Not as a Stranger (1955)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

Edna Anhalt (writer)
Edward Anhalt (writer)

Release Date:

July 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An arrogant doctor financially supported by his wife believes he's a god until his own mistake costs a good friend's life.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Medical Student | Medical | Operation | Expectant Father

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Morton Thompson's Not as a Stranger (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

California Studios - 5530 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

The first film directed by Stanley Kramer.

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.

Quotes:

Dr. Snider: God help him, he made a mistake.

Movie Connections:

References Internes Can't Take Money (1937)

Soundtrack:

Not as a Stranger

Miscast, but surprisingly good

Stanley Kramer made his directorial debut here, following story of a medical intern who marries for money, later becoming a country doctor with an unhappy love life. Surprisingly involving adaptation of Morton Thompson's novel is both cynical and humorous, and Kramer really excels in the scenes behind hospital doors, particularly in the patient montages. He takes a good while to warm up however, and the actors also struggle getting into character. Robert Mitchum doesn't strike me as the medic type, and neither does Frank Sinatra (cutting up à la Jack Lemmon, giving the film some bounce nevertheless), but Olivia de Havilland does good work in the romance department. Second-half of the picture is more assured, if more routine, but the film is quite entertaining on the whole. **1/2 from ****