Not as a Stranger (1955)

An ego-driven, aspiring physician, intolerant of the weaknesses of others, especially those closest to him, comes to grips with his own imperfections.

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

Edna Anhalt (written for the screen by), Edward Anhalt (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Olivia de Havilland, Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

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 Runkleman
Myron McCormick	...	Dr. Clem 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

Storyline

Lucas Marsh, an intern bent upon becoming a first-class doctor, not merely a successful one. He courts and marries the warm-hearted Kristina, not out of love but because she is highly knowledgeable in the skills of the operating room and because she has frugally put aside her savings through the years. She will be, as he shrewdly knows, a supportive wife in every way. She helps make him the success he wants to be and cheerfully moves with him to the small town in which he starts his practice. But as much as he tries to be a good husband to the undemanding Kristina, Marsh easily falls into the arms of a local siren and the patience of the long-sorrowing Kristina wears thin. She reasons he no longer needs her and asks for a divorce. A calamity now brings Marsh to his senses. Dr. Runkleman, Marsh's gruff and wise employer, is stricken with a heart attack and requires emergency surgery. Marsh is forced to operate.

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Plot Keywords:

marital estrangement | reconciliation | unwanted pregnancy | terminal illness | unplanned pregnancy | 

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Taglines:

Stands alone ! first as a book ... now as a motion picture !

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Morton Thompson's Not as a Stranger

Filming Locations:

University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$7,100,000, 31 December 1955

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,000,000, 31 December 1955

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the procedure that Lucas was arguing about with Dr. Dietrich is called a vagotomy. At the time this film was made, it was a common procedure but it is rarely performed nowadays.

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Goofs

When Lucas is at the ranch at night, the horse (mare) whinnies without moving its mouth at all.

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Quotes

Dr. Dave W. Runkleman: [Opening lines] Gentlemen, this is a corpse!

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Connections

References Internes Can't Take Money (1937)

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Soundtracks

Not as a Stranger
by Jimmy Van Heusen & Buddy Kaye

User Reviews

Fine Medical Drama Has Some Great Performances

Robert Mitchum is an actor I usually like but Stanley Kramer was wrong to cast him in the central role of the idealistic doctor. A more sensitive actor (like Montgomery Clift) would have been much more suitable. Sleepy-eyed Mitchum is the one big weakness of this drama--he rarely changes his expression even when he is angrily berating his long-suffering wife (Olivia de Havilland) or best pal (Frank Sinatra). His expressionless demeanor was OK when playing tough hoods but doesn't serve him well here. Gloria Grahme plays her familiar siren role as though she has novocaine in her upper lip. But everyone else shines--Broderick Crawford as a Jewish doctor, Charles Bickford as Mitchum's mentor, and Frank Sinatra adding a much needed sense of humor to the proceedings as a materialistic doctor. Olivia de Havilland, with blonde hair and Scandinavian accent, has a couple of very strong scenes which she plays brilliantly. All of the smaller roles are well done--and particularly strong are the hospital scenes dealing with patients, operations and interns. But the big drawback is Mitchum--unable to get into his role and make his character more than a cardboard figure. Nevertheless, the film itself is still compelling and well worth viewing. The reviewers claimed that all of the actors were too old for their parts--and while this is true, only Mitchum fails to deliver.