A good entry in the Dr. Kildare series, with some aspects surprising me. First was the idea of a clinic to which people subscribe for medical care, paying ten cents a week. I had no inkling the medical insurance concept was around back in 1940. I wondered what the doctors of the era thought about that. Second, was the treatment of one of the black characters in the film, Dr. Marsh, played by Jack Carr. He is intelligent, articulate, and gets praise from Dr. Gillespie for an accurate diagnosis based on very little evidence. This was a very uncharacteristic treatment of blacks in 1940. It's a short scene that has little to do with the main plot, but it made me appreciate the film so much more.
12 Reviews
cool film
blanche-22 March 2008
"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.
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.
Dr. Kildare graduates from being an intern into a staff doctor
mgmstar12819 December 2007
I too enjoyed this entry into the world of neophyte doctor, Dr. Kildare.
It's nice to see his parents once again, as in several of the earlier films, playing such important roles in his life. Both his parents are fine, but his mother is simply adorable.
I was also surprised at Dr. Marsh's depiction. A "colored" man (the terminology of the time) who happens to be an amazing doctor and one who speaks standard English. I would imagine this scene was often cut in the South since it doesn't directly impact the main plot, but it was fascinating to see.
A nice addition to the Dr. Kildare series.
It's nice to see his parents once again, as in several of the earlier films, playing such important roles in his life. Both his parents are fine, but his mother is simply adorable.
I was also surprised at Dr. Marsh's depiction. A "colored" man (the terminology of the time) who happens to be an amazing doctor and one who speaks standard English. I would imagine this scene was often cut in the South since it doesn't directly impact the main plot, but it was fascinating to see.
A nice addition to the Dr. Kildare series.
Parkersville Gets A Clinic
bkoganbing28 December 2010
Dr. Kildare Goes Home finds Lew Ayres being furloughed from Blair General Hospital in order to help out his ailing country physician father Samuel S. Hinds. With few other practicing physicians in the area Ayres has his hands full.
But in a truly bizarre twist, Ayres also finds three fellow doctors doing other kinds of work because they can't get a practice started. That part of the film is truly dated unless they're people from a third world country in America today. But such is the case in 1940.
What to do, but Ayres hits on the idea of establishing a clinic in his home town of Parkersville with these three. Of course the town's resistant to the idea because they think if medicine is good, it has to be expensive. That notion is certainly not dated. Leading proponent of that idea is Gene Lockhart who always seems to be playing these naysayers against progress when he's not a villain.
Like it does in so many medical dramas today on the small screen, it all comes together. The Dr. Kildare series was the forerunner of all the TV medical dramas from Medic to Marcus Welby including the small screen adaption of Dr. Kildare.
Ayres and Laraine Day as nurse Mary Lamont move ever closer to the wedding day with crusty old Lionel Barrymore as Kildare's mentor Dr. Gillespie giving his blessing. An OK programmer from this series out of MGM.
But in a truly bizarre twist, Ayres also finds three fellow doctors doing other kinds of work because they can't get a practice started. That part of the film is truly dated unless they're people from a third world country in America today. But such is the case in 1940.
What to do, but Ayres hits on the idea of establishing a clinic in his home town of Parkersville with these three. Of course the town's resistant to the idea because they think if medicine is good, it has to be expensive. That notion is certainly not dated. Leading proponent of that idea is Gene Lockhart who always seems to be playing these naysayers against progress when he's not a villain.
Like it does in so many medical dramas today on the small screen, it all comes together. The Dr. Kildare series was the forerunner of all the TV medical dramas from Medic to Marcus Welby including the small screen adaption of Dr. Kildare.
Ayres and Laraine Day as nurse Mary Lamont move ever closer to the wedding day with crusty old Lionel Barrymore as Kildare's mentor Dr. Gillespie giving his blessing. An OK programmer from this series out of MGM.
