Director: HAROLD S. BUCQUET. Screenplay: Willis Goldbeck, Harry Ruskin. Original screen story: Kubec Glasmon. Based on characters created by Max Brand (pseudonym of Frederick Faust). Photography: Ray June. Film editor: Elmo Veron. Art directors: Cedric Gibbons, Malcolm Brown. Set decorator: Edwin B. Willis. Gowns: Kalloch. Hair styles: Sydney Guilaroff. Music director: Daniele Amfitheatrof. Sound recording: Douglas Shearer. Western Electric Sound System.
Copyright 16 June 1942 by Loews Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at Loews Criterion: 8 July 1942. U.S. release: August 1942. Australian release: 4 March 1943. 7,538 feet. 83 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A homicidal maniac is on the loose in Blair General Hospital.
NOTES: Number 11 in the 16-picture Kildare series and the first without its central character.
COMMENT: With a homicidal maniac on the loose, director Harold S. Bucquet couldn't help but make a few exciting moments in this entry. One scene, in a dance hall, is particularly suspenseful.
Mind you, when not focusing on the killer, the direction is pretty flat. But the script itself is more engaging than usual. Barrymore has his usual high old time as the hearty old doctor, while Philip Dorn fills Lew Ayres' shoes capably enough as his new assistant, whilst Phil Brown plays the maniac in arresting style.
Many of the Blair Hospital familiars are also welcomely on hand. But of course the most interesting person in the cast, so far as current viewers are concerned, is Ava Gardner. Making her appearance in the very last scene, she has just a few lines which she delivers so attractively, she steals the fade-out limelight from Donna Reed.
Copyright 16 June 1942 by Loews Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. New York opening at Loews Criterion: 8 July 1942. U.S. release: August 1942. Australian release: 4 March 1943. 7,538 feet. 83 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A homicidal maniac is on the loose in Blair General Hospital.
NOTES: Number 11 in the 16-picture Kildare series and the first without its central character.
COMMENT: With a homicidal maniac on the loose, director Harold S. Bucquet couldn't help but make a few exciting moments in this entry. One scene, in a dance hall, is particularly suspenseful.
Mind you, when not focusing on the killer, the direction is pretty flat. But the script itself is more engaging than usual. Barrymore has his usual high old time as the hearty old doctor, while Philip Dorn fills Lew Ayres' shoes capably enough as his new assistant, whilst Phil Brown plays the maniac in arresting style.
Many of the Blair Hospital familiars are also welcomely on hand. But of course the most interesting person in the cast, so far as current viewers are concerned, is Ava Gardner. Making her appearance in the very last scene, she has just a few lines which she delivers so attractively, she steals the fade-out limelight from Donna Reed.