VIGIL IN THE NIGHT

US, 1940, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Carole Lombard, Anne Shirley, Brian Aherne, Julien Mitchell, Robert Coote, Peter Cushing.
Directed by George Stevens.

Vigil in the Night is based on an A. J. Cronin story. A number of his books were filmed with big budgets and star casts: The Citadel, The Green Years. Cronin was also popular with Dr. Finlay's Casebook on television. This is a very worthy film, full of sentiment and the artificial film styles of the '30s and '40s. Despite this, its earnestness appeals to the audience and the film succeeds despite its soap opera touches.

Director George Stevens made many excellent film vehicles for stars during the '30s and '40s e.g. Katharine Hepburn in Alice Adams. Quality Street; Cary Grant in Gunga Din, Penny Serenade. Stevens also won Oscars for directing A Place in the Sun and Giant. Other films include The Diary of Anne Frank and The Greatest Story Ever Told. Carole Lombard, more at home as a comedienne, eventually succeeds in the very serious central role. Brian Aherne does well with nobility for the hero. There are many classic situations criticising hospital management and hospital care in the early decades of the century. The film has, in soap opera ways, a number of medical ethics questions. It moves on the level of sentiment and sincerity in comparison with so many later soap operas. Alfred Newman's score is particularly romantic and often stringed.

1. An example of soap opera and romance of the '30s and '40s? Impact in its time? Now? The nature of comparisons?

2. The work of George Stevens and his treating soap opera material with style and class? The contribution of the stars - especially Carole Lombard playing against style? Black and white photography, studio work, lighting? The creation of the British atmosphere? The emotional and romantic score?

3. The popularity of A. J. Cronin's stories, his background as a doctor, his critique of hospitals and medicine, questions of medical ethics and moralising? The continued appeal of Cronin's work?

4. The soap opera style and the emphasis on sadness, the succession of tragic events? The culmination in the trial and the epidemic? Themes of courage, conscience, heroics, poetic justice?

5. The initial focus on Lucy and her responsibility for the child's death? Her irresponsibility, not wanting to be a nurse, feeling pressurised by Anne? Her studying for her certificate, marrying ice and taking him from Anne? Her separation from ice and her working in the shady hospital? Irresponsibility and the trial? The intervention of Dr. Prescott? Her second chance and her accepting it? The crisis in the night, the mouth to-mouth resuscitation? Her death and her conscience being freed? The framework of the two vigils in the night?

6. The contrast between Lucy and Anne? Anne and her efficiency, devotion, tiredness. quick acceptance of the blame, love for her sister, the pressures on her to be a nurse, her going away from the hospital, leaving Joe? The interview with the Matron? Friendship with the fellow nurses? Her dedication to her work? Her comment on the Matthew Bowley operation? His rewards? Propositions and her rejection? Mrs. Bowley's reaction? Matron promoting her? Her work with Dr. Prescott and her dedication? A woman of integrity?

7. The background of the hospital: the humour with the fellow nurses under the strict regime, Matron and her severity, Nurse Gregg and her comments from the past? Mr. Bowley and the proposition, the handbag and the money? Dr. Prescott and his appreciation of Anne? The bus accident, Anne's efficiency, Dr. Prescott taking her home and their talk about the future of the hospital? His misjudging her?

8. Anne and her going to London, discovering the story of Lucy in the paper? Going to see Joe and his drinking? The trial and her support of Lucy? Prescott's intervention? The invitation to return because of the epidemic? Her volunteering, taking charge, the nurse's refusing to go for Matron but helping Anne? Her renovating the hospital and giving Bowley the account? The Bowley boy and tending to him? Lucy's saving his life? Lucy's death and Anne's sadness? Joe's arrival and condemnation? Prescott's intervention and the happy future? Carole Lombard playing against comedienne style as serious heroine? The ideal heroine of integrity?

9. Prescott and his ideals, surgery skill, appreciation of Anne, problems of money, abuse of Bowley? His dreams and the humour with the housekeeper rousing on him? His letting Anne go and offering a reference? misjudging her? His trial and the cross-examination of the proprietress? The epidemic and the success of the hospital? Happy ending?

10. The life of the hospital, Matron and her toughness, the lack of money, Bowley's selfishness? Matron relenting and helping Anne and appreciating her? Nurse Gregg helping?

11. Bowley and his meanness, the operation, the gift of the purse, the proposition to Anne, the threat of scandal by Mrs. Bowley. his exasperation with the accounts. the clash with Prescott, his own son and his relenting and helping the hospital?

12. The trial and the scandal?