In the beginning of the film, Kay Francis' character, the titular Mary Stevens, finishes an internship. She officially graduates from medical school, alongside fellow med student Lyle Talbot, a guy she's developed romantic feelings over. After the graduation ceremony, they open their new practices together, in separate offices inside the same building. She marvels at the fact she made it through her studies and is now a full-fledged physician. Francis quips wryly that some didn't think she'd succeed, because she's a woman. To which Talbot replies: "You're not a woman...you're a superwoman."
Indeed, as the film goes on, we learn that she does possess super skills and builds a thriving practice. There doesn't seem to be anything she can't do in the world of medicine. At the same time, Talbot takes his eye off the ball when he meets a high society deb (Thelma Todd); whom he marries. He is now concerned with capitalizing on newfound connections through his relationship with Todd. This leads to his getting involved with graft and his increasing dependency on alcohol.
As for Francis, she remains true to her early ideals and becomes a well-regarded pediatrician. Her success is earned. Meanwhile, Talbot is about to be indicted, so he leaves town while his father-in-law (Charles Wilson) tries to pull strings to save his hide. Yes, this is a Warner Brothers precode where basic situations are stretched to implausible points, and the original conflicts are often exaggerated out of proportion.
Though the story becomes less logical in spots, there are still plenty of engaging and highly dramatic moments. One of these moments involves Francis going off on a vacation to a resort, where she bumps into the still-married Talbot who has been in exile the whole time. Francis rekindles the old flame and has an affair with Talbot. The affair results in a pregnancy.
Since this is a precode, the issue turns into whether she will keep the baby and raise it as a single mother. Remember, she is still a super woman and can do almost anything with ease. Talbot will not be helping her with the unborn child, because his father-in-law has managed to help him avoid prosecution, provided Talbot return to his marriage with Todd. This way he won't go to jail, and more importantly, will keep the family from being embroiled in a public scandal.
While Talbot is staying off the front pages and staying on the social register with Todd and his in-laws, the story focuses on Francis' pregnancy who's gone to Paris to have her baby. But there is a distressing new problem after Francis has given birth and is on a ship back to the U. S. with her newborn. A group of children traveling on board have been afflicted with polio. This leads to Francis' baby contracting the disease and dying. It is a huge turning point in the film and there is much melodrama, as she must decide whether to commit suicide after losing her baby, or if there's a reason to go on living.
Ultimately, she does soldier on, because she realizes she is still useful as a doctor, which brings the story full-circle in a way. After reaching New York, she is reunited with Talbot which rang a bit false to me. Why would she want to go back to a guy whose values were so warped, a guy who is unable to remain faithful to a spouse and should for all intents and purposes, be in prison? But I guess the audience needed a swell romantic ending, and to know that Dr. Mary Stevens will not be a fully realized super woman unless she is also the Mrs. Of a man who is not worthy of her.
Indeed, as the film goes on, we learn that she does possess super skills and builds a thriving practice. There doesn't seem to be anything she can't do in the world of medicine. At the same time, Talbot takes his eye off the ball when he meets a high society deb (Thelma Todd); whom he marries. He is now concerned with capitalizing on newfound connections through his relationship with Todd. This leads to his getting involved with graft and his increasing dependency on alcohol.
As for Francis, she remains true to her early ideals and becomes a well-regarded pediatrician. Her success is earned. Meanwhile, Talbot is about to be indicted, so he leaves town while his father-in-law (Charles Wilson) tries to pull strings to save his hide. Yes, this is a Warner Brothers precode where basic situations are stretched to implausible points, and the original conflicts are often exaggerated out of proportion.
Though the story becomes less logical in spots, there are still plenty of engaging and highly dramatic moments. One of these moments involves Francis going off on a vacation to a resort, where she bumps into the still-married Talbot who has been in exile the whole time. Francis rekindles the old flame and has an affair with Talbot. The affair results in a pregnancy.
Since this is a precode, the issue turns into whether she will keep the baby and raise it as a single mother. Remember, she is still a super woman and can do almost anything with ease. Talbot will not be helping her with the unborn child, because his father-in-law has managed to help him avoid prosecution, provided Talbot return to his marriage with Todd. This way he won't go to jail, and more importantly, will keep the family from being embroiled in a public scandal.
While Talbot is staying off the front pages and staying on the social register with Todd and his in-laws, the story focuses on Francis' pregnancy who's gone to Paris to have her baby. But there is a distressing new problem after Francis has given birth and is on a ship back to the U. S. with her newborn. A group of children traveling on board have been afflicted with polio. This leads to Francis' baby contracting the disease and dying. It is a huge turning point in the film and there is much melodrama, as she must decide whether to commit suicide after losing her baby, or if there's a reason to go on living.
Ultimately, she does soldier on, because she realizes she is still useful as a doctor, which brings the story full-circle in a way. After reaching New York, she is reunited with Talbot which rang a bit false to me. Why would she want to go back to a guy whose values were so warped, a guy who is unable to remain faithful to a spouse and should for all intents and purposes, be in prison? But I guess the audience needed a swell romantic ending, and to know that Dr. Mary Stevens will not be a fully realized super woman unless she is also the Mrs. Of a man who is not worthy of her.