Arrowsmith (1931)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(262 ratings)

One of the more prestigious films of its time, John Ford's film adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has a sleek Art Deco look strangely out of tune with its tale of moral struggle. Ronald Colman stars as Martin Arrowsmith, an idealistic young doctor, who, after graduating from… More One of the more prestigious films of its time, John Ford's film adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has a sleek Art Deco look strangely out of tune with its tale of moral struggle. Ronald Colman stars as Martin Arrowsmith, an idealistic young doctor, who, after graduating from medical school, must forego a research position with Dr. Max Gottlieb (A.E. Anson) due to his marriage to nurse Leora Tozer (Helen Hayes). He returns to her rural hometown and establishes a small practice, and in his spare time eventually develops a serum for a deadly cow disease. Based on this work he is able to return to work under Dr. Gottlieb. When Dr. Gustav Sondelius (Richard Bennett), a friend of the researchers, informs them about a plague devouring the West Indies, Arrowsmith decides to travel to the area to test whether the serum he's working on might be effective in combatting it. The white citizens of the area refuse to allow themselves to be the subjects of an experiment, but black Harvard-educated Dr. Oliver Marchand (Clarence Brooks) persuades the island's native population to go along with Arrowsmith's plan. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: John Ford
Written By: Sidney Howard
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 7, 1931 Wide
On DVD: Mar 8, 2005

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Emotionally gratifying, it dramatically only crawls along with so many actionless scenes.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of John Ford's in-depth probes of the doctor's role in society, Arrowsmith was based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis who refused the 1926 Pulitzer because of the prize's alleged advocacy of work that endorsed "the wholesome American life."
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...the film's episodic structure ensures that it rarely becomes boring - though the story does lose some momentum towards the end...
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Brilliant, too little seen John Ford film of the Sinclair Lewis novel.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
One of those prestige pics from decades past that make you wonder exactly what all the fuss was about.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Ronald Colman is fine in this antique but the film itself is all over the place.
AJ V

A dull and melodramatic look at the life of a doctor.
Anthony V

Colman is as charismatic as ever, but does have some choppy editing.