Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940)

Director:

Harold S. Bucquet

Writers:

Max Brand (story)
Willis Goldbeck (writer)

Release Date:

6 September 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Dr. James Kildare has just completed his internship at Blair General Hospital and is assigned to work with his mentor...

Plot Keywords:

Clinic | Doctor | Hospital | Medical Insurance | Sequel

Cast

Lew Ayres	...	Dr. James 'Jimmy' Kildare
Lionel Barrymore	...	Dr. Leonard Gillespie
Laraine Day	...	Nurse Mary Lamont
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Dr. Stephen Kildare
Gene Lockhart	...	George Winslow
John Shelton	...	Dr. Davidson
Nat Pendleton	...	Joe Wayman
Emma Dunn	...	Mrs. Martha Kildare
Alma Kruger	...	Superintendant Molly Byrd
Walter Kingsford	...	Dr. Walter Carew
Nell Craig	...	Nurse 'Nosey' Parker
Cliff Danielson	...	Dr. Jordan
Henry Wadsworth	...	Dr. Collins
Tom Collins	...	Dr. Joiner
George Reed	...	Conover (as George H. Reed)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G

Company:

Loew's

Movie Connections:

Followed by Between Two Women (1945)

cool film

"Dr. Kildare Goes Home," made in 1940, is a particularly interesting entry into the series. Kildare, made a staff doctor, realizes that his dad (Samuel S. Hinds) is exhausted from keeping up with his practice and wants to help him. He takes some doctors who can't find jobs and they start a clinic in one of Kildare Sr.'s practice area. The idea behind it is that everyone pays ten cents a week for medical care. This will keep the salaries paid and support the work needed on the ill people. Also, the emphasis of the clinic is on prevention and staying healthy. This is health insurance today, which wants everyone to stay healthy and not need medical facilities. Instead of a dime, though, it's thousands per year. I did find that whole subject matter in 1940 fascinating.

The next fascinating thing is that Dr. Gillespie goes to watch a rare operation done by a brilliant black doctor (Jack Carr). Carr, a very well spoken actor, is uncredited in the film. This is a different kind of depiction of blacks than one is used to seeing in these old movies, and it's similar to "Crash Dive," where a black member of the submarine unit is the same as everyone else.

These things make "Dr. Kildare Goes Home" a cut above, and the story moves along with Kildare and Mary setting the date. I love the scenes between Mary Boyd (Alma Kruger) and Dr. Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) the best. When he compliments her appearance, he says, "You must have lost 15 pounds." She says, "I've gained eight. What do you want me to do that's illegal?" Highly entertaining.