The Secret of Dr. Kildare (1939)

Written by barrymost on September 30, 2019

The third film in MGM's long-running Doctor Kildare series actually isn't half bad. It's funny, it's entertaining, it's endearing, and it's also utterly ridiculous, but that goes for the entire 15-film series when you think about it. As usual, the credibility of the plot takes a back seat to the antics of the good cast, particularly Lew Ayers and Lionel Barrymore, who made the perfect acting team. Don't try to take it seriously at all, but just sit back and enjoy it. I guarantee you at least a couple good laughs. I can't help but wonder though...even in Dr. Gillespie's case, is a hypo really a suitable substitute for a plain old nap?

Would I recommend? Yes, mainly to already established fans of the series or the actors. Not my number one choice for an introduction to the series, but could still work.