Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case

Excellent cast totally wasted in this 1943 film. Lionel Barrymore is again the cantankerous Dr. Gillepsie,but who has a heart and passion for his medical profession. Trouble is that in this not very good film he is called upon to be a therapist and other positions as well. He is dealing with an insane killer, an epidemic in a child's ward and who to make his assistant. Van Johnson plays a doctor who is lady crazy and the whole thing seems like one endless statement with a sort of a tie-up at the very end. The writing is not good and the scene where the hostages are being held could have been done a great deal better. There is no excitement. Imagine one of the thieves announces that he regrets doing what he is doing. Really now, let's admit it: This is a first class stinker.