DR KILDARE’S STRANGE CASE
US, 1940, 77 minutes, Black and white.
Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Laraine Day, Shepperd Strudwick, Samuel S. Hinds, Emma Dunn, Nat Pendleton, Walter Kingsford, Marie Blake.
Directed by Harold S. Bucquet.
The Dr Kildare series was a long one from the end of the 1930s to the early 1940s. Lew Ayres appeared as Dr Jimmy Kildare, working with the irascible Dr Gillespie, played in typical fashion by Lionel Barrymore. Laraine Day is Nurse Mary Lamont who later become’s Dr Kildare’s wife.
Lew Ayres was dropped from the series in 1942 when he became a conscientious objector to World War Two – even though he served on the front line as a medic.
The film has a strong supporting cast from MGM veterans, Nat Pendleton and Marie Blake (Jeanette Mac Donald’s sister) providing touches of comedy.
The film is the equivalent of later television series of General Hospital, ER, Chicago Hope. However, there are some interesting questions to be raised about the procedures, both psychological and medical, the immediacy of operations, the reactions of the staff – and, finally, although he has advice from his father, Dr Kildare’s use of insulin shock to jolt a person from dementia into normality.
However, the films were very popular – and are still quite watchable.
1. The popularity of the Dr Kildare series? Of Dr Kildare himself? Of Dr Gillespie? Their interactions?
2. MGM production values, supporting features, black and white photography, score, cast? The hospital setting – offices, surgery? Sense of realism?
3. The focus on Dr Kildare, his success as a diagnostician, his working with Dr Gillespie, Dr Gillespie’s favouritism, yet picking on him – and the revenge of his being forced to drink milk? Dr Kildare and his dedication, his love for Mary – but being prudent and keeping his distance? Her attraction to Dr Gregory Lane? Dr Gillespie, his eye on Dr Kildare, generating the possibility of a promotion, hoping that Dr Kildare would not take it, his thinking things over, the discussions with Mary, his staying at the hospital? His attitude towards Dr Lane, respecting him? The decision about the man going blind, death on the operating table? His supporting Dr Lane? The issue of the man with head wound, his seeming dementia, the operation, the decision to operate, without the man’s permission? The criticisms of Dr Carew? The hearing? Dr Kildare, his getting his friends to investigate the background, failure, Mike at the bar? His mother, discussions with his father? The insulin process – and the explanation? The man returning to normality, Dr Kildare finding his wife, saving the day?
4. Dr Gillespie, Lionel Barrymore’s crustiness, his progress – yet suspicions of things modern? Standing by Dr Kildare? The possibility of the promotion, Dr Kildare’s return? Supporting him at the end?
5. Dr Lane, wealthy, debonair, his assurance, his doubts, the man dying in surgery? His hesitation about the injured man, the operation, his being suspended?
6. Mary, devotion, interest in Dr Lane, the gift of the stockings? Assisting at the operations? Her love for Dr Kildare, their discussions, the date, the possible job, her disappointment? Her promotion and her assisting at the final operation, helping with the insulin treatment?
7. The staff at the hospital, the matron and her severity, her explanations, treatment of Dr Gillespie? The other doctors, the nurses? Dr Gillespie’s treatment of them?
8. The humour with Joe Wayman, wanting to take Sally out, the expenses, Mike and the preparation of the drink, Sally and her being charmed?
9. Life at the hospital, patients, the old man wanting to be young, the man going blind, the man hit on the head? The staff and the detail of the running of the hospital? Audiences always liking hospital stories?
