Richard Boleslawski

Healers...scientists...visionaries. They are the Men in White. And when one of these dedicated young doctors is played by Clark Gable, fans know they're in for something special. The world would have to wait until George Clooney's work in ER for another star who could bring such virile charisma to the medical profession. In this film based on Sidney Kingsley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Gable portrays Dr. George Ferguson, an intern involved with the spoiled, headstrong heiress he loves (frequent Gable co-star Myrna Loy) and the sweet, gentle nurse who loves him (Elizabeth Allen). But when sudden tragedy strikes, Dr. Ferguson discovers his greatest devotion is to his patients, his brilliant mentor (Jean Hersholt) - and his calling as a man of medicine.

The screen's great Schnarzan (Jimmy Durante) wants to wow the visiting Baron Munchausen by throwing him a big, bustling Tinseltown bash. Hollywood Party is the wild, wildly inconsistent but ever fun musical-novelty result, spiked with a color cartoon insert from Walt Disney, muscled up with Schnarzan's lion-wrasslin, and thronged with Hollywood's most notable talent.

The year after the all-star Grand Hotel, brothers John and Lionel Barrymore teamed again in Rasputin and the Empress. Joining them in a sumptuous and stirring tale about the often-called Mad Monk who held a powerful - perhaps hypnotic - sway over World War I-era Russian royalty was the third member of the American stage's Royal Family: Ethel Barrymore, making this the lone feature with all three thespian siblings. Intercut with footage from the actual era, the film burns with intrigue, betrayal, rivalry and the renowned trio's talents. Lionel has the plum role of Rasputin, seething with ambition and rage. "I will be Russia!" he proclaims. History shows he would not. But this movie shows he would not be forgotten.