The Courageous Dr. Christian

The Courageous Dr. Christian is a 1940 American film directed by Bernard Vorhaus.

The Courageous Dr. Christian
Directed byBernard Vorhaus
Produced byMonroe Shaff (associate producer)
William Stephens (producer)
Written byRing Lardner Jr.
Ian McLellan Hunter
StarringJean Hersholt
Dorothy Lovett
Robert Baldwin
Music byWilliam Lava
CinematographyJohn Alton
Edited byEdward Mann
Release date
5 April 1940[1]
Running time
67 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot summary

Kindhearted Dr. Paul Christian is appalled by the harsh living conditions of homeless inhabitants of Squatterstown. He lets one of the homeless -- Dave Williams -- live with him, and goes on to ask the city to build housing for the poor. He realizes that it is the powerful Mrs. Norma Stewart who has the last say in the matter since it is her property they would build on.

Mrs. Stewart has long been in love with Dr. Christian, and sends her two wards Jack and Ruth Williams to him, with the deed and a letter stating the condition under which she would donate the property to the city, which is that the good doctor agree to marry her. However, the message is not delivered, since the children lose the letter, and the doctor receives only the deed.

Too late does the doctor realize the price he must pay for the property, and the city also backs out of their agreement to build housing for the poor and homeless. The result is that the homeless have nowhere to go, and have to move into another vacant lot with no proper housing.

Before the police can remove the unwanted new tenants, an epidemic of spinal meningitis spreads in the area, and Dr. Christian puts the whole area under quarantine. The city inhabitants become aware of the horrible conditions of the homeless and soon voices are raised to build public housing.

The story ends with Dr. Christian being released from his contract with Mrs. Stewart, as she gets more involved with raising her wards. Homeless Dave is overjoyed with all the sympathy shown by the city's inhabitants and starts to believe in a brighter future after all.[2]

Cast

References
  1. "The Courageous Dr. Christian: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  2. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/71621/The-Courageous-Dr-Christian/


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