SISTER KENNY
US, 1946, 116 Minutes, Black and White.
Rosalind Russell, Alexander Knox, Dean Jagger.
Directed by Dudley Nichols.
Sister Kenny is a fine biography of the Australian bush nurse who was to discover by experience a method for treating polio. She was opposed by the medical profession in Queensland and right throughout her early career received continued opposition, especially in Australia. However, she was called in during epidemics and opened clinics from Toowoomba to Townsville. She also worked internationally in England and finally hoped to gain acceptance in America in the 40s. She did not immediately receive official recognition but was able to work in Minneapolis.
Rosalind Russell, sympathetic to Sister Kenny's cause, gives an excellent performance as the Nurse and received an Oscar nomination. She is supported well by Alexander Knox who wrote the script with Mary Mc Carthy and the director Dudley Nicholls. Nicholls had written many interesting screenplays, including The Informer. He was to direct Eugene O'Neil's Mourning Becomes Electra the year after Sister Kenny. The film raises a lot of interesting questions about the gifts of such a person as the Bush Nurse who has no medical qualifications. The background of Australia is interestingly represented - although Hollywood style. A moving biography.
1. The quality of this biography? Interest, authenticity, medical practice in the 20th century, criticism and persecution, the vindication of dedication?
2. The film was made in 1946. Sister Kenny's reputation at this stage? Australia, Britain, America? The quality of her work and its results? The disapproval? The 1945 disapproval in America? The contribution of the film in vindicating Sister Kenny as a person, her work, her rights?
3. How popular is this type of film biography? The quality of Rosalind Russell's performance and her Oscar nomination? The tone of the film as a tribute, the achievement of Sister Kenny and people like her?
4. Black and white photography, the work on sets? The Australian setting and atmosphere produced in Hollywood? London sequences, the atmosphere of America in the 40s?
5. The presentation of the life story of Sister Kenny - biographical detail, strength of character, the sketches in the portrait? The biography of a strong-minded woman, her dedication? Her intuitions and medical skill as well as understanding of human beings? How well did the film build up her reputation, as a great woman of the 20th century?
6. The impact of the introduction with Elizabeth arriving how, the Queensland setting, Dr. McDonnell? and his comments about her graduation, his questions about her career and her decision to work in the bush? Her parents, neighbours? Her popularity in the early years of her work as exemplified in the dance sequence and the gift to Sister Kenny? Her dedication and going out on her work? How did she change during the years, the mother instinct in her work with children, her gradual realization of her skills, the fight in her when she had to confront authorities, especially Dr. Brack, the hardening of her attitudes and her personal crustiness, especially with doctors and authority figures, the blending of the mellowing, the crustiness, the conviction of her mission in life?
7. How well did the film delineate the character of Elizabeth? Her ordinariness and yet her power? Her strength of conviction, her complete self-giving? Her staying with her work? Her decision about marriage with Kevin? Taking opportunities as they came, trying to succeed and be recognised, not going under under disapproval?
8. The portrait of Kevin? The bond with Elizabeth, his military background, his involvement in the war? Her devotion to him in going to the war, arranging to have him as a patient? Being on the verge of marriage so often? The sincerity of his proposal, his wanting her to give up the work? His walking out in Townsville? How well did he understand the reasons? How did it affect Elizabeth Kenny? Their standing by their decisions? The importance of their meeting in England so many years later and looking back on their lives?
9. The supporting cast and their contribution, eg. Elizabeth's parents, the people of Queensland, the sympathetic officials?
10. The dramatics of the first case, Elizabeth and the child's parents, trying to understand, the telegram, treating the symptoms? Taking the little girl to see Dr. McDonnell? and Dr. Brack? (And the audience anticipation of the doctors' reactions as they waited with Kevin and the little girl for Dr. McDonnell? to calm down?) Her later work with epidemic situations, the human rewards in seeing people grow up healthy? The visual contrast with the patients who did not recover and who were cripples?
11. How well did the film make clear the basis of the medical profession's refusal to acknowledge her? Scientific hypotheses about the nature of polio, Dr. Brack and his adamant opposition? His ridiculing of her theories? The public lecture and her interruption and audience reaction, especially their laughing? Professional jealousy and standards? were they right to be suspicious of her - initially, for so long?
12. The opposition of various Boards, the Royal Commission and the basis of its decision, the anticipation of the American approval and its being broadcast and the failure? The support of the doctors in America despite the official announcement?
13. Themes of justice in the medical profession, the nature of qualifications, medical tradition, the powers of healing and their recognition?
14. The outline of Sister Kenny's life as a pattern for people who have something major to contribute - genius, intuition, challenge and opposition, conviction and hope? How encouraging and optimistic is this type of biography?
