Is Doctors' Wives (1931) worth your time? A messy look at medical marriage.

Is this one worth a watch?

If you’re into pre-code dramas where people drink tea while ruining each other's lives, then yes. It's a solid choice for a rainy afternoon.

But if you want something fast-paced or full of medical mystery, you’ll probably find this painfully slow. It's more about the gossip in the waiting room than the surgery.

The Doctor and his 'Fans'

Warner Baxter is Dr. Penning. He’s got that 1930s charm that makes you wonder if he ever actually sleeps or just stands around looking important.

The plot kicks off when he gets married. You’d think that would be the end of it, but his patients are basically a fan club. They don't want medicine; they want attention.

There is this one scene where a woman is clearly faking a dizzy spell just to get him to touch her arm. It’s so awkward it’s almost funny. 😂

Joan Bennett plays the wife, Nina. She’s great, but you can tell she’s frustrated by the script sometimes.

She spends a lot of time looking at the front door, waiting for a husband who is always 'busy' with a blonde patient who has a 'headache'.

It reminded me of the drama in What a Widow! but without the jokes. It's much more heavy-handed about how 'hard' it is to be a woman in the 30s.

The Weird Vibes

The movie has some strange pacing. Sometimes a scene will just end right in the middle of a conversation.

Other times, the camera lingers on a medical tool or a vase for way too long. I think they were still figuring out how to make talkies feel natural back then.

There’s a nurse who keeps popping up in the background of scenes. She never says anything, she just looks judgemental. I found myself watching her more than the main actors.

The dialogue is very of its time. People say things like 'Oh, you don't understand' and then walk dramatically out of the room. It’s classic stuff.

It lacks the punch of something like Don't Shoot, but it makes up for it with some really nice sets.

Specific bits that stuck with me

• The way they talk about 'the hospital' like it’s a living monster that eats people's time.
• Warner Baxter’s mustache. It’s so perfectly groomed it feels like a special effect.
• The phone. My god, the telephones in this movie are so loud. Every time one rings, it sounds like a fire alarm.

There is a lot of silence in this movie. Not the emotional kind, but the 'we forgot to write a line here' kind of silence.

It makes the whole thing feel very theatrical. Like you’re watching a play from the back row where you can’t quite hear the whispers.

If you’ve seen My Madonna, you might recognize that same sort of 'suffering woman' trope they loved back then.

It’s not a deep movie. It doesn't really have a big message other than 'don't marry a doctor if you want to see him for dinner'.

Final Thoughts

The ending feels a bit rushed. One minute everyone is miserable, and the next, it’s all wrapped up in a neat little bow.

It’s not as gritty as The Plow Girl, but it has a certain charm if you like old Hollywood aesthetics.

I noticed some flickering in the film quality during the office scenes. It actually added to the vibe, though. 📽️

Overall, it’s a decent watch if you’re a fan of the era. Just don’t expect any actual medical advice from Dr. Penning.