Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Errol Flynn stars as idealistic young doctor who takes the blame for a botched operation that costs a woman her life. Why he does this is supposed to be noble but seems stupid to me. After he's dismissed by the hospital, he joins a friend (Walter Abel) researching a cure for spotted fever. Abel has lots to say about ticks and spotted fever, so have a pencil and paper handy.An odd movie, especially for Flynn. What makes it odd isn't the medical melodrama I summarized above. Those types of movies were a dime a dozen back then. No, what makes it odd and also fascinating is the inclusion of spiritual themes. In particular Cedric Hardwicke's character. Hardwicke plays a perspicacious reverend, equal parts Mr. Miyagi and Gandalf. His scenes are some of the movie's most interesting. Errol's love interest choices are Anita Louise and Margaret Lindsay. I won't spoil which he picks but it wasn't the one I was rooting for. The cinematography and score are excellent, as is Frank Borzage's direction. It's a very good-looking movie. Not always successful but intriguing in many ways. Definitely worth recommending.

This might just be the strangest Errol Flynn film other than the truly odd Cuban movies he made at the very end of his career. It has many strange plot elements and a convoluted religious element that just left me dazed! But, despite the very strange writing, the overall effort is still pretty good--mostly because it's hard to imagine Errol Flynn making a bad film! Heck, drunk and disinterested, he was still a heck of an actor--and here he is young and vigorous and engaging.The film begins with a strange Norman Vincent Peale sort of sermon by Cedric Hardwicke. In fact, whenever this odd preacher talks, he sounds very mystical...but never seems to mention God or the Bible! And you also wonder what the heck he has to do with the rest of the film. Well, honestly, he DOESN'T have much to do with the film--he seems more like a wacky social gospel-spouting plot device--but a pleasant one.The film actually has to do with a bizarre doctor (Flynn) who inexplicably covers for his boss when the boss-man botches an operation and kills a patient. I say inexplicable because his reasons for covering for the elder doctor seemed convoluted to say the least. As a result of taking the blame for something he DIDN'T do (and, by the way, possibly allowed an inept surgeon to keep practicing), agnostic Flynn goes to see Hardwicke--who pulls some strings and manipulates him into meeting the daughter of the woman (Anita Louise) killed by the other doctor. She falls for him but when she discovers that Flynn is the one blamed the death, she despises him and he runs off to a life of self-sacrifice working on Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever! This culminates with him injecting himself with an experimental vaccine--and Louis comes running to him! Does the amazingly self-sacrificing Flynn pull through?! Well, don't expect any surprises! If the plot I described sounds convoluted and weird, that's because it is--and it's actually a bit worse, but I omitted a bit of the plot due to space. The bottom line is that the film STILL manages to be enjoyable even though it is never the least bit believable. A very minor Flynn outing to say the least. At least it IS original!

If I should choose one American director for the twenties/thirties,I would take Frank Borzage any day.This is a film of a believer ,but a believer who never falls into the trap of bigotry:the "green light" of the title is the light that comes from the sky,the light of hope which should enlighten everyone.His early silent movies (particularly "Humoresque" ) displays a strong faith in a divine intervention provided that you are worthy of it."Seventh Heaven" ,"Little man what now" ,to name but two,featured characters who had nothing,nothing but their love for each other and their faith in providence.It would culminate in 1940 with Borzage's masterpieces,"the mortal storm" and "Strange cargo",particularly the latter where Cambreau becomes some kind of messiah.Eroll Flynn,cast against type ,-but portraying a physician who predates his role in Walsh's "Uncertain Glory" where he finally sacrifices everything- ,gave all:first he took the blame for an operation which cost a patient her life;then he acted as his own guinea pig for his vaccine.It often recalls "magnificent obsession" (the first version by J.Stahl was released two years before):both works feature a man of God : the man who tells the hero of "obsession" a man died on the cross for man's salvation,the priest in "green light".The choir in the church which we heard at the beginning returns for a canticle which climaxes the movie .Be prepared to sacrifice anything and do not ask anything in return,there will be a reward anyway.

Green Light is beautifully directed, has a first rate score, and has a melodramatic mood throughout that makes it wonderful to watch. It relates the story of a young doctor who takes the fall for an elder doctor's mistake. Errol Flynn delivers a fine performance as does Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Margaret Lindsay, and Walter Abel.It is a terrible reality that so many fine classics are not yet available on DVD. In my opinion, better than its rating. Fans of Flynn will not be disappointed.