vincentlynch-moonoi Not sure why, but I didn't have high hopes for this film, even though June Allyson is the star. But, to my pleasant surprise, it was quite good and -- I thought -- gave one a good sense of hospital care in turn of the century New York City. It's the relatively true story of the first female doctor to serve in a NYC hospital.June Allyson really shines in this role...just perfect for it. This is the second film I've seen recently where Arthur Kennedy is NOT playing a fairly cynical character (or downright "bad" guy); and guess what -- he was very good both times...guess he got typecast in negative roles at some point. Character actress Mildred Dunnock is very good as an older female doctor with no hospital experience until later in the film. Gary Merrill also does nicely as the director of the hospital, and Jesse White is entertainingly pleasant as a horse-driven ambulance driver.A great film? No. But very good and rather serious on its topic.

edwagreen Wonderful,engaging film of a perky young lady played so well by June Allyson, without overacting, who aspires to become a doctor when a female doctor, Mildred Dunnock, saves her mother in childbirth.The film takes place at the turn of the century N.Y. and Allyson is confronted with male prejudice regarding women doctors. Despite it all, she becomes the first female physician intern at a N.Y. hospital and immediately proves her mettle on all accounts.Arthur Kennedy and Gary Merrill are the two physicians in her life. While there is some old fashioned romance, and responsibility to duty, the picture ends in the way you would expect it to.

jotix100 Emily Dunning was a determined young woman when she decided to go into the medical field. What attracted her to this area of science was a role model she met during a family crisis involving her mother at their arrival in New York. When the mother collapsed, she goes out trying to get help, but there are no physicians in the neighborhood, except the kind Dr. Yeomans, a woman doctor, who not only treats her mother, but is instrumental in inspiring young Emily to follow in her foot steps.This story takes place at the end of the XIX century, when women were a rarity in pursuing a medical career. The determined Emily Dunning enters Cornell, where she is the only female in the class. All the male students realize she is in because the love of medicine, but they are not too kind to her. The handsome Ben Barringer is the only one that seems taken by Emily.When Emily is ready for her internship, she is accepted by a New York hospital. The head of the department makes it clear about his feelings toward a woman in the hospital and gives her the worst assignments. Dr. Dunning accepts what's given to her until she proves herself to be an asset to the institution that has been unkind to her. After an outbreak of typhoid fever, Dr. Yeomans comes to the hospital to help and the two women are reunited. Dr. Barringer confesses his love for Emily as he is leaving for Paris on a research trip.This biopic was presented recently by TCM. The movie, rarely seen these days, should be seen more often because director John Sturges' inspired take on the life of a woman who overcame all odds against her. June Allyson plays Emily Dunning with her usual spunk, given the subject matter a great reading. Arthur Kennedy also did an excellent job as Ben Barringer. Gary Merrill, Mildred Dunnock are seen in supporting roles.

vandino1 This is a fairly accurate re-telling of the Emily Dunning story. She was a turn of the century doctor, and being a woman doctor, therefore treated like a freak, or publicity hound. Sadly, the tale is always the same: woman/minority enters field dominated by white males and is mistreated and pressured to quit. Dunning was a doctor decades before women were given the right to vote! And she didn't just deliver babies, she was out on ambulance calls day and night. Quite an impressive figure, but June Allyson (reminding me of a more winsome version of ER's Maura Tierney) is only adequate as Dunning. The film has its moments, yet the struggles Dunning truly incurred in overcoming the male doctor establishment and public attitude is only moderately presented here. It's as if the male dominated film-making establishment didn't want their doctor counterparts to look too bigoted. And much of the film is devoted to Allyson's relationship with Arthur Kennedy (Dr. Barringer -- in real life became her husband). Once again, the filmmakers are more concerned with stressing the standard woman-as-love-interest-only angle. It also starts to slow down in the second half, unfortunately. But this is the only film covering Dunning's interesting story so it's worth looking at at least for that reason.