Regardless of the contentious history of this film (well explained by a couple of other reviewers), "The Great Moment" falls far short of the quality of biopics that the various Hollywood studios had been producing. That may be in part because of the story itself. The movie is based on a 1940 novel by Rene Fulop-Miller, "Triumph Over Pain." It's the story of a Boston dentist, Dr. William Morton, who was the first dental surgeon to use ether as an anesthetic in surgery a hundred years earlier. He was dogged by controversy as he insisted that he had discovered the use of ether for such purpose. But others refuted his claim for any number of reasons - most seemingly selfish.
The story is told in flashbacks in the film by Morton's wife, Elizabeth (Betty Field), and it has some humor. But, mostly this is a downer of a film. Although Joel McCrea plays the role of Morton well, and all of the cast are fine, the story seems depressing. It leaves one with a bad taste about the pursuit of discoveries in medicine, science, etc. One can't avoid a notion that Morton - and perhaps most others portrayed in this film, were obsessed with the claim and recognition of discovery, rather than with the value and benefit of that discovery for mankind. At least, that's the way the film plays out as released by Paramount two years after the version Preston Sturges worked on had been shelved.
Morton was the first to demonstrate the use of ether in surgery. That much is attested to by most sources. But the question of discovery of the use isn't answered. So, this story then becomes something of a sad tale of one man's work and role in a medical field. Perhaps, that points to something society should understand. That is, that throughout all of history, for each notable discovery or breakthrough in science or medicine, there may have been countless thousands of other people and efforts being tried for the same aim, but that never succeeded.
Maybe students of medicine or dentistry will find this interesting, but for most, it won't be very enjoyable.
The story is told in flashbacks in the film by Morton's wife, Elizabeth (Betty Field), and it has some humor. But, mostly this is a downer of a film. Although Joel McCrea plays the role of Morton well, and all of the cast are fine, the story seems depressing. It leaves one with a bad taste about the pursuit of discoveries in medicine, science, etc. One can't avoid a notion that Morton - and perhaps most others portrayed in this film, were obsessed with the claim and recognition of discovery, rather than with the value and benefit of that discovery for mankind. At least, that's the way the film plays out as released by Paramount two years after the version Preston Sturges worked on had been shelved.
Morton was the first to demonstrate the use of ether in surgery. That much is attested to by most sources. But the question of discovery of the use isn't answered. So, this story then becomes something of a sad tale of one man's work and role in a medical field. Perhaps, that points to something society should understand. That is, that throughout all of history, for each notable discovery or breakthrough in science or medicine, there may have been countless thousands of other people and efforts being tried for the same aim, but that never succeeded.
Maybe students of medicine or dentistry will find this interesting, but for most, it won't be very enjoyable.