Starring: Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Lionel Atwill, Helen Gilbert, Nat Pendleton Directed By: Harold S. Bucquet Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: Roan Archival Group Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 06, 2006 Running Time: 90 minutes Theatrical Release Date: November 24, 1939
Product Description: The Secret of Doctor Kildare is the third entry in the highly popularDoctor Kildare series which went on to spawn fifteen sequels over the 30s and 40s and a groundbreaking 60s television series. In this outing young Dr. Jimmy Kildare played by series staple Lew Ayars is recruited by his cancerstrickenmentor Dr. Gillespie (screen legend Lionel Barrymore) to assist in a pneumonia study. After the overworked Gillespie collapses from exhaustion Dr. Kildare finds himself juggling the pneumonia study and a young heiress's case of hysterical blindness. The stakes are high as the doctor attempts to restore sight to the young beauty whose family fortune could help fund Gillespie's studies and cure pneumonia. The Secret of Doctor Kildare proves to be the crown jewel of the "Dr. Kildare" series.System Requirements:Features: An exclusive introduction and film history by Chief New York Post Film Critic LOU LUMENICK Discussion about the Dr. Kildare series with Film Historian and Author FRANK THOMPSON ...plus a bonus from the ROAN Archive! Running Time: 90 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 785604212195 Manufacturer No: AED-DV-2121
I also have the two releases, the secret of Dr. Kildare and the strange case of Dr. Kildare. As always I am very disappointed that they start to release on DVD and then "just stop" - The story, the cast, the times it played in is just beautiful. Acting and filmmaking at its best. With all our technology today, you hardly find any real great acting and storytelling anymore. Hope sometime they release the rest...
The doctor has a secret... In the 1930's & 40's, one of the most popular movie series was MGM's "Dr. Kildare" that starred Lew Ayres as the young intern James ("Jimmy") Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as his gruff but friendly mentor Dr. Leonard Gillespie as they encountered various patients and crises at Blair General Hospital, a New York City teaching hospital.
This film, number three in the series, is one of the best and perhaps the most representative of the entire series. Ayres and Barrymore play off each other beautifully, and they have fine support from the regular ensemble who played a major part in most of the other "Dr. Kildare" films, including Laraine Day as Nurse Mary Lamont, Alma Kruger as Head Nurse Molly Bird, Walter Kingsford as Hospital Director Dr. S.J. Carew, Nell Craig as Nurse "Nosey" Parker, Marie Blake (Jeanette MacDonald's older sister) as Sally the wisecracking switchboard operator, and Nat Pendleton as the slow-witted ambulance driver Joe Wayman.
"The Secret of Dr. Kildare" especially shows off the technique the series featured of the characters being involved in several intertwined plots. Dr. Kildare attempts to stop Dr. Gillespie from wrecking his health while working on a cure for pneumonia, and at the same time takes up the call for help of a Wall Street business magnate (Lionel Atwill) whose debutante daughter (Helen Gilbert) has begun to behave oddly and eventually develops psychosomatic blindness. While all this goes on, Dr. Kildare's parents (Emma Dunn & Samuel S. Hinds) come to New York supposedly for a friendly visit with their son, but more serious matters lie underneath.
This was Helen Gilbert's second feature film. She is unusual in Hollywood history having formerly been a cellist in the MGM studio orchestra, and even though she didn't achieve major stardom, I enjoyed her performance in this movie as Nancy Messenger.
The baby-boom generation may remember Richard Chamberlain on TV as Dr. Kildare, but for their parents as well as classic movie lovers, there will always be only one Dr. Kildare in Lew Ayres.
A classic classic If you are a fan of classic movies this is one for your library. You have the richness of Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Gillespie, and the vulnerability of Lew Ayers as Dr. Kildare. The supporting roles help illuminate the danger in putting anothers well-being before your own. There is a drama with just enough humor relief to make for enjoyable evening watching old friends.
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