MEN IN WHITE (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1934), directed by Richard Boleslavsky, stars Clark Gable in this movie adaptation taken from the popular play by Sidney Kingsley. With Gable playing one of the men in white, he portrays a young intern dedicated to his work and unable to find free time with his fiancee. As much that this portion covers the soap-opera elements naturally found in medical stories, the most interesting aspect is the behind the scenes look in a doctor's daily routines, hard work and struggles that go with it.
Of the many men in white, the story focuses mostly on Doctor George Ferguson (Clark Gable), a protegee of Doctor Hochberg (Jean Hersholt), a famous European-born surgeon who sees plenty of potential in this young intern whom he wants to go to further Vienna, Austria, at the end of his internship. Aside from being a dedicated doctor, he is most admired by his patients. When he discovers a child in a coma, he goes against his superior, Doctor Cunningham's (C. Henry Gordon) for his diagnosis to save his patient. Engaged to Laura Hudson (Myrna Loy), whose wealthy father, John (Berton Churchill), a patient with enough money to finance funds for the hospital. Though in love with Laura, Ferguson finds it difficult to get her to understand his job to his patients come first. Unable to keep his date, she refuses to speak to him. Feeling lonely, Ferguson finds comfort with Barbara Dennin (Elizabeth Allan), a student nurse. Back together again with Laura, Hochberg finds Ferguson failing in his duties, and advises Laura come to the hospital to witness first hand the importance of Ferguson's work. She gets to understand more than his work when Laura finds the girl on the operating table to be Miss Dennin, who, before going under ether, expresses her love to Ferguson. Featuring Otto Kruger (Doctor Levine); Wallace Ford (Shorty); Russell Hopton (Doctor Pete Bradley); and Henry B. Walthall (Doctor McCabe). Look for familiar faces of Samuel S. Hinds, Wallis Clark, Dorothy Peterson and Frank Puglia in smaller roles.
As much as MEN IN WHITE pre-dates MGM's own medical series of "Doctor Kildare" starring Lew Ayres (1938-1942), and later countless medical television shows dating back to the 1950s, it should be known that there have been earlier medical dramas prior to this, such as the long unseen and forgotten DOCTORS WIVES (Fox, 1931) starring Warner Baxter. Clocked at 74 minutes, it seems MEN IN WHITE was or should have been longer. There are certain scenes left unexplained along with others suggestive rather than discussed about point blank to get past the censors. The one scene where Gable's Ferguson stand up to his superior (C. Henry Gordon) should have been followed up at the board of directors in tense manner explaining his purpose for what he did being much more important than following superior's orders that may prove fatal to his patient. Otto Kruger's scenes are limited while Elizabeth Allan's role, though somewhat brief, is substantial to the plot.
With the exception of a scene set in a restaurant, MEN IN WHITE is virtually scoreless having no mood music to pattern its dramatics. Interestingly, aside from being Gable's only 1934 release minus his famous mustache, it's hard to image his good doctor performance here being played by the same actor playing the frightful and mean character of Nick the Chauffeur in another hospital based story of NIGHT NURSE (Warner Brothers, 1931) starring Barbara Stanwyck, By this point, Gable's villain/bad guy roles were behind him. He performs well with Myrna Loy, though one wishes Hersholt's character would have given her a "good slap" to come to her senses for her selfishness manner. Later that year (1934), MEN IN WHITE would be parodied title only as the comedy short of MEN IN BLACK (Columbia, 1934) starring the Three Stooges.
Never distributed on video cassette, but found on DVD, MEN IN WHITE, and other medical movies, can be found on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (**** scalpels)
Of the many men in white, the story focuses mostly on Doctor George Ferguson (Clark Gable), a protegee of Doctor Hochberg (Jean Hersholt), a famous European-born surgeon who sees plenty of potential in this young intern whom he wants to go to further Vienna, Austria, at the end of his internship. Aside from being a dedicated doctor, he is most admired by his patients. When he discovers a child in a coma, he goes against his superior, Doctor Cunningham's (C. Henry Gordon) for his diagnosis to save his patient. Engaged to Laura Hudson (Myrna Loy), whose wealthy father, John (Berton Churchill), a patient with enough money to finance funds for the hospital. Though in love with Laura, Ferguson finds it difficult to get her to understand his job to his patients come first. Unable to keep his date, she refuses to speak to him. Feeling lonely, Ferguson finds comfort with Barbara Dennin (Elizabeth Allan), a student nurse. Back together again with Laura, Hochberg finds Ferguson failing in his duties, and advises Laura come to the hospital to witness first hand the importance of Ferguson's work. She gets to understand more than his work when Laura finds the girl on the operating table to be Miss Dennin, who, before going under ether, expresses her love to Ferguson. Featuring Otto Kruger (Doctor Levine); Wallace Ford (Shorty); Russell Hopton (Doctor Pete Bradley); and Henry B. Walthall (Doctor McCabe). Look for familiar faces of Samuel S. Hinds, Wallis Clark, Dorothy Peterson and Frank Puglia in smaller roles.
As much as MEN IN WHITE pre-dates MGM's own medical series of "Doctor Kildare" starring Lew Ayres (1938-1942), and later countless medical television shows dating back to the 1950s, it should be known that there have been earlier medical dramas prior to this, such as the long unseen and forgotten DOCTORS WIVES (Fox, 1931) starring Warner Baxter. Clocked at 74 minutes, it seems MEN IN WHITE was or should have been longer. There are certain scenes left unexplained along with others suggestive rather than discussed about point blank to get past the censors. The one scene where Gable's Ferguson stand up to his superior (C. Henry Gordon) should have been followed up at the board of directors in tense manner explaining his purpose for what he did being much more important than following superior's orders that may prove fatal to his patient. Otto Kruger's scenes are limited while Elizabeth Allan's role, though somewhat brief, is substantial to the plot.
With the exception of a scene set in a restaurant, MEN IN WHITE is virtually scoreless having no mood music to pattern its dramatics. Interestingly, aside from being Gable's only 1934 release minus his famous mustache, it's hard to image his good doctor performance here being played by the same actor playing the frightful and mean character of Nick the Chauffeur in another hospital based story of NIGHT NURSE (Warner Brothers, 1931) starring Barbara Stanwyck, By this point, Gable's villain/bad guy roles were behind him. He performs well with Myrna Loy, though one wishes Hersholt's character would have given her a "good slap" to come to her senses for her selfishness manner. Later that year (1934), MEN IN WHITE would be parodied title only as the comedy short of MEN IN BLACK (Columbia, 1934) starring the Three Stooges.
Never distributed on video cassette, but found on DVD, MEN IN WHITE, and other medical movies, can be found on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (**** scalpels)