Wonderland Burlesque's Let's All Go To The Movies: NURSE! Edition, Part 7 of 7

Wonderland Burlesque's

Let's All Go To The Movies

NURSE! Edition

Part 7 of 7

Today, we finish up a seven-part series of posts having all to do with films featuring nurses.

Nurses, those vital, in the trenches Florence Nightingales of the silver screen. Where would we be without them? Our bed pans full? Our elderly in need of a turn? Our temperatures taken and, at times, risen? Our Jello delivered?

Be they sexy, or conniving, whimsical or earnest, humanitarian or pure evil, candy striper or stripper... these nurses are there, in or out of uniform servicing their clientele with the best or worst of intentions. 

So, let's sit back and take a look at these visions in white, these caregivers and occasional life takers as enshrined for all eternity Hollywood-style.

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Private Nurse

(1941)

(A nurse is hired by a widower to care for his daughter after the death of her mother. However, things in the household are not as they seem, for the nurse soon discovers that the father is actually a gangster and that the girl's mother is still very much alive! Torn, the nurse knows the right thing to do is to tell the little girl the whole truth... if she can.)

(This suspense drama was directed by David Burton and stars Jane Darwell, Brenda Joyce, Sheldon Leonard, Robert Lowery, Ann E. Todd and Kay Linaker.)

(Brenda Joyce began her career as a photographer's model, shilling toothpaste, shoes, and automobiles in magazine ads. Primarily a B-movie actress, she did supporting in work in a few major films working opposite the likes of Myrna Loy and George Brent. She is chiefly remembered for playing Jane in a series of five Tarzan films, first opposite Johnny Weissmuller and then Lex Barker. She took over the role from Maureen O'Sullivan.)

Brenda Joyce and Jane Darwell

(Jane Darwell appeared in more than 100 major motion pictures, spanning half a century. She is best remembered for her poignant portrayal of the matriarch and leader of the Joad family in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, which starred Henry Fonda. Her performance in the classic film earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

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Cary On Nurse

(1959)

(Haven Hospital is having an awful time of it, for a certain men's ward is causing more havoc than the entire hospital put together. To put things right, a new matron is hired, but she's so formidable she gives the patients a chill every time she walks past. But then, she certainly has her hands full. Her new charges include: a colonel who is a constant nuisance, a bumbling nurse, a patient romancing her head nurse and a man who wants his bunion removed straight away. It's all she can do to prevent the patients from taking over completely!)

(Based on the play Ring For Catty by Patrick Cargill and Jack Beale, this British comedy, the second in a series of 31 'Carry On' films was directed by Gerald Thomas. It featured series regulars Joan Sims  Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey, along with Hattie Jacques, Shirley Eaton, and Leslie Phillips.)

(This was the top-grossing film of 1959 in the UK and, with an audience of 10.4 million, had the biggest box office of any of the films in the series. It also proved to be wildly successful in the United States, where it played at some for a solid three years!)  

Joan Sims and Joan Hickson

(Joan Hickson would go on to great acclaim playing Agatha Christie's 'Miss Marple' on television.)

Shirley Eaton

(Shirley Eaton rose to fame as a Bond girl in Goldfinger. She retired from film in 1969 to concentrate on her family.)

Joan Hickson and Susan Stephens

(Susan Stephens appeared in over 20 films. She was married to director Nicolas Roeg from 1957 to 1977.)

Hattie Jacques and Joan Hickson

(Hatti Jacques had a recurring role as the no-nonsense matron which she played in five of the films.)

Joan Sims and Susan Stephens 

(Joan Sims would go on to star in 24 films in the 'Carry On' series, the most of any actress in the franchise.)

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Police Nurse

(1963)

(A young nurse is recruited by police to help infiltrate a ring of physicians covering up illegal activity.)

(This drama was directed by Maury Dexter and stars Ken Scott, Merry Anders, Oscar Beregi Jr., Barbara Mansell, John Holland and Byron Morrow.)

