Not as a Stranger (1955)
I’ve always berated the Academy for the 1955 Oscars. Ernest Borgnine won Best Actor over James Dean in East of Eden, Frank Sinatra in The Man with the Golden Arm, and James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me--and Robert Mitchum wasn’t even nominated for The Night of the Hunter! And that’s just the Best Actor category; I have more complaints. Now there’s another complaint to add to the list of omissions: Not as a Stranger was the best performance of Robert Mitchum’s career, and it’s a crime he wasn’t nominated.
Robert Mitchum is a dedicated, but poor, medical student. More than anything else in the world, he wants to be a good doctor; this drives his entire character. He challenges his professors, tells his fellow students they make him sick when they don’t take their studies seriously, and proves he’ll do anything to achieve his goal. He’s very poor and is faced with a dropped enrollment unless he can pay his tuition, and after applying for loans, taking on extra work, and borrowing from his friends, he still doesn’t have enough. Olivia de Havilland is a kind, Swedish nurse in love with Bob, and when she learns his plight, she tells him about her nest egg. In order to stay in school, Bob considers marrying Olivia for her money. His best friend and fellow medical student, Frank Sinatra, is disgusted with Bob’s choice to take advantage of an old maid’s money and love.
While the plot is reason enough to watch this fascinating movie, there’s so much more to it than Edward and Edna Anhalt’s extremely well-written script. Not as a Stranger was a groundbreaking medical film. It discussed medical illnesses and procedures, as well as doctors’ responsibilities in unprecedented frankness. “Doctors are the only group in modern society privileged to commit murder with immunity from the law.” Statements like that weren’t made in 1955, and I’d argue that the public’s revere of the medical establishment hasn’t wavered through the decades, so you’ll be hard pressed to find a modern movie that would utter such a line. Also, this film shows a real open heart surgery—groundbreaking in the 1950s!
Robert Mitchum is a dedicated, but poor, medical student. More than anything else in the world, he wants to be a good doctor; this drives his entire character. He challenges his professors, tells his fellow students they make him sick when they don’t take their studies seriously, and proves he’ll do anything to achieve his goal. He’s very poor and is faced with a dropped enrollment unless he can pay his tuition, and after applying for loans, taking on extra work, and borrowing from his friends, he still doesn’t have enough. Olivia de Havilland is a kind, Swedish nurse in love with Bob, and when she learns his plight, she tells him about her nest egg. In order to stay in school, Bob considers marrying Olivia for her money. His best friend and fellow medical student, Frank Sinatra, is disgusted with Bob’s choice to take advantage of an old maid’s money and love.
While the plot is reason enough to watch this fascinating movie, there’s so much more to it than Edward and Edna Anhalt’s extremely well-written script. Not as a Stranger was a groundbreaking medical film. It discussed medical illnesses and procedures, as well as doctors’ responsibilities in unprecedented frankness. “Doctors are the only group in modern society privileged to commit murder with immunity from the law.” Statements like that weren’t made in 1955, and I’d argue that the public’s revere of the medical establishment hasn’t wavered through the decades, so you’ll be hard pressed to find a modern movie that would utter such a line. Also, this film shows a real open heart surgery—groundbreaking in the 1950s!
Bob Mitchum gives an incredible, and rarely vulnerable, performance. Virtually his entire career was comprised of macho, touch roles. There’s a scene in Not as a Stranger where a broken-hearted Bob puts his head in his hands and sobs. In another scene, a tight close-up shows his reaction as his world crashes around him; the camera doesn’t cut away as we see tears slowly appear and fall. It’s incredible that he was capable of such acting, and that he’d allow the camera to capture such vulnerability.
Olivia and Frank also give great performances, balancing the different nuances of their characters and showing the audience real, three-dimensional people instead of stock sidekicks. Although Frank is depicted as a rich playboy, he feels compassion and humiliation when mistakes are made. Olivia is more than just an old maid; she’s frightened, careful, and aware.
Charles Bickford, Gloria Grahame, Harry Morgan, Whit Bissell, Lee Marvin, and Broderick Crawford add to the supporting cast in this tense, extremely well-written drama. This film was Stanley Kubrick’s directorial debut, but it doesn’t feel like a newcomer’s film. The shots are framed well and with purpose, and he obviously handled his actors beautifully, since they all give great performances. I can’t recommend this movie enough; it’s one of the greatest classic dramas.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Cinema Central Seleus B" for posting!
More Whit Bissell movies here!
More Robert Mitchum movies here!
More Frank Sinatra movies here!
Olivia and Frank also give great performances, balancing the different nuances of their characters and showing the audience real, three-dimensional people instead of stock sidekicks. Although Frank is depicted as a rich playboy, he feels compassion and humiliation when mistakes are made. Olivia is more than just an old maid; she’s frightened, careful, and aware.
Charles Bickford, Gloria Grahame, Harry Morgan, Whit Bissell, Lee Marvin, and Broderick Crawford add to the supporting cast in this tense, extremely well-written drama. This film was Stanley Kubrick’s directorial debut, but it doesn’t feel like a newcomer’s film. The shots are framed well and with purpose, and he obviously handled his actors beautifully, since they all give great performances. I can’t recommend this movie enough; it’s one of the greatest classic dramas.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Cinema Central Seleus B" for posting!
More Whit Bissell movies here!
More Robert Mitchum movies here!
More Frank Sinatra movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Awards:
Best Dramatic Screenplay of 1955
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director: Stanley Kramer
Best Actor: Robert Mitchum
Best Actress: Olivia de Havilland