Calling Dr. Kildare (1939): cast, story & where to watch
1939 · Film · ★ 6.1
Released in 1939, Calling Dr. Kildare is a drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet, running about 86 minutes. “The Great M-G-M series!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Following an argument with his young protege, the curmudgeonly Dr. Gillespie dumps Jimmy Kildare in a street clinic, hoping to teach him a lesson. While working there Kildare meets pretty nurse Mary Lamont, and ends up treating a hoodlum with a gunshot wound. He purposely fails to write a report on it, and soon finds himself in a heap of trouble. Who else would come to his rescue but good old Dr. Gillespie?
Who’s in it. Calling Dr. Kildare stars Lew Ayres as Dr. James Kildare, Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Leonard Gillespie, Laraine Day as Nurse Mary Lamont and Nat Pendleton as Joe Wayman, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.1/10, Calling Dr. Kildare has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on TCM. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Calling Dr. Kildare page.
If you liked it. Fans of Calling Dr. Kildare tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Calling Dr. Kildare (1939)?
- In US, Calling Dr. Kildare is available to stream on TCM. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Calling Dr. Kildare worth watching?
- Calling Dr. Kildare holds an audience score of 6.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Calling Dr. Kildare?
- Calling Dr. Kildare stars Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Laraine Day, Nat Pendleton and Lana Turner.
- When was Calling Dr. Kildare released?
- Calling Dr. Kildare was released in 1939, with a runtime of about 86 minutes.