The Great Moment (1944 Preston Sturges & scr)

A rare event - a Preston Sturges non-comedy. Based on the 1938 factual book 'Triumph Over Pain' by René Fülöp-Miller this recounts the true story of the dentist who popularised the use of ether as an anaesthetic - but in his effort to patent the product, ruined himself and died prematurely. The end's at the beginning.

Joel McCrae, Betty Field (Kings Row - of course), Harry Carey, William Demarest, Porter Hall, Franklin Pangborn, Robert Greig, Esther Howard and Jimmy Conlin (all these three from Sullivan's Travels).

Shot by Victor Milner.

Interesting.

The film was recut ('for comedy') and retitled against Preston's wishes, and led to him leaving Paramount.