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IMDb > Not as a Stranger (1955)

Not as a Stranger (1955) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   683 votes
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Down 6% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Stanley Kramer
Writers:
Edna Anhalt (writer)
Edward Anhalt (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Not as a Stranger on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
July 1955 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
An arrogant doctor financially supported by his wife believes he's a god until his own mistake costs a good friend's life. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Medical Melodrama--They don't make them like this any more! more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Olivia de Havilland ... Kristina Hedvigson

Robert Mitchum ... Lucas Marsh

Frank Sinatra ... Alfred Boone

Gloria Grahame ... Harriet Lang

Broderick Crawford ... Dr. Aarons
Charles Bickford ... Dr. Dave W. Runkleman
Myron McCormick ... Dr. Snider

Lon Chaney Jr. ... Job Marsh (as Lon Chaney)
Jesse White ... Ben Cosgrove
Harry Morgan ... Oley

Lee Marvin ... Brundage
Virginia Christine ... Bruni
Whit Bissell ... Dr. Dietrich
Jack Raine ... Dr. Lettering
Mae Clarke ... Nurse Odell
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Morton Thompson's Not as a Stranger (USA) (complete title)
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Runtime:
135 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:PG | Finland:K-16

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The first film directed by Stanley Kramer. more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: When Robert Mitchum and Olivia de Havilland visit "Greenville", which is supposed to be isolated and rural, they pass a truck with "Reseda Boulevard" on its side. Reseda Boulevard is just a few miles northwest of Hollywood. more
Quotes:
Dr. Snider: God help him, he made a mistake. more
Movie Connections:
References Internes Can't Take Money (1937) more
Soundtrack:
Not as a Stranger more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
24 out of 27 people found the following comment useful:-
Medical Melodrama--They don't make them like this any more!, 27 December 2002
9/10
Author: Red-125 from Upstate New York

"Not as a Stranger" is an old fashioned medical melodrama. The basic plot involves a young man (Mitchum) who is obsessed with becoming a doctor. Unfortunately, his obsession causes pain and unhappiness for the people around him.

Naturally, much of the medical material is out of date. Some commonplace matters in 1955 now strike us as incredible: a medical class with no women in it; doctors and nurses casually smoking; doctors who ride on ambulances.

The "small town" to which Mitchum moves after graduating from medical school is portrayed as isolated and rural. What we see is clearly a small city--bad choice of location.

In the context of the film,we have to accept Olivia de Havilland as plain and unsophisticated. Quite a suspension of disbelief.

However, Mitchum is excellent as the young physician who expects perfection from himself and all those around him, and Frank Sinatra is a good choice as Mitchum's cynical--but caring--friend.

Broderick Crawford as the medical professor Dr. Aarons, and Charles Bickford as Dr. Dave Runkleman, Mitchum's senior partner, both turn in solid performances.

Gloria Grahame is perfect as the wealthy widow, Harriet Lang, who oozes sexuality out of every alcoholic pore.

Watch for the dramatic scene when Crawford throws Grey's Anatomy at Sinatra. (Although beware the message that great medicine is synonymous with great memory. Memory is where great medicine starts, not where it ends.)

Two scenes need special comment:

When Mitchum tells a patient with a facial mole, "This kind is best left alone," he is wrong, wrong, wrong.

When Mitchum takes over the care of a critically ill patient of another doctor, Mitchum is right, right, right.

This movie is dated, but it is still worth seeing. Rent it and find out!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Not as a Stranger (1955)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I hated this movie! tag65
origin of title cosimdm
Odd Olivia accent joeann_21
Presumptuous Brain georgejmyersjr
Ending.... ? janellewhatever
Small town of Greenville; street looks like Wisteria Lane adreed24
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Related Links

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