Themes: Finding the Cure, Crisis of Conscience, Doctors and Patients
Main Cast: Ronald Colman, Helen Hayes, Richard Bennett, A.E. Anson, Clarence Brooks, DeWitt Jennings
Release Year: 1931
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
Plot
One of the more prestigious films of its time, John Ford's film adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has a sleek Art Deco look strangely out of tune with its tale of moral struggle. Ronald Colman stars as Martin Arrowsmith, an idealistic young doctor, who, after graduating from medical school, must forego a research position with Dr. Max Gottlieb (A.E. Anson) due to his marriage to nurse Leora Tozer (Helen Hayes). He returns to her rural hometown and establishes a small practice, and in his spare time eventually develops a serum for a deadly cow disease. Based on this work he is able to return to work under Dr. Gottlieb. When Dr. Gustav Sondelius (Richard Bennett), a friend of the researchers, informs them about a plague devouring the West Indies, Arrowsmith decides to travel to the area to test whether the serum he's working on might be effective in combatting it. The white citizens of the area refuse to allow themselves to be the subjects of an experiment, but black Harvard-educated Dr. Oliver Marchand (Clarence Brooks) persuades the island's native population to go along with Arrowsmith's plan. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
The film concerns a young medical researcher (Ronald Colman) who leaves his practice as a doctor in a small town to accept a position in an institute. Eager to help mankind, he goes to a Caribbean island to help the natives fight bubonic plague. His loving wife (Helen Hayes) goes with him, much against his wishes.
The film is largely faithful to the novel, but completely omits all mention of Arrowsmith's wealthy and self-centered second wife.
The film significantly avoids stereotypes in its portrayal of a central black character. Marchland, played by Clarence Brooks is a college graduate who speaks proper English and who does not stutter or demonstrate cowardice. [1]
The film was a financial and critical success, garnering four Oscar nominations. [2] Present-day critics, however, complain that the film does not age well, that the events in the titular character's life are rushed through, and as such does not do justice to the themes of the novel. It is often suggested that, at 40, Ronald Coleman was too old to play the idealistic young hero, and that Myrna Loy is not given enough screen time. Made during the early sound period, the film features static camerawork and minimal background music.
