The Last Angry Man (1959)

An aspiring journalist's story of his aged uncle doctor leads to the uncle's life being profiled on TV.

Director:

Daniel Mann

Writers:

Gerald Green (screenplay), Richard Murphy (adaptation)

Stars:

Paul Muni, David Wayne, Betsy Palmer

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Paul Muni	...	Dr. Samuel 'Sam' Abelman
David Wayne	...	Woodrow 'Woody' Thrasher
Betsy Palmer	...	Anna Thrasher
Luther Adler	...	Dr. Max Vogel
Claudia McNeil	...	Mrs. Quincy
Joby Baker	...	Myron Malkin
Joanna Moore	...	Alice Taggart
Nancy R. Pollock	...	Sarah Abelman
Billy Dee Williams	...	Josh Quincy
Robert F. Simon	...	Lyman Gattling
Dan Tobin	...	Ben Loomer

Storyline

As the fiercely dedicated general practitioner who tries to help the sick, the poor and the unfortunate in his decrepit neighborhood, Paul Muni is the testy old man who faces life without compromise and David Wayne is the troubled television producer fighting to preserve his career.

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | brooklyn new york city | television producer | based on novel | television show | 

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Taglines:

Here come the people raging...the passions blazing out of the decade's wrathful best-seller!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Yiddish

Release Date:

February 1960 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Der Zorn des Gerechten

Filming Locations:

NBC Building, Rockefeller Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fred Kohlmar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Paul Muni's final film before his death on August 25, 1967 at the age of 71.

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Goofs

As Dr. Abelman is lying in bed, he lets go of Dr. Vogel's hand in consecutive shots.

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Quotes

Dr. Sam Abelman: We owe him something, Woody, as rotten as he is.

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Connections

Referenced in Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)

User Reviews

The Last Angry Man-End of An Era ****

Remember when doctors made house calls and were totally dedicated to their patients? Paul Muni sure was that and a lot more in "The Last Angry Man."

Working and living in a depressed neighborhood, Muni was the embodiment of what medicine is supposed to be all about. When he took the Hippocratic Oath, he meant it.

Muni as the crusty but beloved doctor turned in a truly memorable performance. He received an Oscar nomination. Too bad it was the same year as Charlton Heston's winning portrayal of Judah Ben-Hur.

They sure don't make doctors like that anymore. A definite requirement for new doctors and HMOs to watch. The film is absolutely terrific as it embodies the ideals of what it means to be a dedicated doctor caught up in a world of physicians in it for the precious dollar. Steadfast in his beliefs, Muni gave a brilliant performance. He would never compromise his ideals and would always say that so and so is my patient. Just before his untimely demise, he sees that even a violent criminal may yet have some good left in him. This film is a definite call for the positive in humanity. David Wayne is tremendous as the television producer. He hadn't had such a good part since playing opposite Susan Hayward in 1952's "With A Song in My Heart." As Dr. Vogel, Luther Adler showed what the medical profession has come to, but yet shows what it means to be a doctor when his beloved friend is stricken.