G | 1 h 50 min | Romantic Comedy | 1951
Screenwriter-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s tongue-in-cheek film has a hard time taking itself seriously, opening as it does with the comically self-conscious line, “This will be part of the story of Noah Praetorius, M.D. That is not his real name, of course…”
The winsome, if enigmatic, Dr. Praetorius (Cary Grant), uses unconventional techniques to cure. His more conventional, less recognized, colleagues envy him. Instead of emulating him, as they should, they seek to discredit him. Led by the devilishly dogged Dr. Elwell (Hume Cronyn), they try to turn his friendship with the equally enigmatic Mr. Shunderson (Finlay Currie) against him. Cornered but cocksure, Praetorious doesn’t do himself favors by falling in love with a fetching female patient of his, Deborah (Jeanne Crain)….