(The film's title was an idea of producer Robert L. Lippert who asked Harry Spalding to write a story to suit it. The director, Maury Dexter, later wrote: "the only problem was... there never was a capacity for a nurse in the police department. We shot the film anyway.")

(From 1952-1972, Merry Anders enjoyed a 20-year career in both film and television. She appeared opposite Elvis Presley in Tickle Me, in a ton of B-movies, and as a main or supporting character in numerous television sitcoms.)

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Night Call Nurses

(1972)

(A trio of young and sexy nurses work in the psych ward at a local hospital where they must deal with nutty patients, a charismatic sex therapist, a drug-addicted truck driver, a creepy stalker, and a group of black revolutionaries.)

(This popular drive-in sex comedy was directed by Jonathan Kaplan and stars Patti Byrne, Alana Hamilton, and Mittie Lawrence. It is the third in Roger Corman's 'nurses' cycle of films which began with The Student Nurses in 1970.)

 

(This was Jonathan Kaplan's directorial debut. He was recommended to Corman by Martin Scorsese. The film was shot in fifteen days.)

(Kaplan said Corman insisted on frontal nudity from waist up, full nudity from behind, and no pubic hair. He thought he'd have trouble finding actresses to do that, but was surprised how many were willing to get naked in order to get into movies. Kaplan was also told he "had to find a role for Dick Miller, show a Bulova watch, and use a Jensen automobile in the film." Kaplan originally wanted Miller to play a flasher, but was overruled by Corman who asked that the director create another more suitable part for the veteran actor instead.)

Rod Stewart, Alana Hamilton, and Elton John

(Alana Hamilton Stewart is a model/actress who married actor George Hamilton and then singer Rod Stewart. She and her ex-husband George co-hosted a syndicated talk show and she filmed and produced the Emmy-nominated 90-minute documentary, Farrah's Story, chronicling her friend and fellow model Farrah Fawcett's battle with cancer.)

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Candy Stripe Nurses

(1974)

(Three volunteer nurses, or 'candy stripers' deal with the day-to-day of a busy hospital. One has been ordered to do volunteer work as a punishment for assaulting a teacher and ends up falling in love with a young man accused of robbing a gas station. She investigates in order to clear his name. Another has taken the job in order to be closer to her boyfriend who is a doctor. She soon finds herself fooling around with several of her good-looking patients and eventually transfers to the hospital's sex clinic. The third falls hard for a drug-addicted basketball player, whom she convinces stay clean for love.)

(This popular comedy was written and directed by Alan Holleb, and stars Candice Rialson. Robin Mattson and Maria Rojo. It was the last film in Corman's popular 'nurse' series.)

(According to director Allan Holleb, "I found out they had taken a poll at a local high school. They sent someone out with a list of 30 or so titles and Candy Stripe Nurses got the most votes. They wanted a little social consciousness, a little romance, a little comedy and a little sex. Another requirement was they wanted a sex clinic. I don't know why.")

(The film was to be shot at a hospital in Burbank. In order to get permission producer Julie Corman gave the board of directors a highly edited copy of the script with the title Angels Of Mercy to get permission. During initial filming, the hospital was at 95% capacity which caused frequent clashes between hospital staff and crew. At one point they got caught shooting a scene in a linen closet with a topless Candice Rialson. The hospital then demanded to see the real script and the film crew was promptly kicked out. They found another location, a former clinic, but it didn't match the original footage, so the art director simply put up a sign saying "this way to the new west wing" in order to resolve the discrepancy.)

Candice Rialson

(The lead role when to Candice Rialson. "Candice just stood out," recalled producer Julie Corman. "It wasn't like we were down to the wire and needed someone at the last minute. We really wanted her from the beginning.")

(Sally Kirkland, a friend of producer Julie Corman, was given a small role in the film. Kirkland would go on to win a Golden Globe and be nominated for an Oscar as best actress for her work in the 1987 film, Anna.)

(Situational humor was substituted for the political content which was downplayed in this film, but infused the others in the series.)

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And that's all for now.

Tune in next week.

Same time, same channel!

Night Call Nurses - Trailer

1972