Dr. Kildare
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dr. James Kildare was a fictional character, the primary character in a series of American theatrical films in the late 1930s and early 1940s, an early 1950s radio series, a 1960s television series of the same name and a comic book based on the TV show. The character was invented by the author Frederick Schiller Faust (aka Max Brand).
The character began in the film series as a medical intern; after becoming a doctor he was mentored by an older physician, Dr. Leonard Gillespie. After the first ten films, the series eliminated the character of Kildare and focused instead on Gillespie.
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[edit] Films
- Interns Can't Take Money (1937), starring Joel McCrea as Kildare [1]
- Young Dr. Kildare (1938), which introduced Lew Ayres in the Kildare role, and Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Gillespie [2]
- Calling Dr. Kildare (1939) [3]
- The Secret of Dr. Kildare (1939) [4]
- Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940) [5]
- Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940) [6]
- Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940) [7]
- The People vs. Dr. Kildare (1941) [8]
- Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941) [9]
- Dr. Kildare's Victory (1942) [10]
[edit] Later films without Kildare
- Calling Dr. Gillespie (1942) [11]
- Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant (1942), which introduced Gillespie's assistants Dr. Randall Adams (Van Johnson) and Dr. Lee Wong How (Keye Luke) [12]
- Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case (1943) [13]
- Three Men in White (1944) [14]
- Between Two Women (1945) [15]
- Dark Delusion (1947), without Johnson [16]
[edit] Radio
In the summer of 1949, MGM reunited Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore to record the radio series, The Story of Dr. Kildare, scripted by Les Crutchfield, Jean Holloway and others. After broadcasts on WMGM New York from February 1, 1950 to August 3, 1951, the series was syndicated to other stations during the 1950s. The supporting cast included Ted Osborne as hospital administrator Dr. Carough, Jane Webb as nurse Mary Lamont and Virginia Gregg as Nurse Parker, labeled "Nosy Parker" by Gillespie, with appearances by William Conrad, Stacy Harris, Jay Novello, Isabel Jewell and Jack Webb.
[edit] Television
Dr. Kildare was an NBC medical drama television series which ran from September 27, 1961 until April 5, 1966, encompassing a total of 190 episodes. The show, which premiered at the same time as an ABC medical drama, Ben Casey, quickly achieved success and helped spark a number of new shows dealing with the medical field.
"Kildare" told the story of a young intern, Dr. James Kildare (Richard Chamberlain), working in a fictional large metropolitan hospital (Blair General) whilst trying to learn his profession, deal with problems of the patients and win the respect of the senior doctor, Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey).
In the series' first episode, Gillespie tells the earnest Kildare, "Our job is to keep people alive, not to tell them how to live." Kildare ignores the advice, providing the basis for stories over the next four seasons, many with a soap opera touch. The series was largely responsible for making Chamberlain, who beat out 35 other contenders for the role, a teen idol in the 1960s. He also recorded a song, "Three Stars Will Shine Tonight," with the music from the show's familiar opening theme. In 2006 Chamberlain reprised the role in a parody of Grey's Anatomy (along with other famous TV doctors from Julia, St. Elsewhere, M*A*S*H and The Love Boat) on the 2006 TV Land Awards.
[edit] Comics
Dell Comics' short-lived comic book based on the television show lasted nine issues from 1962 to 1965. The first two issues were part of the Four Color Comics line. Ken Bald drew the Dr. Kildare comic strip for 21 years (1962-1983).
[edit] Satires
- The Doctor was referenced from time to time in Warner Bros. cartoons of the 1940s, such as Patient Porky ("Dr. Chilled Air") and Hare Tonic ("Dr. Killpatient").
- In a French & Saunders spoof of Doctor Who, Dawn French tells a Doctor Who knock-knock joke: "Knock Knock" "Who's there?" "Doctor." "Doctor Who?" "Doctor Kildare!". Link
[edit] References
- Dunning, John. On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-19-507678-8
- McNeil, Alex. Total Television. New York: Penguin Books, 1996. ISBN 0-14-004911-8
