Doctor John Abbott is a single parent who settles in the town of Westport with his son Dick, trying to eke out a living for them. He also inherits, by way of his doorstep, an unwanted baby g... Read allDoctor John Abbott is a single parent who settles in the town of Westport with his son Dick, trying to eke out a living for them. He also inherits, by way of his doorstep, an unwanted baby girl, Jean Johnson, whom he adopts into his family, rears and loves as his own. Practicing ... Read allDoctor John Abbott is a single parent who settles in the town of Westport with his son Dick, trying to eke out a living for them. He also inherits, by way of his doorstep, an unwanted baby girl, Jean Johnson, whom he adopts into his family, rears and loves as his own. Practicing his profession for pigs, I.O.U.s and a lot of empty promises as payment, he is barely able... Read all
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- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
- Town Councilor
- (uncredited)
- Clerk
- (uncredited)
- Hank
- (uncredited)
- Bank Teller
- (uncredited)
- Worried Father
- (uncredited)
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Featured reviews
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Remake of One Man's Journey, which I watched a few days ago. This time Edward Ellis plays a country doctor who grows old and poor because of his kind heart, which won't allow him to turn away sick people even if they don't have the money to pay him. Garson Kanin directed the screenplay by Dalton Trumbo and it's pretty faithful to the original movie. The fact that it's too faithful is the only real problem with the picture because if you've seen the original then you know everything that's going to happen here. Other than that I'd say this version is somewhat better as the story is better laid out and there's a new opening and closing, which suits the story very well. Ellis is terrific in his role and brings a lot of class and warmth to his character.
One technique I really enjoy in this film is the use of the doctor's notes, bills and other bits of information to introduce the different chapters of the film. It's a great literary vehicle and was used often in silent films. It also reminded me of some of the chapter introductions used in R.F. Delderfield's work.
The one thing I will state: if the devils on Wall Street and the banking community maintained half the community spirit as the old doctor in this story, we would all be much better for it.
Ethics and a purity of heart, what a wonderful concept. This is a great film for a Church Popcorn theology class, high school students considering a medical career or anyone questioning their community spirit.
It's a leisurely tale that moves slowly without the usual melodramatics one might expect in a story of a country doctor--with the only dramatic touch coming well past the midway point with a possible epidemic of infantile paralysis causing the doctor to advise the townspeople to cancel the upcoming country fair. His theory meets with resistance until the feared outbreak occurs and then the townspeople can't thank him enough for all his work.
There's a Frank Capra feel to this kind of story, but director Garson Kanin keeps it pretty well in command and prevents the sentimentality from becoming too thick.
Summing up: Good, but not quite the inspiring yarn it was intended to be thanks to below level production values and rather routine performances.
Did you know
- TriviaThe only surviving copy of "A Man To Remember" is a 35mm, original nitrate print in the English spoken language, but with Dutch subtitles and Dutch credits. In addition, written English notes and letters in the film was replaced with the Dutch equivalents. It was preserved by the Netherlands Filmmuseum in 2000 and shown on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Channel in April 2007, January 2017, and on August 25, 2020.
- GoofsAfter his son's graduation, Dr. Abbott is asked by Dick where his car is parked. Dr. Abbott replies that it is on the other side of the college campus. But, they walk less than half way around a courtyard and they are suddenly at the car already.
- ConnectionsFeatured in TCM: Twenty Classic Moments (2014)
- SoundtracksFuneral March (Marche Funèbre)
(1837) (uncredited)
from "Sonata in Bb-, Op.35 No.2"
Written by Frédéric Chopin
Played by the marching band for the funeral
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $118,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 19 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1