Dr. Monica

Dr. Monica (1934)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent but somewhat dimwitted melodrama from Warner about a good hearted doctor (Kay Francis) who can't have children of her own but soon learns that her husband (Warren William) has been sleeping with her best friend (Jean Muir) and has also gotten her pregnant. Quite a story for a film from 1934 but sadly this thing only runs 53-minutes and apparently it had around fifteen-minutes cut out of it either before or during its original release. I'm not certain if the uncut version will ever show up but I was surprised to see how much was left intact from the cheating husband, a non-married pregnant woman and there's even a quick mention about an abortion. I have a hard time really judging this film since so much of it was cut out and perhaps some of the issues I had with it were better served in the uncut version. With that said, the biggest problem I had was how stupid the characters were. I'm not going to give away any of the major plot points but I will say that I found the two female characters to be incredibly silly. This is especially true of the "friend" as I found her so annoying that I couldn't connect with her story. The wife/doctor was so forgiving that I had a hard time caring for her either. The film does feature three good performances from the leads as all of them fit their roles nicely. The performances certainly help the weak material overcome some of its issues but DR. MONICA doesn't quite reach the level it should. Still, fans of pre-code films should want to check this one out even in its cut form.

Kay Francis, (Dr. Monica Braden) is madly in love with her husband, John Braden, (Warren William) who is a writer and very seldom sees his wife because she is a very successful physician and travels a great deal. Monica finds out the sad fact that she cannot have any children of her own and she decides to adopt a child. Monica has a girlfriend named Mary Hathaway, (Jean Muir) who is very much attracted to Monica's husband John which she finds out about by listening to his conversation on a phone. Monica keeps the secret to herself and the story gets quite interesting after this event. If you like soap operas from 1934, this is a good Kay Francis special with her giving a great performance.

Kay Francis is successful Dr. Monica Braden, married and madly in love with John Braden (Warren William). Her big sorrow is that she can't conceive, and we learn as the film goes along that she will never be able to conceive.

The film opens at a gathering, and we find out fairly quickly that John was having an affair with Mary Hathaway (Jean Muir), but he broke it off. He tells her to forget him.

Monica and Mary are friends, and Mary has fainting spells - which in old movies could mean only one thing. Never stated, however. Pregnant.

Not only that, but she never looked pregnant. Monica promises to help Mary every step of the way. And she does, until she finds out that the baby is her husband's.

This is dated and preposterous. Was Dr. Monica trying to be a candidate for sainthood? Kay is glamorous, and there's a nice performance from Verree Teasdale.

Precode and a typical Kay Francis melodrama. I don't know of any woman who would behave as she did, pre or post-code.

Dr. Monica (Kay Francis) is a successful Obstetrician and is really, really wrapped up in her job--so much so that when her husband, John (Warren William), goes off to Europe on business for several months, Monica stays home. It's obvious that there are problems in this relationship but Monica doesn't know how deep they are, as John has been having an affair with Mary (Jean Muir)! When Mary ends up pregnant, Monica treats her friend wonderfully...not realizing that Mary is a back-stabbing tramp. But, when Monica finally learns the truth, Mary is in labor and Monica is forced to deliver the baby. However, although Monica is hurt and angry, she's also saint-like and eventually plans to let John go so that he can wed Mary. However, Mary and her friends realize that John really does love Monica and her plan cannot be allowed to occur. So what will they do instead? Yep, leave the baby with Monica, kill yourself so you won't be the one to break up the marriage AND have Monica NEVER tell John the baby is biologically his!!!

This was one of the last Pre-Code films released by Hollywood. It debuted in June, 1934 and the new, tougher code went into effect the following month. As a result, the film was soon pulled from circulation and not re-shown for some time due to its plot. Adultery was NOT to be allowed in films unless it was severely punished and Monica and John's 'modern' sense of morality was definitely NOT allowed Post-Code. For me, however, it's not the morality of the film that's a major issue but the utter ridiculous way that Monica behaves. She is just too understanding, too nice and too unreal. I would have loved to have seen her enraged or downright hostile...instead she's too good and sweet to be real. And, the ending, while satisfying in a Hollywood way, is also completely ridiculous. A real disappointment.

I'm in agreement with the reviewer who said that The Code probably ruined this film. As it is it's the kind of hgh gloss soap opera that used to be referred to as women's pictures.

Kay Francis is in the title role and she's a most successful doctor, an obstetrician who delivers the world's babies but has none of her own. Not that her husband Warren William isn't generous. In fact he's impregnated Amelia Earhart like aviatrix Jean Muir. and it's Francis who gets to deliver the child and learn at the same time who the father is.

The presence of the infant girl makes the whole thing an impossible situation. One of them is going to have to realize that her duty is clear.

Verree Teasdale who is friend to all is keeper of the secrets. Her's is the only other role of consequence in Dr. Monica.

The four principles are fine although William's part is somewhat submerged with the trio of actresses. I wonder if Dr. Monica were made today with the Code gone how the drama would resolve itself.

Some strong similarities between Dr. Monica and the Katharine Hepburn classic done at RKO, Christopher Strong.