Kings Row (1942)

This love story was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Picture; Best Director (Sam Wood); and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White. That said, it's probably best remembered for something else: a young Ronald Reagan putting on possibly the best performance in his acting career and certainly the first to gain him much attention. He's not quite the male lead, though, and I'm not sure he ever was.

Taking place from 1890 to 1900, the book-based film focuses primarily on one Parris Mitchell from childhood to early doctorhood (by which time he's played by Robert Cummings) but also considerably on his friend Drake McHugh (Reagan in adulthood), a less career-focused party animal. One thing they turn out to have in common, besides their upscale childhood neighborhood, is an interest in hard-to-get ladies, specifically the daughters of two local doctors. One doctor (Charles Coburn) doesn't see much potential in Drake; the other (Claude Rains) likes Parris well enough as a student but is beyond overprotective toward his daughter. You might or might not be surprised at how much drama ensues.

I get the impression that author Henry Bellamann had a dim view of doctors, or at least turn-of-the-century doctors, because both the older ones are villainous. Murderous, even. I felt no sorrow at all for their deaths. Then again, Parris is shaping up to be good in both virtue and skill. It's worth noting that he studies psychiatry at a time when most people haven't heard of it -- apparently inspired by the borderline insane behavior of some of his Kings Row acquaintances. It becomes important to the plot later on.

Somewhat unusually for such a movie, neither romance pans out, because the evil fathers succeed at the placement of their obstacles. Nevertheless, both young men find love again soon enough. I think their new relationships are more promising anyway. The ending is refreshingly happy after all the troubles.

I find the developments a little hard to swallow, which may decrease the emotional impact. Nevertheless, I deem it worth my while and rate it at least as high as the same year's middling Best Picture, Mrs. Miniver. Reagan's performance is indeed the highlight, though I'll give due credit to the other aforementioned actors as well as Ann Sheridan, Judith Anderson, and Harry Davenport. See it if you're up for an old-school melodrama that shakes off its bleakness eventually.