Casting actors instead of 'stars', "Not As A Stranger" could have been an interesting, if somewhat typical, portrayal of the long, hard slog in becoming a doctor, and what life could be like as a doctor in a small town. Unfortunately, by casting Robert Mitcham, Frank Sinatra and Lee Marvin, as doctors, any semblance "Not As A Stranger" might have had as a serious melodrama about the life of a small town doctor is just another over-heated, maudlin melodrama, totally lacking in credibility, and typical of Hollywood's penchant of turning interesting subject matter into cinematic dross. The irony is that Stanley Kramer (who as a Producer), oversaw such highly regarded films as "Champion" with Kirk Douglas, "Death Of A Salesman" with Fredric March, "High Noon" with Gary Cooper (incidentally, John Wayne labeled "High Noon", as Un-American – presumably because of the film's pacifist leanings), and of course, "The Caine Mutiny", with Humphrey Bogart.. Kramer directed films like 'The Defiant Ones", which was about racial tolerance. Likewise, "Inherit The Wind" was about evolution, based on the Scopes so-called "Monkey Trials". But the bulk of Kramer's directorial output were such turkeys as "The Secret of Santa Vittorio", "Bless The Beasts & Children", and "The Pride & The Passion" – with another all-star cast, and, you guessed it, Frank Sinatra as a Spaniard fighting the French army under Napoleon! I award this movie 2 stars out of 10
Review of Not as a Stranger
