Sister Kenny

1946
Approved
1h 56m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Medical Drama Period Drama Biography Drama

An Australian nurse, Sister Kenny, discovers an effective new treatment for infantile paralysis, but experiences great difficulty in convincing doctors of the validity of her claims.An Australian nurse, Sister Kenny, discovers an effective new treatment for infantile paralysis, but experiences great difficulty in convincing doctors of the validity of her claims.An Australian nurse, Sister Kenny, discovers an effective new treatment for infantile paralysis, but experiences great difficulty in convincing doctors of the validity of her claims.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

1.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 wins & 2 nominations total

Photos20

+ 13

Top cast99+

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Rosalind Russell

Elizabeth Kenny

Alexander Knox

Dr. McDonnell

Dean Jagger

Kevin Connors

Philip Merivale

Dr. Brack

Beulah Bondi

Mary Kenny

Charles Dingle

Michael Kenny

John Litel

Medical Director

Doreen McCann

Dorrie

Fay Helm

Mrs. McIntyre

Charles Kemper

Mr. McIntyre

Dorothy Peterson

Agnes

James Burke

Undetermined Minor Role
(scenes deleted)

Teddy Infuhr

Boy
(scenes deleted)

Jane Allen

Minor Role
(uncredited)

Gertrude Astor

Doctor
(uncredited)

Walter Baldwin

Mr. Ferguson
(uncredited)

Richard Bartell

Doctor
(uncredited)

George Barton

Doctor
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The Wikipedia article on Elizabeth Kenny lists notable individuals who had been polio patients of Sister Kenny. Among those listed are Alan Alda, Dinah Shore, and Rosalind Russell's nephew. It is known that Rosalind Russell had long campaigned to portray Sister Kenny on film; her nephew's treatment might have been a factor in that interest.

Goofs
Although mostly set in Australia with primarily Australian characters, nobody in the cast attempts to speak in anything other than each's own native accent.

Quotes
Dr. McDonnell: Whatever you do, whatever happens, remember the people are more important than the system. That's true in government, they're fighting a war to prove it. And it's true in medicine. You've got that fight left Elizabeth. It's a big fight, it wont be easy, I wish I could help you.

Soundtracks
It's a Long Way to Tipperary
(1912) (uncredited)
Written by Jack Judge and Harry Williams
Sung offscreen by a chorus of men

User reviews24

Featured review

8/10

well done and not overly sentimental

This film is about a real-life nurse named "Sister Kenny" who came from the Australian Outback and made a name for herself in the early days of Polio treatment. The only problem with the film is that they made it look like her way of treating patients through body massages and hands on treatment was super effective. While it WAS a significant improvement over the care received by doctors at the time, preventative vaccines and the elimination of the disease would not occur until later. However, what the film shows so well is the fight she experienced from conservative doctors unwilling to try new methods--especially ones espoused by a lowly nurse! The film also excels because it does not give in to sentimentality like so many schmaltzy biopics from the 30s and 40s. An excellent and easy to enjoy film.