The Secret of Dr. Kildare - Lew Ayre and Loraine Day

"The Secret of Dr. Kildare" is a 1939 American medical drama starring Lew Ayres as Dr. James Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as the demanding but brilliant Dr. Leonard Gillespie. It was part of MGM's popular series of Dr. Kildare films based on characters created by author Frederick Schiller Faust, who wrote under the name Max Brand. In the film, young Dr. Kildare is working under Dr. Gillespie at Blair General Hospital while continuing to develop his skills as a physician. The story centers on a wealthy young woman suffering from a mysterious condition that has left her nearly blind. Kildare becomes convinced that her problem may have a psychological rather than purely physical cause and begins investigating her personal circumstances in hopes of finding a cure. At the same time, Kildare must balance his medical responsibilities with the expectations of Dr. Gillespie, whose stern manner often hides genuine concern for his young protégé. Their relationship became one of the defining elements of the film series. "The Secret of Dr. Kildare" combines medical mystery, drama, and character development and helped strengthen Lew Ayres' association with the role of the idealistic young doctor. Lionel Barrymore's portrayal of Dr. Gillespie also became one of his most recognizable later-career performances. The film remains of interest to fans and collectors of classic Hollywood, vintage medical dramas, and MGM motion pictures from the 1930s.