The Interns (film)

This article is about the 1962 film. For other uses, see Intern (disambiguation).
The Interns

Directed by David Swift
Produced by Robert Cohn
Written by Walter Newman
Based on The Interns
1960 novel
by Richard Frede
Starring Michael Callan
Cliff Robertson
Music by Leith Stevens
Cinematography Russell Metty
Edited by Al Clark
Jerome Thoms
Production
company
Robert Cohn Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • August 8, 1962 (1962-08-08)
Running time
 120 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $9,230,769[1]

The Interns is a 1962 American drama film that starred Michael Callan and Cliff Robertson.[2] This film is a medical melodrama that presages many similar TV programs to follow. It centers on the personal and professional conflicts of young medical interns under the tutorage of senior surgeons, Telly Savalas and Buddy Ebsen. The film was followed by a 1964 sequel, The New Interns, and a 1970–1971 television medical drama series, The Interns, that was based on the films. The Interns was directed by David Swift.[2]

Plot

A class of interns arrive for their first year in training at a public city hospital, which serves patients from many different ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Close friends and classmates John Paul Otis (Cliff Robertson) and Lew Worship (James MacArthur) plan to become surgeons and open their own clinic together. They are less than thrilled about their assignment to obstetrics, feeling that delivering babies is not very difficult.

Lew becomes romantically involved with student nurse Gloria (Stefanie Powers), while John becomes infatuated with fashion model Lisa Cardigan (Suzy Parker). Lisa dislikes the idea of dating a relatively impoverished young doctor, and is pregnant out of wedlock by another man. Although John offers to solve her problem by marrying her, she pressures him to illegally obtain pills for her in hopes of ending the pregnancy. He finally does so and is caught and reported by Lew, ending their friendship and John's medical career.

Sid Lackland (Nick Adams) aspires to serve wealthy patients so he can make a lot of money. Then he becomes attached to Loara (Ellen Davalos), a girl from a poor village in Southeast Asia who is one of his patients. She has a rare medical condition and is scheduled for a serious operation. Loara resists his friendly overtures because she is sure she will die in the hospital. Sid is heartbroken when Loara dies during her surgery.

Alec Considine (Michael Callan) wants a residency under eminent psychiatrist Dr. Bonney, and secretly cheats on his wealthy fiancee Mildred (Anne Helm) with Dr. Bonney's longtime nurse Vicky Flynn in hopes of being introduced to the doctor. In order to keep up his medical duties and spend time with both women, Alec takes Dexedrine to stay awake. Although he does meet Dr. Bonney, who offers him a residency, Mildred discovers his affair and leaves him.

Madolyn Bruckner (Haya Harareet) aspires to become a surgeon under abrasive Dr. Domenic Riccio (Telly Savalas). Despite her skills as an intern, Riccio discourages her because he is prejudiced against female doctors, assuming they will abandon their medical careers to get married and have children. Riccio later finds out Madolyn has already been married and has a child, yet is still pursuing her medical career as a single working mother.

At the end of the year, Alec, Lew, and several other interns come under suspicion when a terminally ill, immobile patient who has been begging to die is found dead of a barbiturate overdose. None of the involved interns can accept their residencies until the source of the drugs is found, creating a risk that the residency offers will be withdrawn. Alec, strung out on Dexedrine, has a nervous breakdown at the thought of losing his residency with Dr. Bonney. Lew and the other interns visit the patient's wife and find out that she gave him the drugs after being worn down by his constant pleas that if she really loved him, she would help him die. As a result, the interns are no longer under suspicion and can accept their offers.

Lew, having developed an interest in obstetrics after delivering a baby, accepts a residency at the same hospital, and convinces Gloria, who had planned to travel and see the world, to marry him instead. Sid gets an offer from a wealthy hospital, but inspired by Loara, he goes to practice in impoverished Southeast Asia instead. Riccio hires Madolyn as his resident assistant. John, now engaged to Lisa, visits his former classmates and tells Lew he respects him for his sense of ethics. A new class of interns arrives and Lew shows them the way to their dormitory, just as a doctor did for him the previous year.

Cast

Production

The film was based on a novel by 26-year-old Richard Frede, who had worked as an intern for two years. It was published in 1960 and became a best seller.[3][4] Film rights were bought for a reported $75,000 plus 15% of the profits.[5] It was optioned by producer Robert Cohn who set up the project at Columbia.[6]

Robert Wagner had signed a three picture deal with Columbia, and announced he would play the role of Lew. "This won't be another Dr. Kildare picture, with the standard romance and the other stereotypes, I can assure you," said Wagner.[7] However his role ended up being played by James MacArthur.

Sidney Poitier was also announced for the cast[8] but did not appear in the final film.

Reception

The movie originally ran for three hours but was cut down to two.[9]

The film grossed $9,230,769 at the box office,[1] earning $5 million in US theatrical rentals.[10] It was the 12th highest grossing film of 1962 and Columbia's biggest grossing film of the year.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Box Office Information for The Interns. The Numbers. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "The Interns". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ BEST SELLERS Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 26 June 1960: B9.
  4. ↑ Young Men In White: THE INTERNS. By Richard Frede. 374 pp. New York: Random House. $4.95. By FRANK G. SLAUGHTER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 17 Apr 1960: BR25.
  5. ↑ TOWER TICKER Lyon, Herb. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 23 June 1960: 18.
  6. ↑ Welles Choice for 'Chapman Report': Johansson Sought for "Interns'; Salome Gens Given New Contract Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 20 May 1960: A9.
  7. ↑ WAGNER STEPS UP WORK IN MOVIES: Actor Forms Concern, Signs 3-Picture Columbia Deal -- Critics Awards Tonight By HOWARD THOMPSON. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 21 Jan 1961: 18.
  8. ↑ FOX ABANDONING 'CLEOPATRA' SET: Studio Will Film Spectacle in Hollywood or Rome -- Comedy-Fantasy Opens By EUGENE ARCHER. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 16 Mar 1961: 44.
  9. 1 2 Swift Will Screen 'Cook for General': Director Tells Pace Secret; Marilyn Monroe Documented Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 04 Oct 1962: C13.
  10. ↑ "All-Time Top Grossers", Variety, 8 January 1964 pg 69.
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