A black doctor is treated respectfully while in surgery
mcalfieri2 February 2023
I was casually watching this movie today when the action shifted to an emergency surgery performed in a private home. Dr Gillespie was in attendance as was Dr. Kildare. The surgeon has his back to the camera. When he turns around he is black. Gillespie then proceeds to praise the surgeon and the surgeon responds with some thoughtful words. To see a black American treated so thoughtfully and well was simply amazing at this time in Hollywood. I couldn't find the doctor in the list of cast members. And there was no mention of the scene in the trivia section of th IMDB. The scene must have added to the script perhaps by an event that caused the writers to add it , but I'm speculating.
"I can remember those wonderful days when I was fifty."
utgard1415 May 2017
The fifth in MGM's excellent series of medical dramas centered around Doctors Kildare and Gillespie (Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore). This time around Jimmy Kildare is faced with the decision of giving up his dream job working with Dr. Gillespie in order to help out his elderly father, who's being overworked as the only doctor covering two small towns.
One of the weaker entries in the series but still very enjoyable. Most of the film is spent in Kildare's hometown away from the busy goings-on of Blair General. There are lots of quaint little parts, like Gillespie prescribing having kids to save a marriage. But these sorts of things are part of what I love about this series and really classic films in general -- they're windows into the past. Great supporting cast, as was always the case with MGM. In addition to Nat Pendleton and the rest of the exceptional regulars backing up Ayres and Barrymore, there's Gene Lockhart, Donald Briggs, and fun bit parts for Arthur O'Connell and Milton Parsons. Not my favorite or even in my top five of the combined Kildare/Gillespie series, but solid and never dull.
One of the weaker entries in the series but still very enjoyable. Most of the film is spent in Kildare's hometown away from the busy goings-on of Blair General. There are lots of quaint little parts, like Gillespie prescribing having kids to save a marriage. But these sorts of things are part of what I love about this series and really classic films in general -- they're windows into the past. Great supporting cast, as was always the case with MGM. In addition to Nat Pendleton and the rest of the exceptional regulars backing up Ayres and Barrymore, there's Gene Lockhart, Donald Briggs, and fun bit parts for Arthur O'Connell and Milton Parsons. Not my favorite or even in my top five of the combined Kildare/Gillespie series, but solid and never dull.
A bit better than the last few Kildare films
planktonrules16 May 2009
While the characters in the Dr. Kildare films are quite likable as is the dialog, a major problem in some of the early films in the series is that Kildare just doesn't behave very logically and yet the films work out in the end (sort of like Curious George, now that I think about it). In one, the doctor treats a gunshot victim and doesn't disclose this to the police--even though this violated the law and should have resulted in either criminal prosecution or loss of license or both. In two others, Kildare behaves like a psychiatrist, even though he has no training in the field and once again, he's right and everyone else is wrong. It seems that there is nothing that this young doc can't do! In DR. KILDARE GOES HOME, fortunately, there is a greater sense of logic to the film and as a result, this film didn't make me want to throw something at my TV.
The film begins with Kildare calling home to talk with his father. However, once again, the older doctor isn't home. Due to his mother's tone of voice, he assumes something is amiss despite her assertions that everything is fine, so he hops a train home. There, he finds that his dad is working himself to exhaustion because a nearby town has lost their doctors and so he now has a ton of new patients. Young Kildare comes up with an idea to create a clinic in this town to relieve his father's burden. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of resistance and the town seems quite happy working Kildare, Sr. to death! What will they do?! Overall, a very good addition to the series as logic (for once) prevails.
The film begins with Kildare calling home to talk with his father. However, once again, the older doctor isn't home. Due to his mother's tone of voice, he assumes something is amiss despite her assertions that everything is fine, so he hops a train home. There, he finds that his dad is working himself to exhaustion because a nearby town has lost their doctors and so he now has a ton of new patients. Young Kildare comes up with an idea to create a clinic in this town to relieve his father's burden. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of resistance and the town seems quite happy working Kildare, Sr. to death! What will they do?! Overall, a very good addition to the series as logic (for once) prevails.
socialized medicine
SnoopyStyle29 July 2023
Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) is being his crotchety helpful self. Dr. James Kildare (Lew Ayres) finishes his internship and becomes a resident under Gillespie. He visits home and finds his father struggling. He tries to help the practice but the patients are leery of his young age. He decides to stay for his underserved community.
