3 Men in White

This is a rather annoying entry into the series. With Dr. Kildare persona non grata at MGM after Lew Ayres became a conscientious objector, the franchise now belongs to irascible Dr. Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore). Barrymore was a wonderful actor, but these were B movies slapped together probably in days, and it shows.

This particular film had Barrymore overplaying to the balcony at the top of his lungs. Van Johnson and Keye Luke are cute as the energetic interns vying to be his assistant (again) and each taking on a difficult case. Johnson, of course, also has to deal with a woman. This time, it's pretty Marilyn Maxwell.

The chief interest in seeing this film is for an early appearance by Ava Gardner as Jean Brown. She is flawlessly beautiful as a young woman caring for her arthritis-stricken mother.

I liked the Dr. Kildare series with Lew Ayres and Laraine Day much more, I have to confess.

As you might be able to tell from the title, this installment of the Dr. Kildare movies is about Dr. Gillespie trying to choose one assistant from his two head interns. There is no Lew Ayres in this movie (he's off being a medic in WWII) but there's still Lionel Barrymore. Van Johnson and Keye Luke are the interns you've seen in a few movies, and they're both trying to impression Lionel by curing an incurable case. Keye has an anorexic child with a penchant for candy, and Van has an arthritic woman near paralysis. "May the worst man win," Van says. "I think you're the better man, but I want the job!"

The side plots in this one are interesting, and the jokes are hilarious rather than forced. In Between Two Women, it doesn't even feel like a medical drama because there are too many corny jokes in the movie. Marilyn Maxwell is Van's steady girl he's afraid to kiss, lest he get carried away. She tries to trap him in a seductive dinner date at her apartment, but he's one step ahead of her. He asks Keye to interrupt him with a medical emergency after seven minutes, to ensure he doesn't get into trouble. It's a very funny comedy of errors.

A pre-famous Ava Gardner shows off her sensational figure in this movie, so if you're a fan of hers you'll probably want to check her out (and you won't be able to help it) in this early role. I usually don't find her very attractive, but even I couldn't take my eyes off her! All in all, this might be my favorite of the Van Johnson ones. So while we miss Dr. Kildare and Nurse Mary Lamont, Dr. Red Adams is very entertaining in 3 Men in White.

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.

That was the first time Ava Gardner had been credited for a movie .Although Marilyn Maxwell plays the female lead,today everybody knows that the star is Ava .Fortunately ,it's her scenes which are the most endearing in a routine Kildaresque medical melodrama.All that concerns her disabled mama is moving if a bit implausible (dr Miracle) The main plot concerns an old doctor (that was the first time I had found Lionel Barrymore almost unbearable,probably because of a poor direction)who must choose an assistant and tries to decide between two enthusiastic young colleagues ;but both have more than one string to their bow. Van Johnson has also got to make up his mind ,because there are two ladies.

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.