Not as a Stranger (1955)
Lucas Marsh, an intern bent upon becoming a first-class doctor, not merely a successful one. He courts and marries the warm-hearted Kristina, not out of love but because she is highly knowledgeable in the skills of the operating room and because she has frugally put aside her savings through the years. She will be, as he shrewdly knows, a supportive wife in every way. She helps make him the success he wants to be and cheerfully moves with him to the small town in which he starts his practice. But as much as he tries to be a good husband to the undemanding Kristina, Marsh easily falls into the arms of a local siren and the patience of the long-sorrowing Kristina wears thin.
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Fresh and Exciting
Don't listen to the negative reviews
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
40 minutes into this movie I'm thinking, "this dud has got to be over soon." I look down and check the running time and I am horrified to see that somehow it's 2 hours and 20 minutes long. 40 mins and I'm thinking omg, where is this obvious, interminable melodrama going? 40 mins in, and I'm thinking this might be a good time to settle on a genre. And I'm wondering, why on earth would DeHaviland take this degrading, 1-dimensional ethnic role? Why do they tease this out so laboriously? How did so much star power sign on to this undeveloped, inept movie? It must be this padded and pointless, to provide each of 5 or 6 major egos their own moment; all of them are wildly unrelated to the general flow of Mitchum's "big conflict" storyline, which is of no dramatic interest. What is the point? The only possible angle I can imagine for this movie is that it was a women's movie about men; and that female viewers in 1955 might imagine this oddity spoke to them, about their situations. Along with the unusually low quality of the script, a viewer will spend all his/her time picking the corn kernels out of the ham. And every frame of this looks like it was filmed on the cheap. Completely squandered, expensive cast.
I try not to read the other comments about a film until I formulate my own; but, this time I read the many other comments. The reason is: I found some astonishing problems with "Not as a Stranger" and wanted to see if the many comments noticed. They did.Maybe they could have called it "Cast by a Stranger"? Anyway, I tried to figure maybe Robert Mitchum was a little old for med-school because he got a late start? The scene with Lon Chaney indicated he might have been a troubled start in life. That doesn't mean his performance isn't good - but, his is the central role, so his performance had to be great.Olivia de Havilland took getting used to, but I think she may actually be the right age for the film. But, how she achieved spinsterhood as a Swedish blonde nurse with that face and figure is a mystery never explained. Where had she been hiding for 20 years? Frank Sinatra was too old, yes. I though he looked even older that the 40-years mentioned in a couple of posts. Not only older, but unhealthy for this part of a med-school student (bunking with Robert Mitchum). Maybe the Sinatra character could have worked as a non-medical friend.Still, I would say the stars are interesting. Charles Bickford was excellent, and there are a lot of familiar faces who did an adequate job. You get the part and show up prepared (and, hopefully sober). Producers and casting directors have a lot to do with these errors - you can't always tell you're in a turkey role. ****** Not as a Stranger (1955) Stanley Kramer ~ Robert Mitchum, Olivia de Havilland, Frank Sinatra
One of the best movies I have ever see! The everyday events in our lives and the downfalls are prominent throughout this movie. A dedicated medical student trying to play God once he has hung his shingle out for the World to see, finds that when he has made the ultimate mistake, that he is merely a mortal man only. He then attempts to make amends to his "wife" and deals with fixing the damages, he has caused since their marriage. The dedication to the medical and nursing professions is presented in a marvelous way. When Marsh sees the dedication in his wife's nursing abilities and the death of his dearest friend, then he comes to grips with his superior attitude. Its a magnificent movie, and if anyone throws rocks at it, then they have no concept of life and the snares thereof. YO! Its just plain good! bee jay.... PS...does anyone have a copy of this movie for sale? Thanks.
Despite miscasting of Mitchum and Sinatra as rather superannuated medical students the film taken from the Morton novel and slightly changed is fun to watch. Mitchum played his usual strong silent type character. No one ever accused him of overacting or even acting. What made the movie enjoyable were the strong performances of the rest of the cast Crawford, Bickford, deHavilland, sporting a ridiculous hairdo, and the very sexy Gloria Grahame. There is a very heavy handed but funny scene where a stallion is loosed to have his way with a mare in season before Mitchum and Gloria consummate their affair. Surpringly this scene was expunged from a recent TCM showing. All in all worth watching.