Soldiers in White

Doctor John Litel joins the Army to head a major facility. Nurse Eleanor Parker -- in her screen debut -- joins because she's smitten with the old goat. And intern William T. Orr is drafted.

This World War II propaganda film doesn't please either my eye or my ear. There's far too much green in the print, between the khaki uniforms and fields and forests. The make-up the performers wear is often erratically applied, and the lighting is weird. Warner Brothers' Technicolor work was among the best, and they took great pride in their Technicolor shorts. This does not live up to that high standard.

As for the ear, well, narrator Knox Manning is given lines that his usual stentorian delivery elevates to the point where I thought he might have an aneurysm.

Soldiers in White (1942)

** (out of 4)

Fair short about a man (William T. Orr) who isn't too happy when he's drafted for WW2 only to be placed in the Army Medical Corps. Once there he doesn't take anything serious other than trying to track down a date with a nurse (Eleanor Parker) but soon something is going to change his mind. This Technicolor short from Warner is pretty boring as it's two-reels could have and should have been cut down to one. What really killed any of the entertainment for me was that I couldn't stand the lead character. Yes, he's suppose to be a jerk and a smart aleck but not once did I feel anything for him other than just finding him very annoying. I also didn't care too much for the nurse who is obviously here for a love interest. The two featured no chemistry and their childish bickering got old very quickly. There's no doubt that, once again, this short was made to give a message and that message is a good one but we didn't need all the childish stuff to get to the end speech. The one major plus is that we get to see Fort Sam Houston is glorious Technicolor and it's this beautiful color that makes this film worth seeing.

The big reason for film fans to watch this film is for film buffs to see Eleanor Parker in her first movie, though it's a short. At first, I found it difficult to recognize her, as the studio obviously gave her a major makeover before she went on to her next film, "The Very Thought of You". Her hair color was brown and her make-up and overall look is different in "Soldiers in White".

Apart from a chance to see Parker, the film itself is only fair...even as a propaganda film. This is because the character of Pvt. Allison seems awfully broad and his transformation to a patriot seemed silly and hard to believe. Not a bad film....just not among the better films of its type.

Notable for handsome Technicolor, lovely young Eleanor Parker, and a large cast of future servicemen...many of whom probably never returned from the coming conflict. Stalwart character lead and sterling villain John Litel is top billed. William T. Orr has central role of spoiled, bratty intern upset to have his medical career interrupted by his being drafted into the Army Medical Corps. The action hinges on his reformation do to a history lesson about many contributions made to Medical science by Doctors serving in the field. The film is very smooth and solid (and the print shown on TCM is pristine). Some attempt is made to give the script some comedy and action....and the propaganda/ documentary elements are kept to a minimum 'til the last few moments. All in all a tidy curio of America (and Hollywood) putting on a brave face at a very dark hour.

I just saw this on TCM and I enjoyed watching the short film.