Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)

Director:

David Miller

Writers:

Richard L. Breen (writer)
Henry Ephron (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

25 December 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Tagline:

A picture that swings from hilarity to heart-break and back again!

Plot:

Dr. Josiah Newman runs the psychiatric unit of a U.S. Military Hospital during WWII. Short of help,...

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Orderly | Section 8 | Heroic Captain | Sailor Suit

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 nominations

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Capt. Josiah J. Newman, MD
Tony Curtis	...	Cpl. Jackson 'Jake' Leibowitz
Angie Dickinson	...	Lt. Francie Corum
Eddie Albert	...	Col. Norval Algate Bliss
James Gregory	...	Col. Edgar Pyser
Bethel Leslie	...	Mrs. Helene Winston
Robert Duvall	...	Capt. Paul Cabot Winston
Jane Withers	...	Lt. Grace Blodgett
Dick Sargent	...	Lt. Belden 'Barney' Alderson
Larry Storch	...	Cpl. Gavoni
Robert F. Simon	...	Lt. Col. M.B. Larrabee
Syl Lamont	...	Sgt. Kopp
Paul Carr	...	Arthur Werbel (patient)
Vito Scotti	...	Maj. Alfredo Fortuno, Italian P.O.W.
Crahan Denton	...	Maj. Gen. Snowden
Gregory Walcott	...	Capt. Howard
Charlie Briggs	...	Gorkow
Bobby Darin	...	Cpl. Jim Tompkins
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cal Bolder	...	Patient in the mental ward
Pat Colby	...	Nurse's Aid
Barry Atwater	...	Maj. Dawes (uncredited)
Ted Bessell	...	Carrozzo (patient) (uncredited)
Ron Brogan	...	Catholic chaplain (uncredited)
Marc Cavell	...	Patient in Ward (uncredited)
Ann Doran	...	Mrs. Pyser (uncredited)
Mike Farrell	...	Patient (uncredited)
Robert Fuca	...	Patient (uncredited)
Seamon Glass	...	Patient (uncredited)
Jack Grinnage	...	Patient (uncredited)
John Hart	...	Officer (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Officer at Christmas Party (uncredited)
David Landfield	...	Corporal (uncredited)
Paul Lukather	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Steven Marlo	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Tyler McVey	...	Officer at Medical Evaluation Hearing (uncredited)
Titus Moede	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Byron Morrow	...	Air Surgeon General (uncredited)
Sammy Reese	...	Haskell (patient) (uncredited)
Penny Santon	...	Waitress at Blue Grotto (uncredited)
Paul Sorensen	...	Military Policeman at Christmas Party (uncredited)
Amzie Strickland	...	Katie (Ward 3 nurse) (uncredited)
Robert Strong	...	Jewish chaplain (uncredited)
Ken Swofford	...	Patient (uncredited)
Joseph Walsh	...	Maccarades (uncredited)
Martin West	...	Patient (uncredited)
David Winters	...	Patient (uncredited)

Directed by
David Miller

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard L. Breen		writer
Henry Ephron		writer
Phoebe Ephron		writer
Leo Rosten		novel

Produced by
Robert Arthur	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
Russell Metty

Film Editing by
Alma Macrorie

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen
Alfred Sweeney

Set Decoration by
Howard Bristol

Costume Design by
Rosemary Odell

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph C. Behm	....	unit production manager (as Joseph Behm)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director
Robert D. Webb	....	second unit director
Terry Morse Jr.	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
William Russell	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound

Special Effects by
Walter Hammond	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	matte shots

Stunts
Johnny Hagner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Seth Banks	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Leon Charles	....	dialogue coach
B.A. Whitaker	....	technical advisor (as Major B.A. Whitaker USAF)
Sherwyn Woods	....	technical advisor (as Captain Sherwyn Woods)

Production Companies

• Brentwood Productions
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Fort Huachuca, Arizona, USA

Company:

Brentwood Productions

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The telephone cord on Capt. Newman's phone is a spiral cord not invented until after WW II.

Quotes:

Cpl. Jackson 'Jake' Leibowitz: [to Capt. Newman] You see, in the neighborhood I came, we had to learn six different languages in order to do business.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Beyond the Sea (2004)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

Uneven but at times compelling Film

A seriocomical look at an Arizona Military Psych ward in World War II. While the psychological moments are gripping most of the comic moments are strangely out of place but it does give the film an interesting duality.

Gregory Peck, Bobby Darin, Eddie Albert and Robert Duvall all have excellent parts in the drama part of this film. Tony Curtis and Angie Dickinson have good parts as well but are not as well defined or even critical to the story. Eddie Albert, who was really a higgins boat driver in some of the south pacific's bloodiest battles in WWII, plays a convincing Col. Norval Algate Bliss, a man who has sent one too many men off to die.

If you are a fan of war films I suggest you catch this movie. In the end you may be confused and scratching your head, but maybe that is the point the film is trying to get across.