Welcome Stranger

After Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald were paired so well in the seven-Oscar winning film, "Going My Way" of 1944, Paramount cast them again in this 1947 film. Both men won Oscars for the first film, Crosby as best actor, and Fitzgerald as best supporting actor. Interestingly, Fitzgerald had been nominated for both best actor and best supporting actor. In that film they were Catholic priests, the younger Crosby being sent to take over a parish from the elder Fitzgerald.

So, similar roles are in "Welcome Stranger," this time as medical doctors. Crosby's Dr. James Pearson is going to the town of Fallbridge, Maine, to take over for the town's sole doctor, Joseph McRory, who is going on a long overdue vacation. It's been over 30 years since he's had a vacation, and Fitzgerald's McRory is looking forward to his two months off.

Well, the same type of shenanigans occur in this film, with Dr. Pearson not making a good impression right off the bat, and Dr. McRory afraid to trust any patients to him. In this case, the bad feelings start out before the two men even know each other. McRory has gone to Boston for some shopping and has stopped into the medical replacement association. He wants to look over the man that will replace him. That's code, meaning he wants to be able to decide and/or pick his fill-in doctor. But, he is informed that the qualified doctor is already on his way. Then, when McRory boards the train for the ride home, Dr. Pearson is on the same train, and the events with mishaps that occur between the two men are the stuff of wonderful comedy. I think it's only because of Barry Fitzgerald that these scenes could come off so warmly funny. So, after they "meet" again at his home, more fireworks - of a low key - start. It's a wonderful and funny story, with Crosby getting in a little singing - even though it isn't also a musical.

Watching this movie again after many years, I wonder if audiences in its day were curious about the train ride. People were very familiar with train transportation then, and schedules, distances, and times. Most people had traveled by train at least once in their life. I probably didn't think about it when I as young and first saw the film on late night TV in the early 1950s. But, things like this get my attention now. First, it's appropriate to note that the towns in Maine are all fictitious. There is no Fallbridge, Maine. And the neighboring towns mentioned in the film, and those that the train serves - Hillboro, Carson Junction, Lankato, Tanner City, Bentonville, and Callensburg just don't exist.

So, the doctors board an overnight train in Boston - 4:15 or 4:50, as I recall. The distance from Boston to Portland, Maine is just 110 miles, so that would be just a two-hour train ride. And the distance across the whole State of Maine, from its SW corner to the NE corner and Canadian boarder is just 320 miles. It's broad daylight, and after breakfast when they arrive at Fallbridge, and there aren't that many towns of any size the train might have stopped at to drop off or pick up passengers during the night. So, their 12-to-14-hour train ride could have gone all the way to Quebec, Canada, and back to Boston.

Well, that's Hollywood, and movie fans have to overlook things like this. Because the fact of an overnight train provided the setting for the very good opening humor between the two leads. I think people today would still enjoy this film, and it might give a peak at history for younger audiences about how people traveled in bygone days.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Dr. McRory, "To be honest, I wouldn't trust you with my dog." Dr. Pearson, "Where did you acquire your Yankee accent?"

Dr. Pearson, "Doctor, I don't think I could stay for a fortnight, but I'll tell you what I'll do." Dr. McRory, "What?" Dr. Pearson, "I'll stay a couple of weeks."

Nat Dorkas (Percy Kilbride), "Used about 20 cents worth of gas getting out here." Dr. Pearson, "Well, I'll take your temperature sometime, on the house."

Dr. McRory, "Meddling? A man tries to squeeze a little brains into the narrow, pig-headed skull of yours and you call it meddling."

Mrs. Gilley, "Dr. McRory, Dr. Pearson would like the sugar."

Nah, I felt more "unwelcome" watching this, than welcome. Anyway, if you want to see Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald in more appealing roles, watch "Going My Way" instead. In that movie, the guys play priests. Here, they are doctors.

The trouble was Fitzgerald was so bad, or at least so "crabby," he was downright annoying to watch in here. His Irish brogue with the crabby personality made him all the more irritating. Usually I love the Irish characters and accent, but not the idiot character ("Dr. Joseph McRory") in this movie.

In both films, you get the same thing: the younger man is always the "good guy" and the older, more traditional man is always the "bad guy." Hollywood has always sided with rebels, those who challenge either authority or the old ways.

This is a comfortable homespun story about a new doctor, Jim Pearson (Crosby), arriving in town to fill in for the older doctor who needs a vacation. At first Pearson doesn't quite fit in with the local townsfolk yet once he meets the pretty teacher, Trudy, he decides it's worth staying. Barry Fitzgerald takes on the role of crusty Dr. McRory who doesn't get along with or approve of his replacement, Pearson. Given time though events make him reconsider his first impressions. There is a liberal sprinkling of Bing's mellow crooning and even at one point grumpy Barry joins in the singing surprisingly. An enjoyable movie for any Crosby fans, as well as those who appreciate the delightful display of Barry's Irish wit.

Let no one tell you that Hollywood has really changed in the last 100 years. The same phenoms seem to reappear time and time again. One that will always hold a special place in the heart of all who love movies, is the repairing of stars. Thus is the case with Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. The two stars of Going My Way (1944), the Best Picture winner of that year, come together again for a romp in the country. This time it's far away from the confines of the catholic cathedrals and religious iconadry. Crosby plays a free spirited young doctor, who is basically Father O'Malley without the collar. One can understand why taking the character out of the church was so important to the studios, with out the church Crosby can get the girl. Which in this case that girl is Joan Caulfield. Don't worry it's not going to be that easy, cause this young teacher is already involved with somebody. He is a sort of pompous arrogant know-it-all that just isn't right for young Miss. Caulfield. A woman needs a man who can sing her a song, and show her a good time on a twilit hayride. I have to say that with all it's predictability and repetition, from Going My Way (1944), I have to say that this film has yet to get old for me. I have watched this movie so many times it's worn out the VHS tape. The film is just so much fun, and so light hearted that you can't really not enjoy it's carefree attitude. The songs are so instantly and equally fun, that I find myself just smiling at there pleasant familiarity.

I first saw this film on TV about 25 years ago and the magic and chemistry of Bing and Barry was obvious. Years later, I finally acquired this film in VHS format(I had recorded it previously in Beta format). It has everything to offer to movie buffs and I hope that the networks start to show it as a Christmas movie. It took the public about 30 years to catch on to "It's A Wonderful Life". This movie, like another of Bing's gems"Holiday Inn(1942)" could fit right in at any time of the year;and with the beautiful Joan Caulfield-anytime. I think that to date, I've watched it about 30 times. My favorite line is Bing's telling taxi driver Percy Kilbride(who refuses Bing's offer of a tip) "You'ld be a big hit in New York".