Derrick Gibbons An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

mmallon4 Initially I was skeptical at weather Clark Gable would make a convincing doctor but not only does he pull it off (even if he is the most gorgeous doctor ever *swoons) Men In White has to be my favourite performance I've seen him deliver portraying the idealistic and dignified young Dr. George Ferguson; 60 years before George Clooney in ER. Men In White is a perfect showcase of what Gable is cable off while Myrna Loy, although not dominating the film as much still shares a mature romance with Gable who must make difficult decisions between his profession and his love life. Rest assured I got the satisfactory amount of swooning I would expect from a pairing of these two.I cannot stress enough just how astounding this movie looks. This is without a doubt most stunning black and white film I've seen from the 1930's. Every scene is light so immaculately with multi-layered and angled shots plus the widespread use of shadows giving the film shades of noir. Even the classic noir shot of the shadows created by blind shutters on one's face to show they have become imprisoned in life is present. Likewise the art deco design of the hospital itself would likely not be practical in real life but it sure as hell looks good; needless to say the removal of eyes from the screen is easier said than done. The film's set designer was Cedric Gibbons, a regular at MGM who helped create the distinctive look of their films in the 1930's and surely Men In White is one of his greatest achievements.Movies like this where common in the 1930's, glorifying those who held jobs central to society (Tiger Shark, Night Flight, Slim). Call them propaganda but they were effective and informative. Although I don't have any real interest in medicine or healthcare (despite both my parents being nurses) Men In White gives a real sense of awe and wonder to medical world such as when Dr. McCabe (Henry B. Walthall) the elder doctor who gives a rousing speech at the beginning of the film on all the medical advances in his life time (anesthesia, sterilization, surgery, x-ray) and the figures behind them. We've come much further since 1934, certainly when it comes to the etiquette of the doctors on display. In one scene a doctor hits on a nurse in the open for everyone else to hear while other doctors have no problem openly talking about their sex lives ("Being in love kills your sex life"). There is even one scene in which a doctor is running through the public area of the hospital wearing only a towel! If that happened today it would be all over the tabloids. Men In White paints a picture of just how demanding a job as a doctor is, working round the clock; Dr. Ferguson works 16-18 hours a day for $20 a week (in 1934 or course). His finance Laura (Myrna Loy) has a selfish streak to her, getting frustrated with Ferguson when he's only doing his job and one which is detrimental to saving the lives of others. Additionally Jean Hersholt (Hollywood's great Dane and an actor who has that look of great intellect) as Ferguson's mentor pressure's George to put greater priority to his career than his love life. The film's ending isn't so predictable having me question whether or not George and Laura will end up together in the end.Men In White also showcases corruption which can exist within hospitals when a superior doctor knowingly gives a child too much insulin, only for Dr. Ferguson to interfere even if it puts his job on the line. Once the child recovers from the insulin overdose, the superior doctor takes the credit; douche. The child however thanks and hugs Dr. Ferguson at the end of the film in what I feel is the movie's most inspiring moment. Gable isn't playing a brute here like he often does but rather someone who can project a level of warmth especially with his interaction with his child patient. The scene in which Dr. Ferguson and the English nurse Barbara Den (Elizabeth Allen) are bonding over their loneliness and then start kissing is a breathtaking sequence. This leads to the most daring aspect of Men In White is the inclusion of abortion in the film's plot. When I first watched the film I didn't catch on that the big surgery scene itself was the result of a failed back alley abortion as the film's hints are very subtle; it's all in the undertones of the movie. That's one reason why Men In White is re-watching; distinguishing what's being said and shown versus what is really going on. If anything this is much more fun and satisfying having the movie simply spell everything out to the viewer. When it is discovered Nurse Den attempted to get an abortion it is simply alluded to that she has a condition worse than a ruptured appendix and before the surgery itself Dr. Ferguson is questioned, "who is the man?". It's not made clear if the child being terminated is the result of the affair between Ferguson and Den, however before their fling she is seen feeling unwell. Although I can't comment of how accurate a depiction Men In White is of the medical profession I was still amazed at the level of detail in the movie from the terminology to the wide range of instruments used. One particular moment which stood out to me was the rigorously high level of sanitization the staff must go through prior to surgery. The film has an economic length of only 73 minutes but packs so much content. I'd happily become ill just to go to this hospital.

Michael_Elliott Men in White (1934) ** 1/2 (out of 4) MGM melodrama takes a look at the personal and professional crisis of Dr. George Ferguson (Clark Gable). He's under pressure from his boss to work as hard as he can to become a better doctor but this doesn't sit well with his girlfriend (Myrna Loy) who wants more time with him. The screenplay here is pretty thin so the movie comes off rather bland even for 1934 standards. We've seen this type of drama countless times before and this movie really doesn't offer anything new. The performances are clearly the best thing with Gable giving a very intense performance. Loy is good in her role but it's your typical bitchy girlfriend part. Jean Hersholt, Otto Kruger, Wallace Ford and Griffith regular Henry B. Walthall co-star.

Neil Doyle CLARK GABLE is a dedicated doctor conflicted by feelings involving the workplace and romance--almost the forerunner of the character ROBERT MITCHUM would play twenty years later (Luke) in NOT AS A STRANGER. The film deals with medicine much the way Stanley Kramer's film did, but it's based on a stage play and the static quality owes something to that and the lack of background music on the soundtrack.Of course it's all very dated--a giveaway is interns supposedly making $20 a week!! MYRNA LOY is a selfish, wealthy young woman who wishes Gable would give her his undivided attention instead of dedicating himself to work. Gable has to assert himself at the hospital when an older physician overrules his instructions on insulin and puts a patient into shock. Gable's character here is reminiscent of Lucas Marsh in Morton Thompson's best-seller NOT AS A STRANGER as he pulls the syringe from the doctor's hand and takes charge of the procedure.There are weak moments of comedy relief, mostly from WALLACE FORD, and a maudlin performance from OTTO KRUGER that is painfully overplayed. The dialog too, tends to be preachy about the medical profession.Self-doubting and lonely, Gable shares some romantic scenes with pretty nurse ELIZABETH ALLAN who confides in him about her own uneasy feelings as a nurse dealing daily with life and death situations. The love scene is handled with such discretion it's hard to determine the plot developments that come swiftly afterwards, but after Allan's tragic death Gable resumes his romance with Loy, who realizes his work will always come first in his life.Nothing deep here, just a routine medical drama with all of its stage bound ingredients intact. Music is only used once for a restaurant scene where violins are playing a Viennese waltz, which leaves a lot of the drama feeling flat and one-dimensional.JEAN HERSHOLT has his usual role of an avuncular medical man under whom Gable intends to study abroad, but the focal point is the Gable/Loy/Allan romantic triangle.Summing up: From any standpoint, a trifle in Gable's career and notable only in that he plays a more sensitive role than usual.

MartinHafer First, I MUST mention that I LOVE Clark Gable and Myrna Loy flicks and I adore the films of Hollywood's Golden Age. So, my mediocre review is not the result of some prejudice against the actors or type of film being produced at the time. The problem is that the story is just too earnest and preachy to be of much interest. Sure, we can see that Gable is a dedicated young doctor and a heck of a guy--but so what? Most will probably find the film boring and hokey at times. Those who are real film buffs will probably be able to look past this, though most teens and the cynical will want to avoid this film. That's because these viewers MIGHT tend to discount older films or these great actors based only on this turgid experience.