The Citadel 1938

     This film is based on a classic novel by A.J. Cronin.  Andrew Manson is a young and enthusiastic Scottish doctor.  He has taken his first job in a Welsh mining town.  He will be the assistant to a bed ridden Dr. Page.  He learns quickly that Mrs. Page is not treating him fairly.  He receives extra money because he saved a newborn baby from dying.  Mrs. Page refuses to give him the money and she feeds herself well but not Andrew.  He quits and he gets another job working as doctor for the local coal mine.  Andrew married Christine, she was the school teacher at his first job with Dr. Page.  It was a requirement that Andrew be married in order to take this next job.  He starts to wonder about the constant cough many of the miners complain about.  He begins to take samples and investigate.  The miners and the miner’s board begin to question the need for research and they protest.  Andrew and Christine move to London and he opens a practice.  He’s struggling until he learns a lucrative career can be obtained by treating wealthy patients that really just want attention.

     Andrew didn’t realize he was really onto something with is research of the miner’s lung condition.  Later, another doctor and friend of Andrew’s begins to make progress with this research.  An accident happens and Andrew finally realizes he is fooling himself with treating the wealthy patients.  This isn’t what he took an oath to accomplish with his career as a doctor.  Christine has been trying to tell Andrew but he wasn’t ready to listen.  I thought this was interesting and good.  It's a look back at the problems in Scotland with the miners.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

     

110 min, Drama directed by King Vidor with Robert Donat, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Richardson, Rex Harrison, Emlyn Williams, Penelope Dudley-Ward, Francis L. Sullivan, Mary Clare, Cecil Parker, Nora Swinburne, Edward Chapman.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, 88% critic 69% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd 3.3* out of 5* with 227 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 3.5* out of 4* user rating 3.5* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Abertillery, Glaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, South Wales, Wales, UK; Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.  Initially Elizabeth Allan was announced in the role of Christine Manson, Rosalind Russell replaced her and Elizabeth sued MGM.  Vivien Leigh, Greer Garson and Geraldine Fitzgerald also tested for the role of Christine.  This film was nominated for Oscars as Best Picture, Best Actor, Direction and Adapted Screenplay.  Listed in The New York Times Guide to the Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made.  There is another film with the same title released in 2012.