Arrowsmith (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Arrowsmith |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1931 |
| length | 122 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | John Ford |
| script | Sidney Howard |
| production |
John Ford , Samuel Goldwyn |
| music | Alfred Newman |
| camera | Ray June |
| cut | Hugh Bennett |
| occupation | |
| |
Arrowsmith is a 1931 American drama directed by John Ford. The screenplay is based on the novel Dr. med. Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis .
action
In a prologue to the film, a young woman steers a covered wagon west.
Martin Arrowsmith is this woman's great-grandson. Influenced by her pioneering spirit, he began to study medicine. As a young doctor, he had the desire to work as a researcher. But marrying the nurse Leora Tozer prevents him from achieving the same position as his role model Professor Max Gottlieb. Instead, he and his wife move into their small country house in Minnesota. Martin becomes a country doctor.
Martin's life is determined by routine. Nevertheless, he is engaged in research into diseases and discovers a serum to cure an animal disease. This discovery brings him to the McGurk Institute in New York, where he can work with Professor Gottlieb. Leora suffers a miscarriage, but continues to support Martin in his career, even if he is often absent for a long time.
Through his friend Gustav Sondelius, Martin learns of an epidemic that is afflicting the West Indies . Martin tests a new serum and promises Gottlieb to vaccinate only half of the patients with it so that the results can be scientifically evaluated. Leora accompanies her husband to the islands. The white inhabitants of the islands refuse to take the tests. However, the native inhabitants cooperate with Martin. You will be trained by Howard University-trained local doctor, Dr. Oliver Marchand convinces.
Soon Martin has to leave for another island and leave Leora behind. On this island he meets the plantation owner Lanyon and his daughter Joyce, who help him with the vaccination. Sondelius succumbs to the plague, Marchand is also sick. Martin rushes to the main island. He is concerned that Leora could also be infected. When he arrives on the main island, his wife is dead. Martin drowns his grief in alcohol. He voluntarily gives his serum to anyone who asks for it, thereby destroying the scientific knowledge.
When Martin returns to New York, Gottlieb suffers a stroke. Martin decides to move to Vermont with his assistant Terry Wickett to open a laboratory there. Joyce wants to accompany him as a friend, but Martin leaves her. He just wants to spend his future doing research and be spiritually with his dead wife.
Reviews
Mordaunt Hall of the New York Times describes the film as intelligent and powerful. The highly praiseworthy adaptation shines in its characterization and its sensible manner.
The Classic Filmguide, on the other hand, considers the film to be the weaker nominated representative in the Oscar category “Best Film”. The equipment and camera work would give the film a silent film quality. But the silent movie stars and the leading actor are wrongly cast.
Awards
In 1932 the film was nominated for an Oscar in the categories of Best Film , Best Screenplay , Best Cinematography and Best Equipment ( Richard Day ).
background
The premiere took place on December 7, 1931 in New York . The film has not yet been shown in Germany.
Ward Bond and John Qualen can be seen in small supporting roles .
The film adaptation of the novel, for which Sinclair Lewis won the Pulitzer Prize in 1925 , was the first directorial work for John Ford that he did not direct for his studio 20th Century Fox . Producer Goldwyn hired the filmmaker known as a western director especially for this project.
Literature template
- Sinclair Lewis: Arrowsmith. Penny Books, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4528-4910-2 (English edition).
Web links
- Arrowsmith in the Internet Movie Database (English)