The Country Doctor (1936)

The first of three films with the Fab Five, this also launched a series for Hersholt, who plays the wise, dedicated doctor. As ‘Dr. Christian’ he would become a welcome figure, dispensing comforting wisdom to those in need. The running time is filled out by an uncompelling subplot about reckless aviator Whalen’s wooing of Lang, to the chagrin of gruff father, Barrat. Director King was an old hand at depicting idyllic scenes of hard country life, so handles the atmosphere expertly. The Quints arrive eventually for some candid scenes of their early domestic life. Unashamedly sentimental, this wowed audiences when released, it does show some of the hysterical carnival-like atmosphere that the births spawned as reporters, sightseers and religious figures convened on the little shack in the woods, hoping for a glimpse of children.