"Society Doctor" from 1935 is an entertaining MGM film starring Chester Morris, Robert Taylor, and Virginia Bruce.
Before he became Boston Blackie, Chester Morris was a star, and around the time of this filming, his career lost momentum as those classic Apollos like Robert Taylor and Tyrone Power took over. Here he's the star in what I'm tempted to say is a programmer only because it's short. MGM often used this type of film to train their younger actors, of whom Taylor was one.
Morris plays a hotshot young Dr. Morgan in a metropolitan hospital, and Taylor is Dr. Ellis, his friend, who is a little less ambitious. Instead of being laser-focused, he wants to enjoy life, too. Both of them are interested in the nurse Madge (Virginia Bruce). She's in love with Morgan but he's too dedicated to get involved with anything but medicine. Ellis, however, makes a big play for her.
When Morgan gets in trouble with the head of the hospital, he contemplates becoming a society doctor, and a patient (Billie Burke) offers to set him up in practice.
A subplot is the presence of a criminal visiting his mother in the hospital and the angry wife of the man he crippled.
Because of the cast, this film is entertaining though more than a little absurd, as you'll see. Morris is very good as an arrogant firecracker. Bruce is gorgeous and sympathetic as always.
This is an early film for the earnest Taylor, who would soon become a big matinée idol after being loaned out to Universal for "Magnificent Obsession." He tries a little too hard, which is normal when one is starting out. He's not as effective as Morris. The thing that struck me was how high his voice was! He had a beautiful speaking voice that lowered with smoking and age, as did William Holden's.
A lot of closeups in this film, and the beautiful Louise Henry was showcased as the telephone receptionist. She later gave up films and married a wealthy man.
Fun but strange film.
