Based on Sinclair Lewis's novel, Dr. Martin Arrowsmith (played by Ronald Coleman) suspends being a medical researcher to marry Leora (played by Helen Hayes) and become a country doctor. After concocting a remedy for cows suffering from blackleg, he returns to research.
It's a fluent story, supported by Ray June's felicitous dark cinematography and good performances. Coleman is appropriately earnest in his character's pursuit of ideals and Hayes, too, for her distressed and fragile character. The strife of Dr. Arrowsmith balancing home and work is the impetus here. Where Goldwyn, Ford and screenwriter Sidney Howard don't deserve any such Best Picture or Adaptation Oscar nominations is when they fumble the ending.
Warning: Spoilers herein
I've seen worse, but the senselessness of the Hollywood contrivance of attempting a happy end after the four most important persons in Martin Arrowsmith's life just died still took me aback. It was done quickly and sloppily, too. Additionally, they should have dropped the character Joyce Lanyon (played by the lovely Myrna Loy). The movie began with, "the story of a man who dedicated his life to service and his heart to the love of one woman." Friendship is not all that is behind the relationship between Dr. Arrowsmith and Lanyon, or at least it wouldn't be. She crosses the globe to offer her friendship--he accepts and runs off with her and another researcher for who cares what other life.
It's a fluent story, supported by Ray June's felicitous dark cinematography and good performances. Coleman is appropriately earnest in his character's pursuit of ideals and Hayes, too, for her distressed and fragile character. The strife of Dr. Arrowsmith balancing home and work is the impetus here. Where Goldwyn, Ford and screenwriter Sidney Howard don't deserve any such Best Picture or Adaptation Oscar nominations is when they fumble the ending.
Warning: Spoilers herein
I've seen worse, but the senselessness of the Hollywood contrivance of attempting a happy end after the four most important persons in Martin Arrowsmith's life just died still took me aback. It was done quickly and sloppily, too. Additionally, they should have dropped the character Joyce Lanyon (played by the lovely Myrna Loy). The movie began with, "the story of a man who dedicated his life to service and his heart to the love of one woman." Friendship is not all that is behind the relationship between Dr. Arrowsmith and Lanyon, or at least it wouldn't be. She crosses the globe to offer her friendship--he accepts and runs off with her and another researcher for who cares what other life.