Stars: Gary Cooper, Loraine Day.
Best Quote: Unless the Japanese can be stopped, it will be impossible for any of your 42 wounded sailors to escape.
Dr. Wassell: Good gravy.
In 1944, the critics hated Dr. Wassell, but the public loved it. Based on a true story, DeMille "Hollywoodized " it - to increase the Box office. Among the changes... the real Dr. Wassell (who was happily married and looked like Walter Huston) was made into a single 45 y/o Gary Cooper in love with his young nurse. The wounded sailors were transformed into lovable Yankee Doodle Dandies and the nurses were changed to Hollywood beauties with romance on their minds. It made the critics very unhappy.
The Good. The movie had a big budget and every dollar is up there on the screen. Filmed in the Jungles of Mexico, with excellent special effects and technicolor cinematography, the movie looks great and the action scenes are well done. Cooper is very good as the lead. Everyone else is OK or better than average. The story itself is exciting.
Flaws? Its way too long at 140 minutes. You could trim 20 minutes - and all the Arkansas Flashbacks - and not lose anything. And the movie sacrifices gritty realism for romance and corny humor.
A Forgotten Movie. Mostly due to the title. During WW 2, Dr Wassell was famous, so the movie title brought in business - but he was quickly forgotten. Its an epic war adventure film but today the title indicates a medical drama.
Summary: A well-done adventure war film, dragged by down by an excessive run time and unnecessary romance. But unjustly forgotten. Rating ***
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