1938 - THE CITADEL, medical drama is a typical high gloss MGM film.

The Citadel was an extremely influential book written by Dr. A. J. Cronin.  A criticism and attack of the greed and incompetence in the British medical and health care institutions,  Cronin's book helped establish the National Health Service.

The film is the story of a idealistic young doctor who has to choose between making money or dedicating his life to caring for the less fortunate.  As is the case with MGM, the studio that hated Franklin Roosevelt and his new deal programs, by the time this book went through the production meat grinder the film was a very mild attack on corrupt doctors and poor medical care. 

The Citadel has one of those corny "aw ha" moments with Robert Donat's character  Dr. Andrew Manson, walking the streets of London at night deciding what has future should be.  Manson conveniently ends up at the London Bridge as a magnificent sunrise comes blazing up behind him.  Thanks to the light, the good doctor has seen finally seen the light.

This is almost an all British production with the exception of the director King Vidor now deep in the glossy studio phase of his career and Rosalind Russel playing a school teacher who marries Donat.

Besides Robert Donat, the cast is probably the most interesting thing about the film since it's a group of some of England's best actors.  Rex Harrison, Ralph Richardson, Emlyn Williams, Francis L. Sullivan, Felix Alymer and Cecil Parker.

Vidor directs Russell

The Citadel was the kind of film MGM just couldn't do well.  Hard hitting attacks on corrupt institutions were not their bag.  MGM was always more at ease with their Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland musical film clones.

110 minutes, written by Ian Dalrymple, Frank Wead and Elizabeth Hill.