The late 1940s saw a surge in serious, realistic social message movies. These films were often critical of established American institutions and weren't shy about tackling subjects people would have preferred not to talk about. No doubt this was a result of filmmakers not being allowed to make anything other than pro-America films during the WWII years, and having to make their artistic interests secondary to war propaganda.
"Sister Kenny" is an example of one of those movies. If it had been made even a couple of years earlier, it probably would have been more maudlin, pushed its inspirational message harder, and used the story of one remarkable woman as an excuse to broadcast a bigger can-do American spirit. But as it is, the film is reserved and sober, and while it obviously reveres its subject, it doesn't peddle in the extreme hagiography that many biopics from the same time period did.
Rosalind Russell was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, and she deserved it. Anyone with doubts about her abilities as a dramatic actress should see this film. And it's also a very feminist movie about a medical patriarchy that prioritizes disdain of female nurses over the expansion of knowledge and treatment of the sick.
Grade: A.
"Sister Kenny" is an example of one of those movies. If it had been made even a couple of years earlier, it probably would have been more maudlin, pushed its inspirational message harder, and used the story of one remarkable woman as an excuse to broadcast a bigger can-do American spirit. But as it is, the film is reserved and sober, and while it obviously reveres its subject, it doesn't peddle in the extreme hagiography that many biopics from the same time period did.
Rosalind Russell was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, and she deserved it. Anyone with doubts about her abilities as a dramatic actress should see this film. And it's also a very feminist movie about a medical patriarchy that prioritizes disdain of female nurses over the expansion of knowledge and treatment of the sick.
Grade: A.