The Girl in White (1952)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

What can I say about June Allyson, that hasn't been said, not much. I have enjoyed here work for many many years, when ever I see her photo I think to myself "high bar-ber-ree," and Van Johnson. This movies tells the story of a Woman's struggle to be a doctor in a male dominated field, but she handles herself very well, and truly makes her point. No, no, no, no blood, not a drop, and you can use the four letter words in this movie, in church, but it is not dry, no, no, no. Have to mention the scenes of the good doctor and the nurses trying to sober up a man who has a little too much of the creature, it is funny. Young Women, from pre-teens up, can get a boost from this movie, and have them feeling like they can make it, which ain't bad. Don't kiss of this movie guys, you may like it as much as I, she is very cute, and the way she works around things is masterful at times.Well worth the price of rental/buy, give it a chance.

The Girl in White might be seen as a feminist drama by some. It concerns a woman at the turn of the century who wants to become a doctor (June Allyson) who faced adversity when the men around her try to squash her dreams. She prevails and wins their respect including that of the man who wants to marry her (Arthur Kennedy). The reason this movie works is that the message isn't pushed upon the audience the way it would be if the film were remade today. It is somewhat inspirational, but mostly it just tells a story.Allyson is great as always and very sweet. A line from the movie describes her well, "You just make people feel good so that they forget themselves, their own troubles. Sometimes that means more than any medicine." The man who speaks the lines, Kennedy, is excellent in this film. He has mastered the art of showing emotions without verbally referencing them first.

This is a fairly accurate re-telling of the Emily Dunning story. She was a turn of the century doctor, and being a woman doctor, therefore treated like a freak, or publicity hound. Sadly, the tale is always the same: woman/minority enters field dominated by white males and is mistreated and pressured to quit. Dunning was a doctor decades before women were given the right to vote! And she didn't just deliver babies, she was out on ambulance calls day and night. Quite an impressive figure, but June Allyson (reminding me of a more winsome version of ER's Maura Tierney) is only adequate as Dunning. The film has its moments, yet the struggles Dunning truly incurred in overcoming the male doctor establishment and public attitude is only moderately presented here. It's as if the male dominated film-making establishment didn't want their doctor counterparts to look too bigoted. And much of the film is devoted to Allyson's relationship with Arthur Kennedy (Dr. Barringer -- in real life became her husband). Once again, the filmmakers are more concerned with stressing the standard woman-as-love-interest-only angle. It also starts to slow down in the second half, unfortunately. But this is the only film covering Dunning's interesting story so it's worth looking at at least for that reason.

I loved this movie. June A. gives a great performance of the underdog female fighting for her dream despite the obstructive male bastion of turn of the century medicine. I was especially moved by the wonderful actress who played Dr. Yoman. She performed the role with a demure yet powerful presence. She is also one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen on film. It is she who carries the day for June and all her gender. Sadly, I never heard of her before. I hope to find other work she has done through IMDb. What else made this film? No raw sex, no violence, no gruesome scenes, just a great story that makes you feel good in the end.Wasn't a young James Arness fine as the burley tattooed sailor with the dislocated shoulder? Mothers: show this film to your daughters.