It's the sixth Dr. Kildare movie and the fifth with Lew Ayres. It's a good episode and that's what these movies are becoming. In another era, they would be episodes in a TV show. The big takeaway for this one is that he is proposing what is essentially socialized medicine. It just goes to show the political movement over the years. Otherwise, this is a pretty compelling chapter in this continuing story.
It's the sixth Dr. Kildare movie and the fifth with Lew Ayres. It's a good episode and that's what these movies are becoming. In another era, they would be episodes in a TV show. The big takeaway for this one is that he is proposing what is essentially socialized medicine. It just goes to show the political movement over the years. Otherwise, this is a pretty compelling chapter in this continuing story.
A bit different from the other Kildare films so far...
AlsExGal31 July 2023
... in that this one tries to tackle the issue of rural medicine and imbalances in patient care due to location versus focusing on an individual case or situation. This was a bit unusual in that so many Americans in 1940 might not live in big cities yet, but they weren't necessarily farmers either by this time.
Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres) finishes his residency, but the happiness of that moment is short-lived when he finds out his father has been overworking himself to the point of exhaustion trying to take care of his own patients plus the patients in the neighboring town of Parkersville. The paper mill there closed and the doctors left, leaving Dr. Stephen Kildare to fill the void, and it's killing him. So Dr. Kildare - and Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) for that matter - lie to the elder Kildare and tell him Dr. Gillespie is going for a yearlong treatment for his health out west so that James Kildare will be free to help take the load off of his dad.
A possible solution is found in getting some doctors who can't find positions in New York to move to Parkersville and open a clinic in which everybody in the town pays a low fee every week in return for medical care when they need it. But they need the endorsement of a Parkersville town leader to convince the people of the plan's feasibility and he's dubious about the whole thing.
It's odd to see modern problems such as these - unemployment compromising community medical care, doctors not wanting to serve rural and semi-rural areas, and the unaffordability of going into private practice being discussed in a pre WWII film. An odd scene that was the type you usually didn't see pre WWII - Gillespie goes to a poor neighborhood to watch a black doctor operate on a patient using pioneering techniques. This sort of dignified role for an African American, even as short as this scene is, would not be common for another ten years.
Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres) finishes his residency, but the happiness of that moment is short-lived when he finds out his father has been overworking himself to the point of exhaustion trying to take care of his own patients plus the patients in the neighboring town of Parkersville. The paper mill there closed and the doctors left, leaving Dr. Stephen Kildare to fill the void, and it's killing him. So Dr. Kildare - and Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) for that matter - lie to the elder Kildare and tell him Dr. Gillespie is going for a yearlong treatment for his health out west so that James Kildare will be free to help take the load off of his dad.
A possible solution is found in getting some doctors who can't find positions in New York to move to Parkersville and open a clinic in which everybody in the town pays a low fee every week in return for medical care when they need it. But they need the endorsement of a Parkersville town leader to convince the people of the plan's feasibility and he's dubious about the whole thing.
It's odd to see modern problems such as these - unemployment compromising community medical care, doctors not wanting to serve rural and semi-rural areas, and the unaffordability of going into private practice being discussed in a pre WWII film. An odd scene that was the type you usually didn't see pre WWII - Gillespie goes to a poor neighborhood to watch a black doctor operate on a patient using pioneering techniques. This sort of dignified role for an African American, even as short as this scene is, would not be common for another ten years.
Home in Connecticut
sol121826 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
(SOME SPOILERS) Becoming a resident physician at Blair General Hospital Dr. Jimmy Kildare, Lew Ayres, happily calls home in Dartfort Conn. to tell his parents the good news. It turns out things aren't going so well back home with Jimmy's father Dr. Stephen Kildare, Samuel H. Hinds, not at home to answer the phone. Taking the first train to Dartford Jimmy finds out at his father is working himself into the ground with a caseload of patients in both Dartfort as well as neighboring Parkersville.
