Directed: John Ford

Year: 1931

Nominated: Best Film

Plot in 25 Words: A talented medical researcher gambles and loses everything in an effort to wipe out bubonic plague. Ethically dubious and highly emotional. A great medical drama.

In My Opinion: My absolute favourite style/genre of either books or films is a post-apocalyptic dystopian future, and while this film was quite a ways from that, it was the closest I imagine I’m going to get for a while!

The main gist is he tries to cure the bubonic plague and fails but lots of other things happen along the way.

The film has a very sweet sense about it. No harsh humour or sexist/racist tones. In fact, in spite of the characters wish to experiment on Africans, they are surprisingly sensitive to the race issue.

But overall it’s just a sad story of a man who commits to much to his job that it ultimately costs him everything.

The film covers a lengthy time period and Ronald Colman covers the aging very well. He ages in physicality and in his soul. A brilliant performance.

Star Performer: Ronald Colman as star of the film, Martin Arrowsmith. It’s very surprising to me that he didn’t get a nomination for best actor, especially considering the competition. Fredric March in Jekyll and Hyde was nothing special.

Overall: I really enjoyed this film. I just wish it had had a happier ending. I really felt for Dr. Arrowsmith by the end, Ronald Colman was superb.