Wonderful character development!

Truly Dreadful Film

Great Film overall

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.

1955's "Not As a Stranger" was producer Stanley Kramer's first of 15 films as a director, and he spent nearly a year getting it off the ground before it was even published as a novel, fortunately a best seller (author Morton Thompson dead well before its release). Robert Mitchum may at first seem an odd choice for Lucas Marsh, ambitious medical student turned country doctor, but he actually comes off better than Olivia de Havilland, a fine actress but miscast, saddled with a Swedish accent that tends to grate after a while. Cast with some of Hollywood's most notorious drunks, Kramer does surprisingly well in several cases: Broderick Crawford is steady as a rock as Dr. Aarons, Frank Sinatra solidifies his dramatic chops as Mitchum's intern buddy, and the often underused, always underrated Lon Chaney turns in the most powerful scene only 10 minutes in, playing Mitchum's alcoholic father, whose diagnosis of his own son proves to be right on the mark. A bit overlong, with Gloria Grahame in a stock seductress role that could have been excised without a hitch, the ending almost too pat to be believable.

Everyone, with the exception of Gloria Grahame was ten years too old to portray these characters with any believability. Beside poor casting, the story itself, was not the most entertaining to turn into a film. IMHO a huge goof. Surely, in 1955 there were many young actors who could have rendered these lines with more verve and conviction...and with actual blonde hair, even though there are many Swedish people with dark hair. A better cast might have included Lee Remick, Aldo Ray, Dean Stockwell, James Dean, Ann Bancroft, Russ Tamblyn, Bradford Dillman, Natalie Wood, and (or) Chris Robertson. Any combination of these performers might have given this film the fresh and contemporary feel it desperately needed.

Some excellent performances here. Olivia De Havilland is also surprisingly believable in the role of Kris, the nurse whom Robert Mitchum decides will help him through medical school (she has the money) Frank Sinatra is also worth mentioning. I did not always like some of his performances but he is a stand out here. As a kind of conscience for Mitchum. He actually becomes enraged when Mitchum cynically decides he will marry Kris, so that he can pay his tuition for medical school. There is a cameo role with Lon Chaney, Jr. as Mitchum's father, who is a hopeless alcoholic. The scene is very effective as Mitchum conveys disgust and hatred for his father, and his father with dark sad eyes says; you are missing something, you don't have the soul to help people.One amusing note is when Mitchum asks his professor of surgery for financial aid. The man does help him- his salary is $9,000.00. This was a princely sum in 1955, apparently. Wow, how things have changed.The story continues as Mitchum graduates medical school and interns in the small fictional town of Greenville. All is well until he meets femme fatal Gloria Grahame who is wealthy and widowed. The type of woman a doctor should have (according to 1955 stereotypes) At any rate Charles Bickford is Dr. Runcklemann, who is a country doctor and takes Mitchum under his wing. He runs the county hospital in Greenville with a big heart, and concern for the community. Mitchum is affected by him, and when Runcklemann dies on the table during surgery, he suddenly realizes how he lost sight of what matters in life. Will Kris take him back?.This film is unusual and has several stand-out performances. Highly recommended. 9/10

One of the best movies I have ever see! The everyday events in our lives and the downfalls are prominent throughout this movie. A dedicated medical student trying to play God once he has hung his shingle out for the World to see, finds that when he has made the ultimate mistake, that he is merely a mortal man only. He then attempts to make amends to his "wife" and deals with fixing the damages, he has caused since their marriage. The dedication to the medical and nursing professions is presented in a marvelous way. When Marsh sees the dedication in his wife's nursing abilities and the death of his dearest friend, then he comes to grips with his superior attitude. Its a magnificent movie, and if anyone throws rocks at it, then they have no concept of life and the snares thereof. YO! Its just plain good! bee jay.... PS...does anyone have a copy of this movie for sale? Thanks.