The plot to "Alias the Doctor" is incredibly hard to believe...so it's important you try to suspend your sense of disbelief and just watch the film. If you do so, you'll probably enjoy the movie very much.
Karl (Richard Barthelmess) was adopted by a nice family long ago. But there is someone in the family who is a jerk--Karl's step-brother, Stephan...though Karl inexplicably loves him. The pair go off to medical school and while Karl is at the head of his class, Stephan is more interested in drinking, partying and chasing women...though he somehow manages to pass enough courses to be able to graduate along with Karl.
Ultimately, Stephan's extracurricular behavior leads to disaster. One night, just before graduation, he comes to tell Karl that he was drunk and attacked his girlfriend....injuring her badly. But instead of taking her to the hospital, he operates on her in her apartment!! Now, not surprisingly, she's getting worse and with a bad fever....and Karl goes to try to help.
The girl dies and here is where the film gets a bit stupid. Instead of letting Stephen take his medicine and go to jail, Karl says HE was the one who operated on her and he's sent to prison!! Now I understand Karl has a strong sense of family and obligation to his adopted folks, but this is ridiculous...especially since Stephen ends up drinking himself to death soon after Karl is sent to prison.
Some time passes. Karl returns home and there is an accident outside their home. A child is dying and Karl cannot help but operate on the boy...and saves the boy's life through his great skills. A famous and important doctor arrives later to check on the boy and he's so impressed by Karl's skill, he invites him to work with him...not realizing Karl is not really a doctor. Karl's mother instructs him NOT to tell...and use Stephan's identity to practice medicine.
More years pass.... Karl/Stephen is a brilliant and world famous surgeon. It's odd no one has recognized he's an imposter, isn't it?! He also has a problem with his step-sister. It seems she's fallen for Karl and wants to marry him but since Stephan and Lotti are biological siblings, marry the fake Stephen is out of the question! What's next? See the film. Rest assured...it's quite the soap opera...and things get crazier!!!
While the acting is very good and the story very interesting, it certainly does push the boundaries of common sense! Again...you CAN'T think too much about the plot...just accept it as it is. And, if you can do that, it's a very good and interesting film.
I think the film might have been better had they done two different things. First, Stephen SHOULD have operated on his girlfriend while trying to do an abortion...it would have made more sense. But apparently, even though it is a pre-code film, the studio was reticent to go there. Second, Stephen should have insisted to the police that Karl did it...instead of Karl taking the credit for the botched operation. Then Karl would go to prison after being set up by the brother. It just was tough to believe otherwise.
Overall, it's a very good film with some lovely acting....and a plot that is just hard to believe.
Karl (Richard Barthelmess) was adopted by a nice family long ago. But there is someone in the family who is a jerk--Karl's step-brother, Stephan...though Karl inexplicably loves him. The pair go off to medical school and while Karl is at the head of his class, Stephan is more interested in drinking, partying and chasing women...though he somehow manages to pass enough courses to be able to graduate along with Karl.
Ultimately, Stephan's extracurricular behavior leads to disaster. One night, just before graduation, he comes to tell Karl that he was drunk and attacked his girlfriend....injuring her badly. But instead of taking her to the hospital, he operates on her in her apartment!! Now, not surprisingly, she's getting worse and with a bad fever....and Karl goes to try to help.
The girl dies and here is where the film gets a bit stupid. Instead of letting Stephen take his medicine and go to jail, Karl says HE was the one who operated on her and he's sent to prison!! Now I understand Karl has a strong sense of family and obligation to his adopted folks, but this is ridiculous...especially since Stephen ends up drinking himself to death soon after Karl is sent to prison.
Some time passes. Karl returns home and there is an accident outside their home. A child is dying and Karl cannot help but operate on the boy...and saves the boy's life through his great skills. A famous and important doctor arrives later to check on the boy and he's so impressed by Karl's skill, he invites him to work with him...not realizing Karl is not really a doctor. Karl's mother instructs him NOT to tell...and use Stephan's identity to practice medicine.
More years pass.... Karl/Stephen is a brilliant and world famous surgeon. It's odd no one has recognized he's an imposter, isn't it?! He also has a problem with his step-sister. It seems she's fallen for Karl and wants to marry him but since Stephan and Lotti are biological siblings, marry the fake Stephen is out of the question! What's next? See the film. Rest assured...it's quite the soap opera...and things get crazier!!!
While the acting is very good and the story very interesting, it certainly does push the boundaries of common sense! Again...you CAN'T think too much about the plot...just accept it as it is. And, if you can do that, it's a very good and interesting film.
I think the film might have been better had they done two different things. First, Stephen SHOULD have operated on his girlfriend while trying to do an abortion...it would have made more sense. But apparently, even though it is a pre-code film, the studio was reticent to go there. Second, Stephen should have insisted to the police that Karl did it...instead of Karl taking the credit for the botched operation. Then Karl would go to prison after being set up by the brother. It just was tough to believe otherwise.
Overall, it's a very good film with some lovely acting....and a plot that is just hard to believe.