It is a curious endeavor to see what history chooses to remember and what is largely forgotten to the sands of time. Film historians are keenly aware of the fleeting nature of fame if there is not anyone around to champion the work. Kay Francis (Trouble In Paradise) was once considered the number one female star in Hollywood and the highest paid at Warner Bros. Studios. Yet, you would be hard-pressed to find an average person who even recognizes the name outside of the most avid film enthusiasts. Compared to names such as Katherine Hepburn and Greta Garbo, Francis has been all but forgotten by modern audiences. This is a shame considering the quality of her work. Films such as the 1933 pre-Code drama Mary Stevens, M.D. was pushing boundaries and delivering hard-hitting emotional moments that the Hays Code would neuter only a couple of years later. This film has never been available on any home video format, but with this new Blu-Ray the good folks at Warner Archive are giving a chance for new audiences to discover a gem from a forgotten star of Hollywood.
In a time when most female characters were distilled to sexpots, housewives and screwball heroines falling for a scoundrel, it is a breath of fresh air to find Francis playing Mary Stevens, a woman who at the beginning of this story has just graduated medical school alongside her old friend Don Andrews (Lyle Talbot, The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet). To have such a character on the screen at this time must have been considered a revelation; Mary is an extremely capable doctor and perseveres in the face of backwards-thinking patients who often refuse to get seen by a female physician. Many in the audience likely felt similarly, but you hold out the slightest bit of hope that seeing Mary prove herself over and over again might slightly change their mind just like the characters in the film. Especially when you contrast her skills with Don’s; this man lets his personal demons get in the way of him being a great surgeon be it his love of a good drink or his desire to live a life among the social elite. Don and Mary have affection between one another, but they are clearly on different paths with their careers.
While just seeing Mary become an in-demand healer/force of nature in the face of adversity would be enough for me personally, audiences of the time did need a romance on which to hang their hat. Mary and Don reunite after going their separate ways a couple of years prior. Don has been married to Lois Cavanaugh (Thelma Todd, Horse Feathers), whose wealthy family has provided him with the life he always thought he wanted. His life is not going so well, though, and this reunion manifests while on the run from some potential legal trouble. This encounter brings about a series of emotional highs and lows that feel uniquely suited for the era before the sanitized Hays Code. Francis is dazzling in this lead role, playing Mary with a sturdy confidence that begins to crack when life throws her obstacle after obstacle. There are some plot elements that will shock you and break your heart, and Francis pulls off this emotional heavy lifting with immense grace.
The romantic aspect of this story never really clicks into place since Don is such an unpleasant figure for much of the time. Talbot tries to inject him with as much charm as possible, but the actions of the character are so frustrating that you want better for Mary. More fulfilling is the friendship she has with her wisecracking assistant, Glenda (Glenda Farrell, Blondes At Work). She provides the picture with a bit of levity, and the support she gives to Mary during her most difficult moments are more effective than anything Don provides. At only 72 minutes, the picture does not overstay its welcome or drag down the momentum with extraneous moments. Every beat is critical to the overall success of the film, and outside of the romance it is extremely effective. Even if you were not aware that Francis was a big star of the time, you would be able to feel that she deserved to be with her forceful presence on screen. The film is utterly engrossing and admirable for showcasing such a strong character.
Video Quality
Mary Stevens, M.D. makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master from a 4K scan of the Original Nitrate Camera Negative. Not only is this film debuting on Blu-Ray, but it is the first ever home video release on any format! The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s varied production design. The setting of the film shifts from the office where she sees patients along to fancy parties and eventually to the cabin of a ship over the course of the narrative. There is a fantastic amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing and depth to the background. The stunning black-and-white photography shot by Sid Hickox sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. Black levels are very deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is well defined, and there is virtually no print damage to be found. Warner Archive continues its hot streak of restorations with another brilliant effort.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a lovely DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that serves this movie perfectly well. The music is not an overwhelming part of the narrative, but what little is included maintains a nice fidelity. Nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and background noises are represented in perfect harmony with all competing elements. This track shows little discernible age related wear and tear outside of a small amount of hissing and few instances of distortion that likely dates back to the source elements. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. Warner Archive has delivered a rock solid effort here.
Special Features
- Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Mary Stevens, M.D. is a powerful gem of a film that has seemingly been undiscovered by most modern audiences thanks to its scarce availability. Kay Francis may have been a star in her time, but she deserves more recognition in the present for the powerhouse presence she was on screen. The character she plays in this feature feels kind of groundbreaking in the way it shows a woman outside of the typical Hollywood roles they are forced into. In the land of old Hollywood, it is quite refreshing. Warner Archive has rescued this one from the land of obscurity with a new Blu-Ray featuring a stunning A/V presentation. Even classic film fans likely never expected such A+ treatment for this title in particular, which makes it all the more apparent why Warner Archive is one of the best in the business. Recommended
Mary Stevens, M.D. can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
