DR GILLESPIE’S NEW ASSISTANT

US, 1942, 87 minutes, Black and white.
Lionel Barrymore, Van Johnson, Susan Peters, Richard Quine, Keye Luke, Alma Kruger, Nat Pendleton, Stephen Mc Nally, Marie Blake.
Directed by Willis Goldbeck.

Willis Goldbeck had directed most of the Dr Kildare, Dr Gillespie features. They were very popular at the end of the 1930s, the beginning of the 1940s – audiences being perennially interested in life in hospitals, medical cases, the work of the doctors, their characters and their lives.

When Lew Ayres became a conscientious objector at America’s entry into World War Two, he was dropped from the series. The focus then was on Dr Gillespie – this time seeking his replacement assistant (with no mention of Dr Kildare).

Lionel Barrymore is crustier than ever as Dr Gillespie. The three candidates are Van Johnson in an early role, actor-director Richard Quine, and actor Keye Luke. There is a subplot about amnesia centring on Susan Peters and her marriage to Stephen McNally?.

The regular supporting cast are present, Alma Kruger getting more attention as nurse supervisor, Molly Byrd, and Nat Pendleton as ambulance driver, Joe Weyman. Marie Blake is still at reception and answering the phone as Sally.

The film has popular ingredients, reflecting the state of hospitals, medicine, medication, operations at the period.

1. The popularity of the Dr Kildare, Dr Gillespie films? The popularity of medical stories? Life at the hospital, crises? Medical conditions? Interviews, medication, operations?

2. MGM production, black and white photography, musical score? The authentic feel of the hospital?

3. Dr Gillespie, his place at the hospital, in the wheelchair? The concern about him? From the supervisor, Molly Byrd? Nurse Parker? His not eating? His falling asleep while testing the patient’s heart condition? Crusty? His interviewing the three candidates, the speech in the auditorium? His question, their answers? Their all being correct? His setting them up, Keye Luke as the doctor with the little boy, discovering his hearing defect? Richard Quine as the Australian – full of Australian slang? The military background? His examining the patient with the rash? Persuading him to go to hospital? Van Johnson as the doctor involved in the amnesia case?

4. The three doctors, their personalities, their work, failures and success? Dr Gillespie’s verdict? Their futures?

5. Mrs Howard Young, Dr Gillespie and the phone call, the wedding reception, at the hotel, Claire and her breakdown, the amnesia? Howard and his reaction, bewilderment? The discussions with Dr Gillespie, with Dr Adams? Her maintaining her amnesia? In the hospital, at her apartment? Dr Gillespie realising she was faking? Dr Adams discovering the tablets in the bathroom, investigating the doctor, the research? With Mrs Black, persuading her to let him go to the files, discovering that Claire could not have children? Her marriage and child? The credibility of her not being able to tell the truth to Howard? Howard, his reaction? The interview with Dr Gillespie, his facing not having children, his love for Claire, the issue of adoption? Dr Gillespie urging him to find Claire, their meeting each other, the happy ending?

6. Molly Byrd, strong, bossing Dr Gillespie around? With the nurses? Nurse Parker and her bewilderment, being fired many times? Joe, his friendship with Sally, flirting, the tickets for the theatre, the pie thrown in Sally’s face? His hiding away? Dr Carew and Molly Byrd wanting him to report to them about the three doctors? His being exposed, disguised in Molly Byrd’s dress?

7. The serious issues, the humorous issues? The patriotism of the time, Dr Carew and his speech about the graduates and their participation in the war? Dr Adams wanting to go into the services? Dr Lindsey and his joining in Australia?