Plot

Dr. James Kildare decides to take a position at a large New York hospital instead of joining his father's country practice but he finds himself in serious trouble after he saves a suicidal woman.

Fresh out of medical school, young Dr. James Kildare decides to take a position at a large New York hospital instead of joining his father's country practice. In New York he meets the famous Dr. Leonard Gillespie who becomes his mentor. Kildare finds himself in serious trouble after he saves a suicidal woman who turns out to be an heiress with a powerful family.—Col Needham <col@imdb.com>

After graduating from medical school, Dr. James Kildare returns home to a warm family welcome. His father, also a doctor, has taken it for granted that Jimmy will join him in his small town practice but he has already accepted a internship at Blair General Hospital in New York City. There he meets Dr. Leonard Gillespie, the crotchety senior physician who, from all outward appearances, takes a dislike to the eager young physician. Kildare works hard, going on ambulance calls where in one case, he rescues an attractive young woman who attempted suicide by gassing herself. She is Barbara Chanler, a wealthy heiress, with whom Kildare develops a rapport. He is convinced she is sane despite the diagnosis of the hospital's eminent psychiatrist. Kildaire's refusal to share any information she may have imparted to him in trust results in his being suspended. Gillespie thinks Kildare has the makings of a excellent diagnostician and becomes his mentor.—garykmcd

Dr. James Kildare, better known by his family as Jimmy, returns home just having completed his Internship at Blair General Hospital. His family is excited believing he is going to join his father's small-town practice. His youthful love, Alice, has purchased a sign for him, Dr. James Kildare, and places it on the shingle below his father's, Dr. Stephen Kildare. His parents have even set up an office for him across from his father's office in their home. However, it is obvious from Jimmy's hesitancy upon his arrival and seeing their preparations that he has other ideas. Alice senses his hesitancy for staying in the small town and joining the family's practice and encourages Jimmy to tell his parents sooner rather than later. Jimmy tells his father that he needs to find his own way and that he has accepted an internship at Blair General Hospital in New York. His parents take the news extremely well. Though saddened, they take Jimmy's sign down from the shingle out front. Jimmy reports to Blair General Hospital as Dr. Kildare, one of a group of new interns, and meets the great Dr. Gillespie. Dr. Kildare distinguishes himself to Dr. Gillespie when he steps forward from the group to accept the challenge to diagnose Dr. Gillespie based on a cursory review of his hands. When Dr. Kildare requests to see Dr. Gillespie's inner elbow, Dr. Gillespie shoos him off and brands him an Irish upstart good only for analyzing horses. However, Dr. Gillespie sees something in Dr. Kildare as a promising diagnostician and decides to focus on, train and mentor him in his usual gruff manner. Later, he allows Dr. Kildare to examine his elbow and again asks for his diagnosis; this time showing him his inner elbow. Dr. Kildare diagnoses Dr. Gillespie with cancer and gives him a year to live. Dr. Gillespie gruffly tells him he is wrong and shoos him off again. Dr. Kildare supervises his first ambulance run and, doing the 1930's version of CPR, saves the life of a young woman who has attempted suicide. The young lady is admitted to the hospital. The suicide girl reattempts suicide after Dr. Kildare tells the nurse she's not a psych patient and can be left alone. After breaking a glass and trying to slit her wrists, she is put in restraints. Dr. Kildare later talks to the girl to try to find out why she keeps trying to kill herself. He tells the nurse to remove restraints. However, the nurse says she can't because of Dr. Carew's orders. During his conversation with the young lady, Dr. Kildare finds out she doesn't remember much about the night she first attempted suicide, but she mentions a Burt Forster and the Blue Swan. The suicidal young lady is identified as Barbara Chanler when her parents and fiancé, Jack Hamilton, come to the hospital. A noted Psychiatrist at the hospital, Dr. Lane-Porteus, tells the parents the girl is schizophrenic. Dr. Kildare disagrees in front of everyone. Dr. Gillespie challenges Dr. Kildare's diagnosis but he does not back down; Dr. Gillespie is secretly impressed by Dr. Kildare's resolve but doesn't say anything. Dr. Kildare is removed from duty for not backing down and not telling them what Barbara told him when he spoke to her. Dr. Kildare's family hears about his troubles at the hospital and come to New York to support him. Alice talks to him about his options. Jimmy confides that he may be on his way back home. He tells her he'd like to be a diagnostician but he's equally sure Dr. Gillespie won't have him because of the trouble he's in. He talks to his family about coming back to practice medicine with his father. Mr. Hamilton comes to talk to Dr. Kildare and mentions that he and Barbara had an argument and broke up the prior Tuesday because he wouldn't take her to The Blue Swan. Dr. Kildare gets Joe Wayman to drive him to the Blue Swan to find out what happened that Tuesday night. A waiter tells him that he remembers a girl matching the description of Barbara Chanler going upstairs with Burt Foster. Pretending to be a friend of Burt Foster's, he tries to get information out of the manager. The manager sneaks off to call Burt Foster who tells him to not let Dr. Kildare leave. Albert 'Burt' Foster then shows up at the bar to confront Dr. Kildare. He tells Dr. Kildare to butt out and kicks him out of the establishment. Joe and Dr. Kildare go back inside and use forceful persuasion to get Mr. Hamilton to confess. Dr. Kildare goes to Dr. Gillespie and tells him he knows why Barbara Chanler tried to kill herself. Dr. Gillespie tells Dr. Kildare he is too late and that Barbara's family and a psychiatrist are coming later that evening to examine and pick her up. When it appears Dr. Kildare is going to give up, Dr. Gillespie in a roundabout way tells him not to. He then makes a call to Barbara's nurse, Molly, and tells her to give Dr. Kildare time to talk to Barbara. Dr. Kildare has a chance to speak to Barbara and explains to her what happened that night. She had gotten so drunk that she didn't remember what had happened. Thinking she had shamed her family, she tried to kill herself. But, Dr. Kildare explained to her that it was WHAT she drank not who she is that made her attempt suicide. He convinces her to answer their questions that evening as though she attempted suicide because of the argument with her fiancé, Mr. Hamilton. He tells her not to let her family know he spoke to her. The Hospital Board meets to discuss Dr. Kildare's future with the hospital and decides to discharge him. Dr. Kildare goes to tell his family he will be going back home with them. Dr. Gillespie calls Dr. Kildare into his office. First he just grumbles at him. Dr. Kildare says he's been fired and doesn't have to take his gruff. Dr. Gillespie admits to helping Dr. Kildare talk to Barbara Chanler. He offers Dr. Kildare the opportunity to be his assistant. He admits that he has been helping him as well as watching and investigating him. He'd like to teach him all he can in the short time he has left. He admits that Dr. Kildare's cancer diagnosis was correct and that he's know it for some time. Dr. Stephen Kildare interrupts their meeting to offer his advice to Jimmy. Dr. Gillespie tells the senior Dr. Kildare that he is taking the younger Dr. Kildare under his wing and making him his assistant. Young Dr. Kildare's dad is proud of him, and the hospital staff are ecstatic about his new position.