Arrowsmith
The legendary John Ford directs this provocative and acclaimed film based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Sinclair Lewis and adapted by Sydney Howard.
Country doctor Martin Arrowsmith (Ronald Colman) is idealistic, hardworking and happily married to Leora (Helen Hayes). He's also about to make a terrible mistake. Lured away from his small practice by the prospect of wealth and important medical research, he takes a position with New York City's esteemed McGurk Institute. It's a big opportunity - but it brings bigger problems. The intense workload, a romance-minded socialite (Myrna Loy) and a terrible plague outbreak are about to threaten everything Martin holds dear.
Member Reviews
based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel - barkersbeauties
This pre-code was based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Sinclair Lewis and it was directed by John Ford who was later to direct notable films like "Stage Coach" and "Gone with the Wind" It is the story of a brass young doctor Martin Arrowsmith ( Ronald Colman ) who wants to be a great research scientist. He quickly charms a young nurse Leora (Helen Hayes) into marrying him and they then travel to her home in South Dakota so he can earn money as a country doctor. He could not take a take a job a research scientist because it does not pay enough but in SD he does act like a scientist by developing a serum to cure sick cows. He is then rewarded with a position at the exclusive Institute in New York City, working as a scientist and while there he actually develops a antibacterial serum that may cure many diseases. However, his workaalholic ways lead him to neglecting his loyal wife.
When the bubonic plague breaks out in the West Indies, he is sent there to try out his new vaccine on their citizens. Using natives as human guinea pigs is a conversational research study and so Arrowsmith's ethics is central to the film's theme. The fate of his wife Leora who traveled to West Indies with him and the no doubt sexual encounter he has with Loy (Myrna Loy) as an American trapped in the West Indies by the quarantine ethics as a husband also question Arrowsmith's ethics. Excellent cinematography in both in South Dakota and West Indies and I suspect the Sinclair Lewis novel would have filled in many missing plot gapsREALLY LOVED THIS ONE! - Whirlwind
I love Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes in pretty much everything they've done so really enjoyed this one. It's an old movie but if you love old movies, you'll love this one for the sincere heart it contains. Like Myrna Loy more in her pictures with William Powell - the Thin Man series - than in her earlier films, this one included.
Member Reviews
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based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel - barkersbeauties
This pre-code was based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Sinclair Lewis and it was directed by John Ford who was later to direct notable films like "Stage Coach" and "Gone with the Wind" It is the story of a brass young doctor Martin Arrowsmith ( ...REALLY LOVED THIS ONE! - Whirlwind
I love Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes in pretty much everything they've done so really enjoyed this one. It's an old movie but if you love old movies, you'll love this one for the sincere heart it contains. Like Myrna Loy more in her pictures with William ...