Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933)

A woman doctor (Kay Francis) must contend with prejudice toward female doctors as she struggles to make a success of her practice. Complications ensue when she finds herself pregnant by her married lover (Lyle Talbot). Based on the short story by Virginia Kellogg and directed by Lloyd Bacon (MARKED WOMAN). I was taken aback by the frankness of this pre-code drama. Francis's doctor feels no shame about having a baby out of wedlock. In fact, she's quite happy about it. But this is 1933 Hollywood however so she's punished horribly for her transgression and boy does Francis suffer. The big mystery here is why she doesn't kick her lover to the curb! He's no good and when he gets in trouble with the law for unethical practices and goes on the lam, instead of being shocked at his criminal activities, she worries about him being caught! The movie lets Francis off the hook with the suffering and gives her a happy ending with the lousy lover, the one who caused all the suffering in the first place. With Glenda Farrell, Thelma Todd, Una O'Connor and Sidney Miller, who looks and acts like a young Woody Allen.