Un homme qui se retrouve

The Depression Era drama is harmed by badly contrived screenplay and lackluster direction. The basic idea is a good one, consistent with its time. Dr. Stanton Jr. is captive of his upscale class and the family tradition of being doctors. In short, he's had little chance to define himself, being dutiful to his social class instead. So, when tragedy strikes, he's unfairly penalized, causing him to reject both his class and profession. Understandably, he strikes out on his own, looking now to find himself. On his way from New York to LA he experiences a different kind of life, one on the downside. But once employed, he develops his fondness for piloting aircraft. Now he seems to have found himself. But can he stay away from medicine, which is more a calling than a job.

Too bad that the film lacks the grit to go with the times. It's filmed in straightforward fashion, without needed emotion that would dramatize Stanton's dilemma. At the same time, Beal may well lack the depth needed to be convincing, though I've not seen enough of the actor to be conclusive. Then too, events are directed by Lew Landers who was well known for coming in reliably under-budget but in pedestrian fashion. That may have made him a natural for TV, but not for material showing promise. What the film does have is a sparkling Joan Fontaine at her most attractive and just starting out in her illustrious career. That's probably the main reason to catch this otherwise forgettable programmer.

Wow, as I write this, this film is 75 years old, and Joan Fontaine, one of the stars, is still with us! Here she is just at the beginning of her career as a nurse who falls for John Beal.

"The Man Who Found Himself" stars Beal as Dr. James Stanton, Jr., the son of a prominent doctor. He is also an amateur pilot. One night a married woman, a friend of his, begs him to fly her to Pittsburgh. The weather is bad and he hesitates, but relents. The plane crashes and she is killed. People assume the worst, that he and the woman were having an affair. His fiancée (Jane Walsh) breaks up with him because he wants to help poor people. Discouraged with the way his life is going, Stanton does what any man with a doctor's license would do: he hitchhikes to California and becomes a hobo.

Once there, he becomes an airplane mechanic and meets a pretty nurse (Fontaine) who, when an accident occurs, realizes that he's a doctor. She encourages him to turn his life around.

I actually watched this because of John Beal, whom I met over twenty years ago. The mid to late '30s were the high points of his film career. He was young and handsome with a lot of stage experience. He never made it to stardom but continued to work until four years before he died (1997).

This is a short film, fairly predictable, but worth seeing for the cast, which includes Philip Huston and George Irving as well.

This one starts out as a comedic, swashbuckling look at medical doctors. John Beal and Phillip Huston give each other the business, even when one is going under the knife. Beal is Dr. Stanton Junior, who flies around in his own airplane, and was running around with his friend's wife. Things happen pretty abruptly, in this RKO shortie, when things take a turn for the worse, and he decides to move and start over again. Billy Gilbert is in here as a tramp. He made a career out of sneezing and stuttering. Worked with the greats. In this story, Stanton tries to run away from his background and the scandal, but it all catches up with him. Again and again he tries to just work at his plain old day job, but he keeps getting put in situations that make the hero rise to the occasion. A young Joan Fontaine is Nurse Doris, who eggs him on, and forces the issue. Directed by Lew Landers.... story by Alice Curtis. It's predictable, but pretty good. This version does not seem to be related to the two prior versions from 1915 and 1925.

The Man Who Found Himself is the kind of film that is light and enjoyable, but very easy to forget. John Beal, best remembered for his role as The Little Minister (1934), is likeable as a young surgeon disillusioned with his profession after a scandal earns him a suspension. Despite his character's inherent cockiness, Beal manages to maintain our sympathy throughout. This marked the film debut of Joan Fontaine, who is charming, if a little uncertain, as the pretty nurse who helps Beal's doctor "find himself". The rest of the cast is fine, particularly Billy Gilbert as a loquacious hobo and Jimmy Conlin as a "nosey" reporter. It is also interesting to note that the film is a reunion, of sorts, for Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan, who had co-starred several years earlier in Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931). [Unfortunately, they don't get a chance to interact and their roles are woefully undernourished.] Despite the basic formulaic nature of the story, the script manages to be surprisingly fresh at times, particularly in the very "grown up" speech Jim's fiance (Jane Walsh) delivers when he asks her to run away with him. ["I'm sorry, Jim, I can't do it. I promised to marry Dr. James Stanton of Park Avenue. I'm not interested in country doctors."] And some of the special effect miniatures, like a train derailment and a hospital plane landing near the wreckage, while primitive by modern standards, are fun nonetheless. A nice little film and a diverting 67 minutes.

Young New York City surgeon, and amateur pilot, John Beal (as James Stanton) rubs the older doctors at "General Hospital" the wrong way. Most of all, they consider his interest in flying an inappropriate hobby. After Mr. Beal gives the wife of another doctor a lift in his plane, it crashes; and, the young woman dies. The accident becomes a national scandal, with the unwed Beal becoming romantically linked with his married passenger. After being put on probation, Beal gives up his privileged life, hitchhikes to California, and becomes a hobo. He is recognized by pilot friend Philip Huston (as Dick Miller), who helps Beal get back up on his feet. Then, Mr. Huston, and pretty blonde nurse Joan Fontaine (as Doris King) help Beal turn his life around.

Ms. Fontaine receives a special introduction in this, her first co-starring role. She is not only very obviously like her famous sister, but also very engaging. Fontaine's performances would grow more individual and adept, with increasingly better material. Although never growing into stars of Fontaine's stature, Beal and Huston are also quite good. It's nice to see the expressive Beal, who presided over the witchcraft trial of Quentin Collins on "Dark Shadows", as a leading man. And, Huston essays a very convincing "drunk" scene.

***** The Man Who Found Himself (1937) Lew Landers ~ John Beal, Joan Fontaine, Philip Huston