This film had been a public domain staple for years and I used to sell a ton of copies when I was doing flea markets and ebay. However, I never watched it until today courtesy of Turner Classics. You can see how this story would have been the catalyst for an entire series of Dr. Kildare films, not to mention the popular TV series starring Richard Chamberlain in the early Sixties. It has the handsome Lew Ayres in the title role, fresh out of medical school, with an already made shingle ready to post underneath his own father's practice in the mythical town of Dartford near New York City. That's where young Kildare decided to take up his profession at prestigious Blair General Hospital, met with approval by his parents and girlfriend, even if they would have liked him to stick around the old neighborhood.
For all of his getting off on the wrong foot with the higher-ups at Blair, Dr. Kildare makes his mark while subtly impressing the likes of gruff Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) and hospital administrator, Dr. Walter Carew (Walter Kingsford). It takes some doing though, especially when Kildare bucks the professional opinion of noted psychiatrist, Dr. Lane-Porteus (Monty Wooley), in the treatment of a suicidal young woman (Jo Ann Sayers). After being suspended and later discharged, Gillespie does a little bucking of his own to hire Kildare on as his medical assistant, noting how the young doctor had the courage of his convictions and didn't become an MD for fame or riches. Amusingly, while wrestling with his own personal decisions about his future, Kildare had the loyal backing of ambulance driver Joe Wayman, humorously portrayed by brawny ex-wrestler, Nat Pendleton.
Even with the tenuous story line regarding the suicidal patient, one can understand the appeal this medical film might have had on audiences of the day. Upon conclusion of the film, Lionel Barrymore wheeled himself out to pronounce a series of upcoming movies in the Kildare franchise with Lew Ayres by his side. Actually, Barrymore wound up outlasting Dr. Kildare at a certain point with the introduction of new doctors joining the series. All the more amazing since he was only given a year more to live in this one!
For all of his getting off on the wrong foot with the higher-ups at Blair, Dr. Kildare makes his mark while subtly impressing the likes of gruff Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) and hospital administrator, Dr. Walter Carew (Walter Kingsford). It takes some doing though, especially when Kildare bucks the professional opinion of noted psychiatrist, Dr. Lane-Porteus (Monty Wooley), in the treatment of a suicidal young woman (Jo Ann Sayers). After being suspended and later discharged, Gillespie does a little bucking of his own to hire Kildare on as his medical assistant, noting how the young doctor had the courage of his convictions and didn't become an MD for fame or riches. Amusingly, while wrestling with his own personal decisions about his future, Kildare had the loyal backing of ambulance driver Joe Wayman, humorously portrayed by brawny ex-wrestler, Nat Pendleton.
Even with the tenuous story line regarding the suicidal patient, one can understand the appeal this medical film might have had on audiences of the day. Upon conclusion of the film, Lionel Barrymore wheeled himself out to pronounce a series of upcoming movies in the Kildare franchise with Lew Ayres by his side. Actually, Barrymore wound up outlasting Dr. Kildare at a certain point with the introduction of new doctors joining the series. All the more amazing since he was only given a year more to live in this one!