Not as a Stranger (1955)

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

Edna Anhalt (writer)
Edward Anhalt (writer)

Release Date:

July 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An arrogant doctor financially supported by his wife believes he's a god until his own mistake costs a good friend's life.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Medical Student | Medical | Operation | Expectant Father

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Olivia de Havilland	...	Kristina Hedvigson
Robert Mitchum	...	Lucas Marsh
Frank Sinatra	...	Alfred Boone
Gloria Grahame	...	Harriet Lang
Broderick Crawford	...	Dr. Aarons
Charles Bickford	...	Dr. Dave W. Runkleman
Myron McCormick	...	Dr. Snider
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Job Marsh (as Lon Chaney)
Jesse White	...	Ben Cosgrove
Harry Morgan	...	Oley
Lee Marvin	...	Brundage
Virginia Christine	...	Bruni
Whit Bissell	...	Dr. Dietrich
Jack Raine	...	Dr. Lettering
Mae Clarke	...	Nurse Odell

Also Known As:

Morton Thompson's Not as a Stranger (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

California Studios - 5530 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

This is one of the first films where an actual human heart is seen beating during open-heat surgery.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Robert Mitchum and Olivia de Havilland visit "Greenville", which is supposed to be isolated and rural, they pass a truck with "Reseda Boulevard" on its side. Reseda Boulevard is just a few miles northwest of Hollywood.

Quotes:

Dr. Snider: God help him, he made a mistake.

Movie Connections:

References Internes Can't Take Money (1937)

Soundtrack:

Not as a Stranger

An ambitious physician with a well-doing wife

I am sympathetic with the films of the director Stanley Kramer, and this is not an exception. Here he was able to show how the professionals, still when they are students, project themselves and are able to go beyond their possibilities hurting many people surrounding them. This is the case of the Physician, Dr. Lucas Marsh (Robert Mitchum), who even forgot the financial and professional help given by his wife, the nurse Kristina Hedvigson (Olivia De Havilland) when he was student. This film touches many different aspects of the society, which are still actual at present, i.e. the relationship between the wife and the husband, the jealousy of the professional to be always the best, no matter at what cost this can be reached, the relationships of the students, and others. It is a very interesting film with plenty of morale, worth to be seen more than once. In addition, Frank Sinatra and Broderick Crawford had excellent performances in this film.