Name: The Young Doctors
Genre: Drama
Released: 1961-08-23
Duration: 1 h 40 min

The Young Doctors (1961)

Directed by Phil Karlson

AllMovie Rating
5
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Synopsis by Michael Betzold

This slick hospital soap opera features Ben Gazzara as Dr. David Coleman, a young physician hired into the pathology department at a big hospital. The aging head of the department, Dr. Joseph Pearson (Fredric March), is insulted and treats the new hire as a rival. They battle over many medical issues. Coleman falls in love with a nurse, Cathy Hunt (Ina Balin), but she develops a tumor on her knee. Pearson says that it is malignant and orders her leg amputated. Coleman disagrees but must go along with the decision. Coleman then orders three blood tests on an expectant mother, Mrs. Alexander (Phyllis Love), because she has a rare blood condition. Pearson thinks that the tests are excessive and cancels the third test. When the baby is born seriously ill, Pearson is berated by Dr. Charles Dornberger (Eddie Albert), Alexander's personal physician, who then conducts a blood transfusion to save the baby's life. Pearson's future at the hospital becomes uncertain, at best.

Characteristics

Themes

Doctors and Patients | Work Ethics

Keywords

amputation, blood, child, city, decision, diagnosis, discovery, doctor/nurse, employment, extramarital-affair, hospital, infantry, knee, knowledge, limb, love, medical, medical-treatment, mother, pathology, profession, resignation [quitting], respect, rival, running, student, toddlers, tumor, march [military], youth