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Once a Doctor
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Wikipedia article
'Once a Doctor' is a 1937 American drama film directed by William Clemens and written by Robertson White and Ben Grauman Kohn. The film stars Jean Muir, Donald Woods, Gordon Oliver, Joe King, Henry Kolker and Gordon Hart. The film was released by Warner Bros. on January 23, 1937.
Plot
Steven Brace and his irresponsible, alcoholic foster brother, Jerry, are both physicians, as is Dr. Frank Brace, their father. The brothers work at a hospital led by brain surgeon Dr. Bruce Nordland and both are in love with Nordland's daughter, Paula.
Jerry's drunkenness results in a car accident seriously injuring a nurse, Ruby, he has been dating. To avoid scrutiny and punishment, Jerry takes the woman home rather than to the hospital, then begs Steven to save her. Steven has a patient at the hospital who needs care. Extracting a promise from Jerry to sober up and look after the hospital patient, Steven goes to Ruby's side, but both patients die. A cowardly Jerry lets all the blame fall on his brother, who is fired barred from future medical practice.
Nordland suspects the truth, but all he can do is permit Steven to discreetly perform certain medical duties at a clinic. Forced to perform another operation in an emergency, Steven again takes the blame when the patient expires. He is imprisoned.
Time passes. On a boat heading to Cuba, yet another foolhardy act by Jerry while inebriated leads to a head injury for his own father. Steven is summoned to come aboard and treat a dying patient. He does so with reluctance, urged by Paula to honor his Hippocratic oath. When all is done, Jerry's guilty conscience finally persuades him to admit to all that has transpired previously. Steven's reputation is restored and Paula is in love with him.
Cast
* Jean Muir as Paula Nordland
* Donald Woods as Dr. Steven Brace
* Gordon Oliver as Dr. Jerry Brace
* Joe King as Dr. Frank Brace
* Henry Kolker as Dr. Bruce Nordland
* Gordon Hart as Dr. Harry Lewis
* Joseph Crehan as Captain Andrews
* Louise Stanley as Ruby Norton
* Robert Paige as Dr. Burton
* Edwin Stanley as Dr. Adams
* Houseley Stevenson as Magistrate Kendrick
* Harland Tucker as Prosecuting Attorney
* Guy Usher as Warden
* Thomas Pogue as Dr. Artemus 'Doc' Dade
* Edward Keane as Captain Littlejohn, S.S. Orlando
References
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