Mary Stevens, M.D. Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Mary Stevens, M.D. Blu-ray Movie Review

The private life of a lady doctor.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III November 24, 2021

Lloyd Bacon's pre-Code drama Mary Stevens, M.D. is a showcase for star Kay Francis, who plays the titular doc with style and grace as its tragic story unfolds. Truth be told it tugs a bit too hard at the heartstrings during its unforgettable climax, yet it all but depends on this emotional shock to leave a lasting impact on those expecting a by-the-numbers character piece. The supporting cast includes Lyle Talbot (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), Glenda Farrell (Girl Missing), Thelma Todd (Monkey Business), and Harold Huber (The Thin Man) who, like Kay Francis, are all much more well-known for other projects... but as far as I'm concerned, this is a genuine career highlight for all involved.

Even in today's more progressive climate, plenty of folks would still cry foul at a female practitioner of what might formerly be considered "men's work". That pretty much describes the entire first act of Mary Stevens, M.D. and several moments thereafter, when the skilled young doctor arrives at the humble home of an irate father-to-be Tony (Huber) who demands a male doctor to deliver his wife's baby. To her credit -- and the film's, for that matter -- the narrative doesn't hinge solely on these moments. Instead, it largely follows her career post-medical school alongside childhood friend Don (Talbot) and their joint opening of a small practice. Their parallel path is slowly severed when Don dates and eventually marries Lois Cavanaugh (Todd), hanging up his stethoscope in favor of a posh social life and a high-paying political job. Yet Don still wants Mary close by, surprising her with workspace in his new office building where she continues to build a strong reputation among clientele unafraid to be treated by "a woman doctor".

Scandal dominates the film's second half, when the moral unraveling of Don -- which includes outright fraud and heavy alcoholism -- leads to a temporary split from Mary who, some two years later, takes a long-overdue vacation overseas. Meanwhile, Don attempts to get a divorce from Lois and run back to Mary, who decides she wants to raise a baby... but circumstances still prevent the former friends from rekindling any kind of official relationship; these are largely due to the hand of Don's politically powerful father-in-law, Walter Rising (Charles Wilson, It Happened One Night). But soon, all of that no longer matters: tragedy strikes in the form of a polio outbreak aboard Mary's ship on her long trip home. Naturally, she and fellow nurse Glenda (Farrell), a long time friend and associate, are called upon for help... but Mary ends up risking her own life in the process, as well as the life of someone else very close to her.

It's this final stretch that really puts audiences through the wringer and, combined with its saucy discussion about -- or at least implications of -- forbidden topics such as divorce, affairs, single motherhood, and more, reminds us that Mary Stevens, M.D. could never have worked its magic in the neutered landscape of Hays Code mandates the very next year. It's emotionally manipulative to be sure, yet still stands out as a moving and worthwhile drama due to its rock-solid craftsmanship, fine performances, and a fat-free structure that hits almost all of its marks in just over 70 minutes. And while further discussion of its plot -- which I hope I haven't spoiled too much of already -- would undercut some of the film's raw narrative power, let's just say it's a drama worth watching provided you have a few tissues handy.

Warner Archive's Blu-ray presentation, like many others in its deep catalog of classics, is a perfect way to (re)discover this hidden pre-Code gem, as its outstanding new transfer and lossless audio make Mary Stevens, M.D. shine like new. Almost no bonus features are on board which makes this a very light release as far as total content goes, but the film itself is the real selling point here and it's never played better... probably not even back in 1933.

Mary Stevens, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Archive serves up another lustrous 1080p transfer for Mary Stevens, M.D. which, like many others from this era, is sourced from a recent 4K scan of the original nitrate negative. The results are predictably gorgeous and every bit as stunning as recent releases like Mad Love, Ladies They Talk About, and A Night at the Opera, showcasing a rich and film-like image with strong grain free from excessive dirt, debris, and other age-related wear and tear. Fine detail and textures are quite impressive in close-ups (even the "softer" ones for the ladies) , while back levels and contrast remain strong and stable from start to finish. As usual, the disc is encoded perfectly with no obvious signs of banding, heavy noise reduction, sharpening, or compression artifacts along the way. All things considered, it's just more top-tier work from the most reliable boutique label in the business. When's the last time Warner Archive had to recall a disc?

Mary Stevens, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix supports Mary Stevens, M.D.'s source material cleanly, preserving the original one-channel mix while cleaning up excessive hiss, pops, and crackles. Dialogue is clean and crisp with almost no exceptions, background effects are balanced nicely, and there's still more than enough room left over for the original score by uncredited composer Bernhard Kaun, who's most well-known for his work on the original The Adventures of Mark Twain and The Fugitive (the 1960s TV series, not the 1993 film). Save for bits of remaining hiss during several scenes, it's again a best-case scenario for purists and likely the cleanest this film has sounded in decades.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only.

Mary Stevens, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with vintage poster artwork (which is pretty lackluster, in my opinion) and no inserts of any kind. Bonus features are minimal, which isn't surprising since this seems to mark the film's domestic home video debut and Warner Archive does not typically commission new extras.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:07) - This entertaining promotional piece works as both a solid representation of the film and a fascinating example of gender dynamics circa 1933. Watch it with your mouth wide open here.

Mary Stevens, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lloyd Bacon's Mary Stevens, M.D. is a very memorable pre-Code drama that, while more than a little manipulative at times, is a showcase for star Kay Francis and the film's strong supporting cast. It's paced incredibly well and, though it barely exceeds the 70-minute mark, will put unsuspecting first-time viewers through the wringer. Also highlighted by a terrific score and excellent cinematography, it's a genuine career highlight for all involved and has aged incredibly well in the last 85+ years. Unsurprisingly, Warner Archive's Blu-ray package offers top-tier technical support -- even with a near-complete lack of extras, this one's worth picking up for fans and first-timers alike. Recommended.