People Will Talk (1951)

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Starring Cary Grant, Jeanne Crain, Hume Cronyn, Walter Slezak, Sidney Blackmer, Finlay Currie, Katherine Locke, Basil Ruysdael.

Unorthodox Dr. Praetorious (Grant) has opened up his own clinic where he treats patients using controversial holistic methods; this inspires outrage and jealousy in colleague Cronyn, who hires a private detective to investigate. Meanwhile, one of Grant’s students (Crain) falls in love with the doc while carrying another man’s baby out of wedlock. Mankiewicz’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning All About Eve tackles the medical profession and witch hunts (produced during the height of McCarthyism) with mixed results. Based on a Curt Goetz play, the script has a few too many long-winded scenes with lots of lopsided conversations; crafts an intriguing mystery about Praetorius’ past that loses its luster after the resolution is telegraphed far too early on. Crain’s storyline initially looks to be a cheap little melodrama to liven things up, but proceeds with slightly more tact and sensitivity than expected; however, this sub-plot includes such an unforgivable act on Grant’s part that he loses much sympathy (and all of his professional credibility) before arriving at the climactic “trial.” As a physics professor who plays the double bass, Slezak provides several enjoyable moments, especially when he embraces his inner child and plays with model trains at Grant’s home.

54/100