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Sister Kenny ()


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An Australian nurse discovers an effective new treatment for infantile paralysis, but experiences great difficulty in convincing doctors of the validity of her claims.

Director:
Awards:
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.
  • See more »
Reviews:

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Cast verified as complete

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Elizabeth Kenny
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Dr. McDonnell
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Kevin Connors
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Dr. Brack
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Mary Kenny
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Michael Kenny
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Medical Director
Doreen McCann ...
Dorrie
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Mrs. McIntyre
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Mr. McIntyre
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Agnes
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Undetermined Minor Role (scenesDeleted)
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Boy (scenesDeleted)
Jane Allen ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Doctor (uncredited)
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Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
Richard Bartell ...
Doctor (uncredited)
George Barton ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Mary Bayless ...
Nurse (uncredited)
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Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Patricia Berry ...
Small Role (uncredited)
Bonnie Blair ...
Waitress (uncredited)
Lee Bonnell ...
San Francisco Reporter (uncredited)
Egon Brecher ...
Frenchman (uncredited)
Bruce Brewster ...
Small Role (uncredited)
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Mrs. Johnson (uncredited)
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Parent at Clinic (uncredited)
Al Choals ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Sally Cleaves ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Connie Conrad ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Edith Conrad ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Jennifer Cook ...
Baby (uncredited)
Judy Cook ...
Baby (uncredited)
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Hospital Scrub Woman (uncredited)
Jeanne Criswell ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Jackie Curry ...
Doctor (uncredited)
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Singing Child with Polio (uncredited)
Earl Dobbins ...
Farmer (uncredited)
Gloria Donovan ...
Girl (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Brisbane Policeman (uncredited)
Melinda Erickson ...
Girl (uncredited)
Betty Fairfax ...
Nurse (uncredited)
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Doctor at Medical Conference (uncredited)
Harry Flannery ...
Commentator (uncredited)
Monica Folts ...
Girl (uncredited)
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Patrick O'Shea (uncredited)
Jack Gargan ...
Reporter at Dock (uncredited)
Nancy George ...
Small Role (uncredited)
Wilda George ...
Doctor (uncredited)
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Nurse (uncredited)
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Mrs. Gordon (uncredited)
Vincent Graeff ...
Boy (uncredited)
Clara Griggs ...
Small Role (uncredited)
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Carolyn (uncredited)
Mischa Gutterson ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Bobbie Hale ...
Cabby (uncredited)
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Airport Attendant (uncredited)
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Mr. Smith (uncredited)
Carl Hanson ...
Doctor (uncredited)
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Dr. Shadrack (uncredited)
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Doctor at Medical Conference (uncredited)
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Doctor at Medical Symposium (uncredited)
Alf Haugan ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Mame Henderson ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Len Hendry ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Sue Ann Hockett ...
Girl (uncredited)
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Mrs. McDonnell (uncredited)
Beulah Hubbard ...
Doctor (uncredited)
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Doctor (uncredited)
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Mr. Todd - Landlord (uncredited)
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Farmer (uncredited)
Warren Jackson ...
Doctor (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
Nancy Lee Kane ...
Baby (uncredited)
Edward Keane ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Tom Kingston ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Connie Lamont ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Ivy Lane ...
Small Role (uncredited)
Buddy Langeston ...
Boy (uncredited)
Bertha Ledbetter ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Alan Lee ...
Alan - the Farm Hand (uncredited)
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Mother (uncredited)
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Nurse (uncredited)
David Levitt ...
Doctor (uncredited)
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Boy (uncredited)
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Matron (uncredited)
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Minor Role (uncredited)
James Loucke ...
Farmer (uncredited)
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Photographer (uncredited)
Irene Mack ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Thomas Martin ...
Doctor at Medical Conference (uncredited)
David Martinson ...
Cobbler (uncredited)
Janet Sue Marx ...
Girl (uncredited)
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Doctor (uncredited)
Larry McGrath ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Harry McKim ...
Boy (uncredited)
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Doctor at Medical Symposium (uncredited)
Ruth Miles ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Daphne Moore ...
Waitress (uncredited)
John Moss ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Diane Nance ...
Girl (uncredited)
Myra Nelson ...
Nurse (uncredited)
Georgie Nokes ...
Gordy (uncredited)
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Boy (uncredited)
Noralee Norman ...
Girl (uncredited)
Donnie O'Brien ...
Boy (uncredited)
Gary O'Brien ...
Boy (uncredited)
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Doctor (uncredited)
Anne O'Neal ...
Nurse (uncredited)
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Secretary to Dr. Gideon (uncredited)
Charles Pawley ...
Orderly (uncredited)
Bob Pepper ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Jackie Pfender ...
Boy (uncredited)
Hilda Plowright ...
Saleslady (uncredited)
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Man at Barn Dance (uncredited)
Allan Ray ...
Photographer (uncredited)
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Dr. Chuter (uncredited)
Waclaw Rekwart ...
Doctor at Medical Conference (uncredited)
Donna Lynne Rodgers ...
Small Role (uncredited)
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Elizabeth's Dance Partner (uncredited)
Eli Schmudkler ...
Newsboy (uncredited)
Dick Scott ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Allen D. Sewall ...
Man at Barn Dance (uncredited)
Lucile Sewall ...
Woman at Barn Dance (uncredited)
Barbara Smith ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Warren Smith ...
Doctor (uncredited)
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Dr. Gideon (uncredited)
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Doctor at Medical Conference (uncredited)
Robert Strong ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Tex Swan ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Bob Templeton ...
Intern (uncredited)
David Thursby ...
Angus Frazier (uncredited)
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New York Reporter (uncredited)
Ray Toone ...
Doctor (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey ...
Doctor at Medical Conference (uncredited)
Clare Verdera ...
Mother of Boy (uncredited)
John P. Wade ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Nellie Walker ...
Farmer's Wife (uncredited)
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Doctor at Minneapolis Lecture (uncredited)
Elena Warren ...
Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by

