THE COURAGEOUS DR. CHRISTIAN (1940) Jean Hersholt & Dorothy Lovett | Drama | B&W

The Courageous Dr. Christian is a 1940 American film directed by Bernard Vorhaus. The film is the second entry in the film series about Dr. Christian.

SYNOPSIS
In a small town plagued by poverty, kindhearted Dr. Paul Christian is deeply troubled by the dire living conditions of the homeless residents of Squatterstown. His compassion leads him to take in one of the homeless, Dave Williams, and he begins advocating for the city to build proper housing for the poor. However, Dr. Christian soon realizes that the fate of the project rests in the hands of the influential Mrs. Norma Stewart, who owns the land needed for construction.

Mrs. Stewart, who harbors unrequited love for Dr. Christian, proposes a deal: she will donate the land to the city on the condition that Dr. Christian agrees to marry her. This message, however, is lost when her wards, Jack and Ruth Williams, fail to deliver her letter to the doctor, leaving him only with the deed. Unaware of the strings attached, Dr. Christian is soon faced with the impossible choice of sacrificing his principles or abandoning the project.

The situation worsens as the city council backs out of its commitment, leaving the homeless with nowhere to go but another vacant lot, still devoid of proper housing. Before long, a spinal meningitis epidemic breaks out among the displaced, prompting Dr. Christian to quarantine the area. The severity of the crisis finally opens the eyes of the townspeople to the plight of the homeless, sparking a movement to build public housing.

As the epidemic wanes, Mrs. Stewart releases Dr. Christian from her marital ultimatum, focusing instead on raising her wards. Meanwhile, Dave Williams, buoyed by the newfound compassion of the city's residents, begins to hope for a brighter future. Dr. Christian's unwavering dedication has not only saved lives but has also sown the seeds for lasting social change.

CAST & CREW
Jean Hersholt as Dr. Paul Christian
Dorothy Lovett as Judy Price
Robert Baldwin as Roy Davis
Tom Neal as Dave Williams
Maude Eburne as Mrs. Hastings
Vera Lewis as Mrs. Norma Stewart
George Meader as Harry Johnson
Bobby Larson as Jack Williams
Bobette Bentley as Ruth Williams
Reginald Barlow as Sam
Jacqueline De River as Martha
Edmund Glover as Tommy Wood
Mary Davenport as Jane Wood
Earle Ross as Grandpa
Sylvia Andrew as Mrs. Sam
Catherine Courtney as Mrs. Morris
Al Bridge as Sheriff
James C. Morton as Bailey
Fred Holmes as Wilson
Frank LaRue as Stanley
Budd Buster as Jones
Broderick O'Farrell as Harris

Directed by: Bernard Vorhaus
Written by: Ring Lardner Jr., Ian McLellan Hunter
Produced by: William Stephens
Cinematography: John Alton
Edited by: Edward Mann
Music by: William Lava
Production Company: Stephens-Lang Productions
Distributed by: RKO Pictures
Release Date: April 5, 1940
Running Time: 67 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English