... the result is total confusion at best, and that best sums up how I felt watching this film. What saves it and makes it worth watching? First there's the cast, most of all the always charming Errol Flynn in a most unusual role along with the often overlooked Margaret Lindsay, feisty and loyal in her role here. Next there is Frank Borzage's direction. With his love of humanity shining through he makes something that seems weird taken plot point by plot point and makes it a warm enjoyable experience.
Now for the confusing part - the entire plot. Errol Flynn plays a brilliant young surgeon, Dr. Newell Paige. Warm to everyone he meets, always with a smile, plus he likes dogs - his dog is a constant companion. The day comes for the operation of a prominent older woman in the community, Mrs. Dexter. The situation is urgent, but the surgeon that is to perform the operation is nowhere to be found (Henry O'Neill as Doctor Endicott). It turns out he's in a broker's office trying to save his portfolio from ruin. Paige starts the operation, but Endicott shows up in the middle and takes over. He cuts an artery too short for it to be clamped and Mrs. Dexter, dies. In private, Endicott admits his blame to Paige, but he refuses to blame himself when the hospital board brings up the whole matter at a hearing that is there for only one reason - to find someone to blame and fire for this incident. Paige doesn't show up at the hearing either, leaving the board to reach the conclusion that Paige is at fault and ask for his resignation - he gives it. Now, we're not talking about some 25 year old retail clerk covering for the mistake of a 60 year old retail clerk and taking the blame so the older less employable person won't be fired. We're talking about a trusted surgeon who made a fatal error because he was distracted. Do you think he's less distracted and therefore less dangerous the next time he's in the operating room with the guilt of the destruction of Paige's career on his conscience in addition to the worries over his personal finances?
In spite of this obvious injustice, everyone in the know about what really happened digs their heels in about covering for Endicott even using "professional ethics" as an excuse. The only voice of reason here is Margaret Lindsay as Frances, Paige's nurse and obviously more than a little in love with him, but right just the same. She's about to blow the whole thing wide open when she's directed to Dean Harcourt, the minister that has counseled Paige and made him believe he was right to take the blame. Sir Cedric Hardwicke as the sublime old cleric is quite likable in his role, again owing to his own talent and probably to that of Frank Borzage, but if you listen to his words like you are reading a court transcript they are like so many fortune cookie sayings stitched together into some kind of psycho-babble. Worse, this minister seems to think it is a good idea to put people into embarrassing situations by introducing them to one another without them knowing the prominent part they play in each other's dilemmas. He does this to Mrs. Dexter's daughter (Phyllis played by Anita Louise) and Dr. Paige. They fall for one another. That is, until Phyllis finds out Dr. Paige was blamed for her mother's death, then she'll have nothing to do with him.
How does Paige deal with this? He goes to the site of the North American plague of the time - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - where intense medical research is going on for a cure. He tests a vaccine on himself by injecting himself with the possible antidote and then deliberately allows himself to be bitten by a tick carrying the disease. If he lives, the antidote works. His reason? He somehow feels like he has to make amends and have his life - or death - mean something. What?? He is the guy who allowed himself to be unjustly accused and fired for something he didn't do, lost the girl he loved - Phyllis - to maintain the ruse, and he thinks he's anything but a prince of a guy? Then there's the whole matter of Frances, working side by side with Paige for years, beautiful, smart, and loyal, yet Paige skips over her entirely and falls for a girl he barely knows. In spite of what I've written here I really like this film and watch it periodically - it is a positive experience to watch a film full of characters with the best of intentions even if their reasoning skills are a bit off kilter. You really can't miss with Flynn starring and Borzage directing, but just don't expect for a minute to understand the motivations of any of the characters involved.
Now for the confusing part - the entire plot. Errol Flynn plays a brilliant young surgeon, Dr. Newell Paige. Warm to everyone he meets, always with a smile, plus he likes dogs - his dog is a constant companion. The day comes for the operation of a prominent older woman in the community, Mrs. Dexter. The situation is urgent, but the surgeon that is to perform the operation is nowhere to be found (Henry O'Neill as Doctor Endicott). It turns out he's in a broker's office trying to save his portfolio from ruin. Paige starts the operation, but Endicott shows up in the middle and takes over. He cuts an artery too short for it to be clamped and Mrs. Dexter, dies. In private, Endicott admits his blame to Paige, but he refuses to blame himself when the hospital board brings up the whole matter at a hearing that is there for only one reason - to find someone to blame and fire for this incident. Paige doesn't show up at the hearing either, leaving the board to reach the conclusion that Paige is at fault and ask for his resignation - he gives it. Now, we're not talking about some 25 year old retail clerk covering for the mistake of a 60 year old retail clerk and taking the blame so the older less employable person won't be fired. We're talking about a trusted surgeon who made a fatal error because he was distracted. Do you think he's less distracted and therefore less dangerous the next time he's in the operating room with the guilt of the destruction of Paige's career on his conscience in addition to the worries over his personal finances?
In spite of this obvious injustice, everyone in the know about what really happened digs their heels in about covering for Endicott even using "professional ethics" as an excuse. The only voice of reason here is Margaret Lindsay as Frances, Paige's nurse and obviously more than a little in love with him, but right just the same. She's about to blow the whole thing wide open when she's directed to Dean Harcourt, the minister that has counseled Paige and made him believe he was right to take the blame. Sir Cedric Hardwicke as the sublime old cleric is quite likable in his role, again owing to his own talent and probably to that of Frank Borzage, but if you listen to his words like you are reading a court transcript they are like so many fortune cookie sayings stitched together into some kind of psycho-babble. Worse, this minister seems to think it is a good idea to put people into embarrassing situations by introducing them to one another without them knowing the prominent part they play in each other's dilemmas. He does this to Mrs. Dexter's daughter (Phyllis played by Anita Louise) and Dr. Paige. They fall for one another. That is, until Phyllis finds out Dr. Paige was blamed for her mother's death, then she'll have nothing to do with him.
How does Paige deal with this? He goes to the site of the North American plague of the time - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - where intense medical research is going on for a cure. He tests a vaccine on himself by injecting himself with the possible antidote and then deliberately allows himself to be bitten by a tick carrying the disease. If he lives, the antidote works. His reason? He somehow feels like he has to make amends and have his life - or death - mean something. What?? He is the guy who allowed himself to be unjustly accused and fired for something he didn't do, lost the girl he loved - Phyllis - to maintain the ruse, and he thinks he's anything but a prince of a guy? Then there's the whole matter of Frances, working side by side with Paige for years, beautiful, smart, and loyal, yet Paige skips over her entirely and falls for a girl he barely knows. In spite of what I've written here I really like this film and watch it periodically - it is a positive experience to watch a film full of characters with the best of intentions even if their reasoning skills are a bit off kilter. You really can't miss with Flynn starring and Borzage directing, but just don't expect for a minute to understand the motivations of any of the characters involved.