of life, celebrations for Dr Mc Rory, the manoeuvres and the meetings? The pleasantness underneath but the pettiness in meeting people? The irony of the title of the film?

9. How attractive a character was Trudie? As heroine of the film, as a teacher in this town, helping Dr Mc Rory against Dr Pearson? Her liking for Pearson, helping with the operation? Her disenchantment with her fiance? The credibility of her falling in love with Pearson? Her charm as a person?

10. The contribution of the subplot with Emily and her father? Human values, illness? Emily and her devotion to Dr Pearson? An example for illustrating Pearson's skill with people?

11. The importance of the minor characters like Mrs Gilly and her work in the doctor's house, Dorkas and his taxi-driving?

12. Why the appeal of homely and traditional comedies? Their value in entertaining as well as moving ordinary audiences?