The Citadel (1938)

A young and idealistic doctor (Robert Donat) attempts to treat Welsh miners as well as doing medical research in his spare time. But ignorance and superstition among the miners force him to resign and relocate to London where he is seduced by the opportunity to make large sums of money to society hypochondriacs. Based on the best seller by A.J. Cronin, King Vidor directs this cinematic dissertation on medical ethics with much grandiosity. Subtle it's not. Still, it is not without entertainment value as soap opera though its scenario has been replicated so often that one can't help feeling that you've seen it before. Donat doesn't register much in the leading role, his reticent demeanor is fine as Mr. Chips but ill suited to this material, but the others do. Rosalind Russell as his wife is particularly good in an underwritten role and the great Ralph Richardson makes the most of his role as a dedicated if hard drinking humanitarian. With Rex Harrison, Francis L. Sullivan, Emlyn Williams (who had a hand in the screenplay), Cecil Parker, Felix Aylmer, Nora Swinburne and Athene Seyler.