Knowing that his old man is not up to the job Jimmy decides to help him with his work jeopardizing his job as Dr. Lenoard Gillespie's, Lionel Barrymore, assistant back in Blair General. It's then that Dr. Jimmy Kildare come up with this fool-proof solution of establishing a single payer health insurance program with everyone in both Dartford and Parkersville paying .10 a week to finance it. Jimmy goes so far as recruiting a number of interns who couldn't pay their tuition to work at the free clinic that both he and his father founded.
As we could expect the people of Dartford and Parkersville were anything but thrilled feeling that both the weekly donation of .10 was too small to cover their doctor's bills and at the same time raising it was totally out of the question. A classic symptom of schizophrenia if there ever was one.
It turns out that the biggest stumbling block to both Dr. Kildare's plan is Parkersville's top citizen George Winslow, Gene Lockhart. Winslow's only claim to fame, as far a I could see, is that he reached the age of 60 and still has all of his teeth.
Talking to Winslow Dr. Jimmy Kildare notices that he's a bit under the weather and may be suffering from a dangerous case of meningitis. It took almost heaven and earth to move the stubborn and grouchy Winslow to donate a sample of his blood for Dr. Jimmy Kildare to be able to finally find what was ailing him. It turned out that Winslow bet Jimmy to the punch collapsing and going into a coma where the meningitis, with him having a temperature of 107, being confirmed.
With Winslow now completely cured he become the biggest supporter of the Kildare's, both Jimmy & Stephen, clinic and it's that support that turns the residents of both Dartford and Parkersvill around voting unanimously for it at the conclusion of the film.
With his job done and his old man getting the help he needed, the free clinic, Jimmy Kildare goes back to New York City and Blair General Hospital for more adventures in medical history as well as his plans to marry his sweetheart Nurse Mary Lamont, Laraine Day, the following June. Tragically Mary, in a future Doctor Kildare movie, would never live to see her wedding day.
Knowing that his old man is not up to the job Jimmy decides to help him with his work jeopardizing his job as Dr. Lenoard Gillespie's, Lionel Barrymore, assistant back in Blair General. It's then that Dr. Jimmy Kildare come up with this fool-proof solution of establishing a single payer health insurance program with everyone in both Dartford and Parkersville paying .10 a week to finance it. Jimmy goes so far as recruiting a number of interns who couldn't pay their tuition to work at the free clinic that both he and his father founded.
As we could expect the people of Dartford and Parkersville were anything but thrilled feeling that both the weekly donation of .10 was too small to cover their doctor's bills and at the same time raising it was totally out of the question. A classic symptom of schizophrenia if there ever was one.
It turns out that the biggest stumbling block to both Dr. Kildare's plan is Parkersville's top citizen George Winslow, Gene Lockhart. Winslow's only claim to fame, as far a I could see, is that he reached the age of 60 and still has all of his teeth.
Talking to Winslow Dr. Jimmy Kildare notices that he's a bit under the weather and may be suffering from a dangerous case of meningitis. It took almost heaven and earth to move the stubborn and grouchy Winslow to donate a sample of his blood for Dr. Jimmy Kildare to be able to finally find what was ailing him. It turned out that Winslow bet Jimmy to the punch collapsing and going into a coma where the meningitis, with him having a temperature of 107, being confirmed.
With Winslow now completely cured he become the biggest supporter of the Kildare's, both Jimmy & Stephen, clinic and it's that support that turns the residents of both Dartford and Parkersvill around voting unanimously for it at the conclusion of the film.
With his job done and his old man getting the help he needed, the free clinic, Jimmy Kildare goes back to New York City and Blair General Hospital for more adventures in medical history as well as his plans to marry his sweetheart Nurse Mary Lamont, Laraine Day, the following June. Tragically Mary, in a future Doctor Kildare movie, would never live to see her wedding day.
The movie that produced itself!
