I come from a family of nurses, so I watched this film with interest.
Kay Francis plays Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Mostly the film covers her work in the Crimea.
This is a typical '30s movie - Nightingale meets with a great deal of resistance, which she probably did in real life. The villains here are somewhat cliched in their nastiness and refusal to help her make any progress. A typical good vs. Evil fight.
I read a lot of criticism about Kay Francis - this was an unusual role for her, where she's not playing a woman of the world. I thought she portrayed a quiet strength and dignity.
Someone said Bette Davis would have been better. Bette Davis was wonderful, but I didn't feel Nightingale needed a fiery portrayal. As far as criticism of Francis, Francis' interpretation was correct in that she was well-educated and came from a wealthy family.
Granted she's portrayed as a saint, but that's the fault of the script. I do believe that Nightingale, given her upbringing, was a strong and determined woman who used a velvet glove rather than an iron hand.
I found the film very absorbing and poignant.