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Dudley Nichols

Written by

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Dudley Nichols ... (screen play) &
Alexander Knox ... (screen play)
Mary Eunice McCarthy ... (screen play)
 
Sister Kenny ... (based on "And They Shall Walk" by)
Martha Ostenso ... (in collaboration with)

Produced by

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Eddie Donahoe ... associate producer (as Edward Donahoe)
Dudley Nichols ... producer

Music by

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Alexander Tansman ... (as Alexandre Tansman)

Cinematography by

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George Barnes ... director of photography

Editing by

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Roland Gross

Art Direction by

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Albert S. D'Agostino
William Flannery ... (as William E. Flannery)

Set Decoration by

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Harley Miller ... (set decorations)
Darrell Silvera ... (set decorations)

Makeup Department

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Fred B. Phillips ... makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management

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John Burch ... unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Harry D'Arcy ... assistant director

Sound Department

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Clem Portman ... sound
Earl A. Wolcott ... sound

Special Effects by

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Vernon L. Walker ... special effects
Linwood G. Dunn ... optical effects (uncredited)
Paul Eagler ... transparency projection shots (uncredited)
Albert Simpson ... matte paintings (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Eddie Pyle ... second camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Travis Banton ... costumes: Rosalind Russell's

Music Department

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C. Bakaleinikoff ... musical director
Earl B. Mounce ... music mixer (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Jack Gage ... dialogue director
C.J. Davis ... research director (uncredited)
Valerie Harvey ... technical advisor (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Elizabeth Kenny, a young nurse out in the Australian bush, discovers an effective treatment for polio, but can't get official recognition or sanction for her techniques and theories. For more than three decades (while she tells her fiancé she can't marry him, and repeatedly confronts the pigheaded orthopedic specialist Dr. Brack), she is prevented from treating acute cases and is ridiculed while she seeks formal recognition for the efficacy of her treatment. Written by Kathy Li

Plot Keywords
Taglines A woman made for love . . . but whose service to humanity became her destiny! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide Add content advisory for parents »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Schwester Kenny (Germany)
  • La germana Kenny (Spain, Catalan title)
  • Amor sublime (Spain)
  • Der Engel der Wildnis (Austria)
  • Amor sublime (Argentina)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 116 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $1,200,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia The Wikipedia article on Elizabeth Kenny lists notable individuals who had been polio patients of Sister Kenny. Among those listed are Alan Alda, Dinah Shore, and Rosalind Russell's nephew. It is known that Rosalind Russell had long campaigned to portray Sister Kenny on film; her nephew's treatment might have been a factor in that interest. See more »
Goofs Although mostly set in Australia with primarily Australian characters, nobody in the cast attempts to speak in anything other than each's own native accent. See more »
Soundtracks It's a Long Way to Tipperary See more »
Quotes Dr. McDonnell: Whatever you do, whatever happens, remember the people are more important than the system. That's true in government, they're fighting a war to prove it. And it's true in medicine. You've got that fight left Elizabeth. It's a big fight, it wont be easy, I wish I could help you.
See more »

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