DR. CHRISTIAN MEETS THE WOMEN (1940) Jean Hersholt & Dorothy Lovett | Drama, Romance | B&W

Dr. Christian Meets the Women is a 1940 American film directed by William C. McGann, one of the series of six Dr. Christian films featuring Jean Hersholt.

SYNOPSIS
Professor Kenneth Parker, a self-proclaimed health specialist, arrives in the quiet town of River's End, promising local women rapid weight loss through a strict diet and special diet pills. His claims charm Mrs. Browning, the head of the town women's club, who invites him to lecture at the club. Parker's teachings disrupt the town’s peaceful routine and lead to chaos in the Browning household, particularly affecting Mrs. Browning and her husband, who argue over the professor's influence.

Dr. Paul Christian, the town physician, is skeptical of Parker's methods and warns the women about the risks of his extreme diet plans. Despite his warnings, the town is swayed by Parker's promises. The situation worsens when Kitty Browning, enamored with Parker's assistant Bill Ferris, adopts a severe diet and collapses from starvation.

Dr. Christian discovers that Parker has been administering benzedrine to the women, including Kitty, as part of his deceptive regimen. Exposing Parker as a fraud and a public menace, Dr. Christian takes action to save Kitty’s life. With Bill’s help, who has resigned from Parker's service, and a crucial blood transfusion, Kitty’s life is saved. The town women abandon the harmful diet, and peace is restored to River's End, with Bill and Kitty eventually marrying.

CAST & CREW
Jean Hersholt as Dr. Paul Christian
Dorothy Lovett as Judy Price
Edgar Kennedy as George Browning
Rod La Rocque as Prof. Kenneth Parker
Frank Albertson as Bill Ferris
Lynn Merrick as Kitty Browning
Maude Eburne as Mrs. Hastings
Veda Ann Borg as Carol Compton
Lelah Tyler as Martha Browning
William Gould as Dr. Webster
Phyllis Kennedy as Annie, the maid
Bertha Priestley as Alice Mason
Diedra Vale as Gladys Mason
Heinie Conklin as Ed the plumber

Directed by: William C. McGann
Written by: Marion Orth
Produced by: Monroe Shaff (associate producer), William Stephens
Cinematography: John Alton
Music by: Monroe Friedman
Production company: Stephens-Lang Productions
Distributed by: RKO Pictures
Release date: July 5, 1940
Running time: 68 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English