Young Dr Kildare *** (1938, Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Lynne Carver) – Classic Movie Review 11,299

Director Harold S Bucquet’s 1938 black and white MGM hospital drama film Young Dr Kildare stars Lew Ayres as idealistic, medical intern Dr James Kildare, who benefits from the counsel of experienced mentor Dr Leonard Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore), the famous wheelchair-using diagnostician, after the new intern diagnoses Gillespie with a melanoma on his hand.

Then Kildare saves the life of Barbara Chanler (Jo Ann Sayers), a young suicide victim. It turns out that she is an heiress as the sole child of wealthy, powerful Robert Chanler (Pierre Watkin). Top psychiatrist Dr Lane-Porteus (Monty Woolley) diagnoses schizophrenia, but Kildare is suspended by the hospital’s administrator Dr Carew (Walter Kingsford) after declaring that she was driven to attempt suicide for more ordinary reasons.

Based on a story and characters by Frederick Schiller Faust, writing as Max Brand, it is the second of ten films featuring the Dr Kildare character, the first made by MGM, the first starring Ayres, and the first film appearance of Dr Gillespie.

The first Kildare film, Internes Can’t Take Money (1937), was made by Paramount Pictures and featured Joel McCrea but had weak box office, prompting MGM to buy the rights and work with Faust/Brand to make Kildare more popular.

Young Doctor Kildare introduces the regular characters working at the large New York City Blair General hospital, including hospital administrator Dr Carew (Walter Kingsford), nurses Molly Byrd (Alma Kruger) and Nosey Parker (Nell Craig), orderly Conover (George H Reed), ambulance attendant Joe Wayman (Nat Pendleton), switchboard operator Sally (Marie Blake), and Sullivan’s Hospital Café proprietor Mike Ryan (Frank Orth).

The main cast are Lionel Barrymore as Dr Leonard Gillespie, Lew Ayres as Dr James Kildare, Lynne Carver as Alice Raymond, Nat Pendleton as Joe Wayman, Jo Ann Sayers as Barbara Chanler, Samuel S Hinds as Dr Stephen Kildare, Emma Dunn as Mrs Martha Kildare, Walter Kingsford as Dr P Walter Carew, Truman Bradley as Jack Hamilton, Monty Woolley as Dr Lane-Porteus, Pierre Watkin as Mr Robert Chanler, Nella Walker as Mrs Chanler, and Roger Converse as Dr Joiner.

It is written by Max Brand (story), Harry Ruskin and Willis Goldbeck.

Running time: 82 minutes.

Release date: October 14, 1938.

MGM’s Dr Kildare films are Young Dr Kildare (1938), Calling Dr Kildare (1939), The Secret of Dr Kildare (1939), Dr Kildare’s Strange Case (1940), Dr Kildare Goes Home (1940), Dr Kildare’s Crisis (1940), The People vs. Dr Kildare (1941), Dr Kildare’s Wedding Day (1941) and Dr Kildare’s Victory (1942).

Lionel Barrymore was MGM studio chief Louis B Mayer’s favourite actor, cast here after he had played Judge Hardy in the first of the studio’s Andy Hardy movies, A Family Affair. Mayer was determined that Barrymore would be employed as long as he lived, and he went on to play Dr Gillespie in 14 more films.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,299

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