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  • A Doctor's Diary (1937)
  • Passed
    77 min | Drama, Romance
A Doctor's Diary (1937)
Passed
77 min | Drama, Romance

Dr. Daniel Norris, resident physician at Stanwood Hospital, is engaged to the president's daughter, Catherine Stanwood. He has been diligently experimenting to find a cure for polio and neglects his fiance because of this. When he and ...See moreDr. Daniel Norris, resident physician at Stanwood Hospital, is engaged to the president's daughter, Catherine Stanwood. He has been diligently experimenting to find a cure for polio and neglects his fiance because of this. When he and other physicians refuse to operate on a young woman because her physician is late in arriving, nurse Ruth Hanlon accuses Dan, Dr. Ellery Stanwood and Dr. Anson Ludlow of negligence, even though she knows it is against medical ethics to take over another doctor's case without his permission. Dan is forced to fire Ruth because of her outspokenness, but she leaves on friendly terms with him, and he records her parting words in his diary. One day, family doctor Clem Driscoll brings in a charity case, Michael Fielding, an eleven-year-old boy, who has a gift for playing the violin. Dan makes the initial diagnosis, and the case is taken by Ludlow. Ludlow is called away to treat a wealthy patron of the hospital the day that Michael is scheduled for surgery, and although Dan believes that the boy will suffer if the surgery is postponed, he does not interfere. Before he leaves the hospital to join Catherine at the opera one night, he sees the patient over whom Ruth lost her job wheeled out of her room, dead, and goes to visit Ruth at her manicurist job. She is touched by his concern. Three days later, Michael goes into surgery, but the infection has spread too far, and he loses the use of his arm. Mrs. Fielding files suit against Ludlow and the hospital for criminal negligence, and Dan loses his job because he agrees to testify on her behalf. As Dan reluctantly packs up his office and leaves his research lab, Catherine announces that she will leave him if he does not change his position, but, already a little drunk, he does not budge. He arrives at Ruth's apartment completely drunk, and vowing his love for her, falls asleep on the couch. Ruth and Dan go to work with Driscoll, who is inundated with cases of infantile paralysis, or poliomyelitis, as an epidemic sweeps the city. Frustrated by his inability to truly help the children, Dan begs local hospitals to allow him to continue his research for a cure, but he is refused. Desperate, he agrees to testify on behalf of the hospital when Stanwood offers to reopen his position. During the trial, Mrs. Fielding becomes overwrought when she hears Dan's testimony, and grabbing a policeman's gun, shoots Dan. Catherine returns to Dan, but in a stupor from his operation, Dan calls out Ruth's name, and Catherine leaves. Dan recovers from his injury and returns to work, as does Ruth, whom he has married. His latest entry in his diary is that Ludlow operated on Michael Fielding with complete success. See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Joseph Anthony (story) | Samuel Ornitz (story) (screenplay) | David Boehm (screenplay)
Producer
Cinematographer
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Feb 16, 1937

Release date
Feb 16, 1937 (United States)

Contacts

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Cast

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41 cast members
Name Known for
George Bancroft
Dr. Clem Driscoll Dr. Clem Driscoll   See fewer
Helen Burgess
Ruth Hanlon Ruth Hanlon   See fewer
John Trent
Dr. Dan Norris Dr. Dan Norris   See fewer
Ruth Coleman
Catherine Stanwood Catherine Stanwood   See fewer
Ronald Sinclair
Michael Fielding (as Ra Hould) Michael Fielding (as Ra Hould)   See fewer
Molly Lamont
Mrs. Fielding Mrs. Fielding   See fewer
Sidney Blackmer
Dr. Anson Ludlow Dr. Anson Ludlow   See fewer
Charles Waldron
Dr. Ellery Stanwood (as Charles D. Waldron) Dr. Ellery Stanwood (as Charles D. Waldron)   See fewer
Milburn Stone
Fred Clark Fred Clark   See fewer
Sue Carol
Mrs. Mason Mrs. Mason   See fewer
Stanley Andrews
Dr. Wilson (uncredited) Dr. Wilson (uncredited)   See fewer
Scotty Beckett
Billy (uncredited) Billy (uncredited)   See fewer
Buster Brodie
Baldheaded Man (uncredited) Baldheaded Man (uncredited)   See fewer
Buddy Byron
Boy (uncredited) Boy (uncredited)   See fewer
Edward Earle
P.J.'s Secretary (uncredited) P.J.'s Secretary (uncredited)   See fewer
Jack Egger
Boy (uncredited) Boy (uncredited)   See fewer
Hazel Flint
Nurse (uncredited) Nurse (uncredited)   See fewer
Jonathan Hale
Mr. Williams (uncredited) Mr. Williams (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Hayden
Father (uncredited) Father (uncredited)   See fewer
Kenneth Hunter
Doctor Weyman (uncredited) Doctor Weyman (uncredited)   See fewer
Jock Hutton
Boy (uncredited) Boy (uncredited)   See fewer
Guy Kingsford
Board of Director's Member (uncredited) Board of Director's Member (uncredited)   See fewer
Mickey Kuhn
Boy in Hospital (uncredited) Boy in Hospital (uncredited)   See fewer
Louise Lorimer
Ludlow's Secretary (uncredited) Ludlow's Secretary (uncredited)   See fewer
Joan Lott
Girl (uncredited) Girl (uncredited)   See fewer
Helen Mack
Nurse (uncredited) Nurse (uncredited)   See fewer
Louis Mercier
Barber (uncredited) Barber (uncredited)   See fewer
Edwin Mordant
Judge (uncredited) Judge (uncredited)   See fewer
Philip Morris
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited) Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)   See fewer
Edmund Mortimer
Doctor (uncredited) Doctor (uncredited)   See fewer
Ottola Nesmith
Maternity Ward Nurse (uncredited) Maternity Ward Nurse (uncredited)   See fewer
Wedgwood Nowell
Doctor (uncredited) Doctor (uncredited)   See fewer
Dagmar Oakland
Nurse (uncredited) Nurse (uncredited)   See fewer
Spencer Quinn
Boy (uncredited) Boy (uncredited)   See fewer
Cyril Ring
Dr. Merrick (uncredited) Dr. Merrick (uncredited)   See fewer
Charles Sherlock
Interne (uncredited) Interne (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Stubbs
Dr. Walker (uncredited) Dr. Walker (uncredited)   See fewer
Tommy Tucker
Boy (uncredited) Boy (uncredited)   See fewer
Corinne Varian
Girl (uncredited) Girl (uncredited)   See fewer
Ruth Warren
Poor Mother (uncredited) Poor Mother (uncredited)   See fewer
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