JohnHowardReid12 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
SYNOPSIS: Soon after his appointment as assistant to Dr Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) at Blair General Hospital, Dr James Kildare (Lew Ayres), is called back to his small hometown to aid his father, Dr Stephen Kildare (Samuel S. Hinds), who is close to collapse from overwork. The townsfolk resent the young doctor's new approach to medical procedures. Sensing trouble, his mentor, Dr Gillespie, offers in-person support.
NOTES: Number 6 of the 16-picture series.
COMMENT: Known as the movie that produced itself (even IMDb can throw no light on this matter), this is indeed an odd movie to come down from the ultra-conservative, ultra-capitalistic empire of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. For the screenplay espouses the socialization of medicine - at least for poorer communities. True, it handles its message in a blatantly propagandistic but undeniably naive way. The climax, as might be expected, hinges not at all on the arguments presented but simply on a contrived, predictable co-incidence in which the leader of the opposition keels over and is saved by the medical skills of Kildare and company. Nonetheless, aside from the speechifying, Dr Kildare Comes Home presents a modestly entertaining picture of small-town and big hospital mores. The charm of Lew Ayres and Laraine Day has a lot to do with this. Barrymore over-acts, as usual, thus drawing attention to some rather banal bits of dialogue which may otherwise have passed unnoticed. Pendleton is stuck with some rather basic "comedy", but there are pleasing performances from many of the support players, particularly the ever-reliable Gene Lockhart. It's also nice to renew acquaintance with most of the old Blair Hospital gang like Alma Kruger, Walter Kingsford, and Marie Blake. Bucquet's (there's a name for you! Pronounced "Bew-Kay" - "Bew to rhyme with dew") direction is reasonably skillful.
NOTES: Number 6 of the 16-picture series.
COMMENT: Known as the movie that produced itself (even IMDb can throw no light on this matter), this is indeed an odd movie to come down from the ultra-conservative, ultra-capitalistic empire of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. For the screenplay espouses the socialization of medicine - at least for poorer communities. True, it handles its message in a blatantly propagandistic but undeniably naive way. The climax, as might be expected, hinges not at all on the arguments presented but simply on a contrived, predictable co-incidence in which the leader of the opposition keels over and is saved by the medical skills of Kildare and company. Nonetheless, aside from the speechifying, Dr Kildare Comes Home presents a modestly entertaining picture of small-town and big hospital mores. The charm of Lew Ayres and Laraine Day has a lot to do with this. Barrymore over-acts, as usual, thus drawing attention to some rather banal bits of dialogue which may otherwise have passed unnoticed. Pendleton is stuck with some rather basic "comedy", but there are pleasing performances from many of the support players, particularly the ever-reliable Gene Lockhart. It's also nice to renew acquaintance with most of the old Blair Hospital gang like Alma Kruger, Walter Kingsford, and Marie Blake. Bucquet's (there's a name for you! Pronounced "Bew-Kay" - "Bew to rhyme with dew") direction is reasonably skillful.
One of the most enjoyable of the Kildare series
vincentlynch-moonoi7 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Young Dr. Kildare has to take some time off from Blair General Hospital when he learns that his doctor-father is working himself to death, trying to cover the patient needs in two communities. Kildare and a couple of other young associates decide to open a clinic in one of the communities, but find the locals up-in-arms over a socialized medicine proposal where people would pay a very small weekly fee to be covered. One influential village leader is opposed, but Kildare realizes that he has a serious medical condition. If he can only save him, then the chances of opening the clinic can be realized.
Lew Ayres is the star here and does another nice job as the young doctor. Dr. Gillespie's role here is secondary, but the wonderful Lionel Barrymore still puts in a strong performance. Laraine Day is featured as Kildare's love interest. Gene Lockhart is entertaining as the village leader whose fate rests in Kildare's hands. I really liked this film of the series.
Lew Ayres is the star here and does another nice job as the young doctor. Dr. Gillespie's role here is secondary, but the wonderful Lionel Barrymore still puts in a strong performance. Laraine Day is featured as Kildare's love interest. Gene Lockhart is entertaining as the village leader whose fate rests in Kildare's hands. I really liked this film of the series.
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