Vigil in the Night
| Vigil in the Night | |
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| Directed by | George Stevens |
| Produced by | George Stevens |
| Written by | A. J. Cronin (serial) Fred Guiol |
| Starring | Carole Lombard Brian Aherne Anne Shirley |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Robert De Grasse |
| Editing by | Henry Berman |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. |
| Release date(s) | February 9, 1940 |
| Running time | 96 min./USA: 102 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
Vigil in the Night is a 1940 film (produced and distributed by RKO Pictures) based on the 1939 serial short story by A. J. Cronin. The film was produced and directed by George Stevens and stars Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne and Anne Shirley.
Plot summary
Set in Great Britain, Vigil in the Night tells the story of the nurses Anne Lee and her sister, Lucy. Anne takes the blame for a fatal error made by Lucy and is forced to leave the hospital where they both work. She moves to a large city where she procures a job at another hospital and falls in love with Dr. Prescott. Overcoming obstacles and personal tragedy along the way, Anne and Prescott work together to bring about better conditions for the care of the sick as well as fighting an epidemic which threatens to overwhelm all those around them.
The European version of the film has a slightly different ending in recognition of the Second World War which the United States had not yet entered at the time of its release: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's voice is heard on the radio in Dr. Prescott's office explaining that Hitler has refused to withdraw his troops from Poland and that, therefore, a state of war exists between Germany and Great Britain. The American version of the film contains no such radio message and a shot of Anne Lee and Dr. Prescott reacting to the news was deleted.
More detailed synopsis from TCM:
When her sister Lucy's negligence results in the death of a patient, devoted nurse Anne Lee shoulders the blame to save Lucy's honor because the girl has entered the nursing profession solely to please her. Dismissed for negligence, Anne moves to the town of Hepperton, where she finds a job in a large but poorly equipped hospital. There she is befriended by Matron East, the dour but diligent matron of nurses, and Dr. Prescott, who struggles against the deplorable conditions of the hospital to relieve the suffering of the sick. One night, when Anne's quick thinking saves the lives of the victims of a bus accident, Anne and Prescott become better acquainted. He confides his dreams for a new hospital but concedes that it has little chance of becoming a reality because of the opposition of Matthew Bowley, the miserly chairman of the hospital board. Soon afterward, Bowley becomes a problem for Anne when his wife overhears him making amorous advances to her and threatens a scandal unless Anne is fired. Dismissed once again, Anne goes to London to join Lucy, who has gotten married, but upon her arrival, she learns that Lucy has left her husband and is facing charges of negligent homicide in conjunction with the death of a patient at the nursing home in which she was working. After Prescott comes to London and testifies on her behalf, Lucy is cleared of all charges. To redeem herself, Lucy then decides to go to Hepperton to fight a virulent epidemic that has broken out there. Anne goes with her and takes charge of the isolation ward. When Bowley refuses the funds for necessary supplies, Anne defies him and orders them anyway. Bowley's attitude changes when his own son falls ill and Lucy contracts the disease by giving the boy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to save his life. Lucy's death makes Anne more determined to uphold the ideals of her profession, and with Bowley's funding, she and Prescott begin to build their new dream hospital.
Cast
- Carole Lombard as Anne Lee
- Brian Aherne as Dr. Robert Prescott
- Anne Shirley as Lucy Lee
- Julien Mitchell as Matthew Bowley
- Robert Coote as Dr. Caley
- Brenda Forbes as Nora Dunn
- Rita Page as Glennie
- Peter Cushing as Joe Shand
- Ethel Griffies as Matron East
- Doris Lloyd as Mrs. Martha Bowley
- Emily Fitzroy as Sister Gilson
- May Beatty as Mrs. Merchant, Prescott's Housekeeper (uncredited)
- Wallis Clark as Mr. Peterson, Board Member (uncredited)
- Donnie Dunagan as Tommy (uncredited)
- Edward Fielding as Forest, Epidemic Doctor (uncredited)
- Helena Grant as Nurse Gregg (uncredited)
- Charlie Hall as Extra at Hearing (uncredited)
- Winifred Harris as First Matron (Sherman Cty.) (uncredited)
- Rafaela Ottiano as Mrs. Henrietta Sullivan (uncredited)
External links
- Vigil in the Night at Turner Classic Movies (trailer)
- New York Times overview
- Vigil in the Night at the Internet Movie Database
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