Genre: Drama-Classics, Biography
Director: Dudley Nichols
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Alexander Knox, Dean Jagger, Philip Merivale, Beulah Bondi, Charles Dingle, John Litel, Fay Helm, Charles Kemper, Dorothy Peterson
This is the remarkable true story of Elizabeth Kenny (Rosalind Russell), a biographical drama about the Australian nurse who helped discover the treatment for infantile paralysis (e.g. polio) features Rosalind Russell in the title role.
Instead of applauding her treatment, however, the medical community, led by the inflexible Dr. Brack (Philip Merivale), ridicules Kenny's unorthodox practice and wields its power to stop her from using it. Undaunted, Kenny forsakes all, even romance, to continue her inspirational fight to save children's lives. Russell deservedly earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance. This film is inspirational and moving. Rosalind Russell is bigger than life in this part.
Trivia
The Wikipedia article on Elizabeth Kenny lists notable individuals who had been polio patients of Sister Kenny. Among those listed are Alan Alda, Dinah Shore and "Rosalind Russell's nephew." It is known that Rosalind Russell had campaigned long to portray Sister Kenny in film. Her nephew's treatment may have been a factor in that interest.
Unlike as portrayed at the beginning of the film, Kenny had no formal nursing education. She earned the title of "Sister" (rank equivalent of a 1st Lt.) during her service in the Australian Army Nursing Service during WWI. She used that title the rest of her life, which was controversial as in the British Commonwealth that title was reserved for senior qualified nurses (the equivalent of a Registered Nurse in the USA).
This is the remarkable true story of Elizabeth Kenny (Rosalind Russell), a biographical drama about the Australian nurse who helped discover the treatment for infantile paralysis (e.g. polio) features Rosalind Russell in the title role.
Instead of applauding her treatment, however, the medical community, led by the inflexible Dr. Brack (Philip Merivale), ridicules Kenny's unorthodox practice and wields its power to stop her from using it. Undaunted, Kenny forsakes all, even romance, to continue her inspirational fight to save children's lives. Russell deservedly earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance. This film is inspirational and moving. Rosalind Russell is bigger than life in this part.
Trivia
The Wikipedia article on Elizabeth Kenny lists notable individuals who had been polio patients of Sister Kenny. Among those listed are Alan Alda, Dinah Shore and "Rosalind Russell's nephew." It is known that Rosalind Russell had campaigned long to portray Sister Kenny in film. Her nephew's treatment may have been a factor in that interest.
Unlike as portrayed at the beginning of the film, Kenny had no formal nursing education. She earned the title of "Sister" (rank equivalent of a 1st Lt.) during her service in the Australian Army Nursing Service during WWI. She used that title the rest of her life, which was controversial as in the British Commonwealth that title was reserved for senior qualified nurses (the equivalent of a Registered Nurse in the USA).