Expert: Mel - 3/21/2007

Question
Hi,

I'm looking for an old Black and white film that I saw about 10-20 years ago on TV. I think it was shown on one of the Classic TV cable channels. So, the film was quite old.

I do not know the name, the actors or the plot. But what I remember was a scene that depicted about a dozen women in labor in a maternity ward. What was so entertaining was how badly this movie depicted labor and birth. None of the women looked pregnant, nor did they act like they were in labor. I think at least one of them was knitting while she "waited her turn" to go into delivery. One by one they were wheeled out to delivery and then they would return after they had given birth. I don't think they showed any babies, just the women returning. And the whole subject of birth was treated like a very serious and scary thing.

Anyway, I am a midwife now and I would sure love to know what movie this was and try to find a copy of it. I remember that scene being hysterical.  

If you have any clues, I sure would be grateful. Thanks.

Answer
Hello Beth,

I didn't recognise this film myself, so I did a lot of searching and I've found, with the help of an Internet colleague, what might be your film.

It was first made in 1932 by Warner Bros/First National and was called "LIFE BEGINS". It starred Loretta Young, Aline MacMahon, Glenda Farrell and Preston Foster.

Here is a viewer's review that I found:

"Life Begins - and ends - in a typical 1930's maternity / recovery ward, where we view 48 hours in the lives of several high risk pregnant women, played by Loretta Young, Glenda Farrell, Clara Blandick, Vivienne Osborne, Dorothy Tree, and Gloria Shea, as they await to give birth. While the film features plot devices which seem far fetched today when maternity wards are much more controlled and restricted, it does offer us a look back in time to see what giving birth in a typical city hospital in 1932 was like for our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. I found the film fascinating and exceptionally moving.

Oddly enough, the most outstanding performance in this film comes from a male cast member, young Eric Linden as Jed Sutton, Grace's (Loretta Young) husband. As a first time father, Jed is distraught and uneasy with hospital staff who seem to brush off his concerns about his wife as they might brush crumbs off a cafeteria table.

Another great performance is from Aline MacMahon, who plays Miss Bowers, the nurse. Her character is a salt of the earth type, the kind of nurse we all hope to get for our hospital stays, who breaks the hospital rules constantly in order to show a more humane side of the medical profession.

Loretta Young did another superb acting job here as well, a very authentic and deeply felt performance as Grace, a convicted murderess who has been impregnated by her gangster boyfriend. She is moved to the hospital to give birth, sharing ward space with hard-boiled Glenda Farrell, who's willing to sell her unborn child, and several other mothers-to-be from various walks of life.  Farrell played her role of a shrill unwed mother a little over the top for my taste (didn't anyone know back in 1932 that swigging brandy from a hot water bottle might be hazardous to unborn babies' health?) but her character redeems herself in the end.

Life Begins is a must-see (of its day). Try to catch it sometime on TCM, but remember to bring a few hankies to cry into. 9 out of 10."


Based on a play by Mary McDougal Axelson, "Life Begins" was remade by Warner Bros as "A CHILD IS BORN" in 1940. This may also be the film that you are seeking. Here's a viewer's review of that one:

"Get ready for an emotional roller coaster! One minute you'll be laughing, the next minute the tears will be streaming down your cheeks! This is the story of one hospital's maternity floor and the women who are staying there waiting to have their babies. Geraldine Fitzgerald gives a fine performance as Mrs. Grace Sutton, a young lady, like any other, going to the hospital to have a baby...only she is handcuffed! She has evidently murdered a man (though no explanation is given as to the circumstances)and will likely spend the rest of her life in prison. The stress of being in jail and having a baby is proving to be too much for her.

Gloria Holden plays a woman who is worried about losing her first child. Spring Byington has a field day as a gal who is now popping out her 6th, and a very young Nanette Fabray is a teenager whose mother doesn't know she is having a baby, or that she is even married! Then there is Gale Page as the very professional nurse, and Eve Arden in a rare serious role as another nurse.

But the stand-out performances are by Jeffrey Lynn as the tragic husband of the incarcerated mom-to-be and Johnnie Davis as another franticly nervous spouse! These and a few other characters play out this underrated film which, while slightly dated, is sure to wring out the tears in just about everyone!"

Back then the film was rejected in Ireland, New Zealand and British Columbia because it might have created fear in expectant mothers. Apparantly, scenes of the women experiencing labor pains, as well as scenes of actual or suggested childbirth were purposely omitted from this one, and none of the expectant mothers even looked pregnant. That ties in with what you said, Beth. So, very possibly it's this version you want.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find either of these films available on VHS or DVD at the moment. So, the only chance you may have of finding a copy is somewhere like ebay.


Glad to be of help. Cheers.........Mel.











Glad to be of help.