Beystiman
It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
Stoutor
It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
WillSushyMedia
This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Paynbob
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
MartinHafer
Like the later installments of the Dr. Kildare series, there is no Kildare nor is he mentioned. This is because the actor who originated this part, Lew Ayres, was a conscientious objector during WWII...and public sentiment was decidedly pro-war. So, he was excised from the films and Dr. Gillespie's role was greater emphasized. Additionally, three interns were featured--Van Johnson, Keye Luke and Philip Dorn (who left the series after "Calling Dr. Gillespie"). In this installment, Dr. Gillespie is supposed to pick a permanent assistant. How and Ames have done wonderfully so far and Dr. Gillespie has decided to give them each a case and then deciding which should have that job as a result of their work on these cases. How is given a case with a little girl who seems to have Juvenile Diabetes and Ames a case of a lady (Ava Gardner) who seems to have been drunk...but had no alcohol in her system. This film, as usual, is very interesting and enjoyable. As a fan of the series, however, I wonder why Mary Blake (the receptionist...and real life sister of Jeanette MacDonald) and Nat Pendelton were missing. Rags Raglan filled in nicely for the Pendelton role. Overall, despite some staffing changes, another typical and entertaining installment of this series.
bkoganbing
3 Men In White featured a trio of upcoming talent in the cast. Vying for the position of being the new assistant to Lionel Barrymore is up and coming Van Johnson. Vying for Van's attention is nurse Marilyn Maxwell and Ava Gardner who brings in the case of her mother who struggles with arthritis.Walter Kingsford head of Blair General Hospital finally wants Lionel Barrymore to once and for all choose between Johnson and Keye Luke. When you think about it this whole thing is rather silly and stems for Dr. Gillespie's inability to make up his mind. Barrymore never showed a Hamlet streak in his crusty makeup before.Despite a really contrived and silly plot the three up and comers were all shone to best advantage. For Ava Gardner this film marks her first real acting role and according to Lee Server's fine book on Gardner her then husband Mickey Rooney helped pull her through the film as she was having doubts about being able to cut it with the dramatics.I get the impression that what Dr. Gillespie really wanted was for Jimmy Kildare to return and not to have to pick a new one.Fans of the three upcoming stars should like this.
calvinnme
This is the third entry in the Dr. Kildare series in which Van Johnson and Keye Luke play residents vying to be Dr. Gillespie's assistant. Several other people have mentioned this, and I noticed it before I read anything here, so I don't feel bad mentioning it again. Did anybody else see the parallels between this film and House, M.D.? Think about it. A brilliant diagnostician with a foul disposition (Barrymore as Dr. Leonard Gillespie) and a crippling disability is ordered to get an assistant and makes it a competition among the hospital's best and brightest, with Red Adams (Van Johnson) and Dr. Lee (Keye Luke) being the finalists. Was Molly Byrd, head nurse and Dr. Gillespie's oldest friend who bears Gillespie's grouchiness and insults with humor, in fact a model for Wilson? There are the usual interesting medical cases interspersed with the personal dilemmas of the staff - mainly Red - that comprise the drama. One interesting thing to notice is how the war is brought into the film, in statements that seem over the top and even a bit silly today. For example, even though Keye Luke has been in previous films in this series, it is again stressed at the beginning of the film that he is Chinese, just so nobody thinks there might be anybody of Japanese descent in the cast. Both residents mention how they want the assistantship to Gillespie so they will have a leg up going into the medical corps. At this point the war is almost over. Where have they been all of these years? A very young and lovely Ava Gardner shows up where you least expect her, and she is a woman of mystery to Red. Is Red falling for her or is something else going on here? Watch and find out.
vincentlynch-moonoi
I see this as one of the more interesting in the series of Dr. Kildare films, although Dr. Kildare was long gone by this time. That's not to say that this is a great film, but it may be better than most of the Kildare films.Why do I find it interesting? Well first, Lionel Barrymore is a lion in this film...playing it to the max, and that's just darned fun to watch.Second, this is the point where MGM is trying to build Van Johnson into a star. It's only 2 years into his movie career (setting aside uncredited roles and shorts), and they are trying to make him a bit of a playboy here. He does nicely. It is also one of the earliest films in which Ava Gardner was credited, and while I am sure she later looked on this as a waste of her talent, I rather liked her here (and she is not always one of my favorites).Third, in how many films in that era (or even now) do you find an Asian in a starring role? Well, here Keye Luke is costarring at the same level of Van Johnson, and that's directly under Barrymore.The plot is decent -- 2 young doctors are literally vying to take the place of Dr. Kildare as Dr. Gillespie's assistant (Luke and Johnson). Each gets a case to solve as a test. Luke solves his, and helps Johnson solve his. So who wins? Well, Gillespie sort of arranges a tie. The acting is rather good here, but it's still a B picture...but a good one.So, these attributes make this a more interesting film than you might expect.