The 1940's

Appointment for Love (1941)
Character of Interest: Jane Alexander Cassil (played by Margaret Sullavan) General Practitioner

The crux of the movie is that Dr. Alexander doesn't want to live in the same apartment with her husband because her practice demands her attention at all hours. Her husband (played by Charles Boyer) is not in the least concerned with her leaving her career. The ending leads us to assume they will live together, but she will continue with her work.

You Belong to Me (1941)
Character of Interest: Helen Hunt (played by Barbara Stanwyck), General Practitioner

This is a pretty silly movie. Its emphasis is on the jealous husband of our female doctor, who reacts violently to his wife's male patients. However, there are some interesting and surprising aspects to this movie. Dr. Hunt is a successful GP, with male and female patients (though she is accused by several men of only having male patients because she is attractive). She is dedicated to her profession, intends on putting work before her personal life, and is quite good at her job. The film's ending, however, is rather liberated for 1941; in fact, the movie is worth seeing just for the ending. It certainly is not the "standard" ending for a women's picture: the wealthy husband purchases a bankrupt hospital in order to create new jobs, and work with his wife - the new chief-of-staff. He even mentions adopting a needy child, since they might be too busy to have one of their own!

Shining Victory (1941)
Character of Interest: Mary Murray (played by Geraldine Fitzgerald)

 

Army Surgeon (1942)

Character of Interest: Beth Ainsley (played by Jane Wyatt), Surgeon



Gallant Lady (1942)
Character of Interest: Rosemary Walsh (played by Rose Hobart)



First Comes Courage (1943)
Character of Interest: Rose Linstrom (played by Isobel Elstrom)


Linstrom appears to be a nurse, based on the tasks we see her performing. However, when summoned by the Nazis, she is addressed as "Frau Dotor Linstrom." Her status is unclear, however since she is called Doctor, we will include the character.

The Lamp Still Burns (1943)

Character of Interest: Dr Jane Barrett, MRCP (played by Joyce Grenfell)

 

We see Dr. Barrett teaching transfusion medicine to a nursing school class; we also see her performing a transfusion. No particular mention is made of her gender.

Casanova Brown (1944)

Character of Interest: Martha Zernerke (played by Jill Esmond), Obstetrician

Dr. Zerneke is the obstetrician taking care of the lead character's estranged wife. She is shown as competent and professional. No particular mention is made of her gender.

Madame Curie (1944)
Character of Interest: Marie Curie (played by Greer Garson), Physicist (and co-discoverer of radium)

Though strictly speaking not a physician, the actual Marie Curie worked as a radiologist during the First World War. She brought an x-ray machine she developed to the front lines, so that injured soldiers could be more quickly diagnosed. This film does not cover her medical work, but does show her importance to the discovery of radium.

Spellbound (1945)
Character of Interest: Constance Bennett (played by Ingrid Bergman), Psychiatrist


Bedside Manner aka Her Favorite Patient (1945)
Character of Interest: Hedy Fredericks (played by Ruth Hussey), Plastic Surgeon/Research Physician

Another movie that falls into the "screwball" category, as Dr. Hedy Fredericks intention to become a researcher (rather than a plastic surgeon) are circumvented by her uncle (who wants her to stay in her home town and work in his busy practice). Like You Belong to Me, Dr. Fredericks is a more than competent physician, and there is no real attention paid to the fact that she is a woman doctor. Again, the ending here, though the expected "happy ending," seems to imply she will be working in her uncle's practice (and not give up her career for a husband and babies).

 

She Wouldn't Say Yes (1946)
Character of interest: Susan Lane (played by Rosalind Russell), Psychiatrist



The High Wall (1948)
Character of Interest: Ann Lorrison (played by Audrey Totter), Psychiatrist

Steven Kenet (played by Robert Taylor) is incarcerated in a mental hospital after he is found with thebody of his strangled wife. The psychiatrist who is treating him (Dr. Ann Lorrison) begins to suspect he is not guilty of the crime. Similar in plot to the 1950 Shadow on the Wall, the biggest difference is Dr. Lorrison's uncomprehensible love for this rather violent, intolerant man. It seems unlikely that Dr. Lorrison will continue working as a physician should she ultimately marry her patient, a man who, when he discovers his wife is working, storms off to retrieve her from her job. Otherwise, the presence of a woman physician is treated matter-of-factly by all concerned.

Let's Live a Little (1948)
Character of Interest: J.O. Loring (played by Hedy Lamarr), Psychiatrist



My Dog Rusty (1948)

Character of Interest: Antonia Cordell (played by Mona Barrie), Veterinarian

Angel on the Amazon (1948)

Character of Interest: Karen Lawrence (played by Constance Bennett)

Canadian Pacific (1949)
Character of Interest: Dr. Edith Cabot (played by Jane Wyatt), General Practitioner