Like the later installments of the Dr. Kildare series, there is no Kildare nor is he mentioned. This is because the actor who originated this part, Lew Ayres, was a conscientious objector during WWII...and public sentiment was decidedly pro-war. So, he was excised from the films and Dr. Gillespie's role was greater emphasized. Additionally, three interns were featured--Van Johnson, Keye Luke and Philip Dorn (who left the series after "Calling Dr. Gillespie"). In this installment, Dr. Gillespie is supposed to pick a permanent assistant. How and Ames have done wonderfully so far and Dr. Gillespie has decided to give them each a case and then deciding which should have that job as a result of their work on these cases. How is given a case with a little girl who seems to have Juvenile Diabetes and Ames a case of a lady (Ava Gardner) who seems to have been drunk...but had no alcohol in her system. This film, as usual, is very interesting and enjoyable. As a fan of the series, however, I wonder why Mary Blake (the receptionist...and real life sister of Jeanette MacDonald) and Nat Pendelton were missing. Rags Raglan filled in nicely for the Pendelton role. Overall, despite some staffing changes, another typical and entertaining installment of this series.

It's been three months (and three movies) and Dr. Gillespie still hasn't decided on which of his two interns will become his new assistant. Once again he gives them each a case to decide the matter. Dr. Lee gets a case involving a little girl who gets sick when she eats candy. Dr. Adams helps a troubled young woman whose mother has a debilitating disease.Fourth entry in the Dr. Gillespie series is pleasant enough but the cracks are starting to show. Lionel Barrymore is especially cantankerous this time around ("Don't smirk at me you nincompoop!"). The longtime regulars are as good as ever. George Reed, as Gillespie's man Conover, gets some particularly funny lines this time. But the production values seem less impressive and the script isn't that great. Keye Luke is still going on about being from Brooklyn. I applaud MGM for trying to show that a Chinese-American is 'just like the rest of us' but enough already. Three movies in and he won't shut up about Brooklyn. He also reuses a line from an earlier film about giving a blood transfusion to a Jap. Still, it's Keye Luke and he's got a very likable and charming appeal. Early role for Ava Gardner ("I never get fat"). She's very pretty but hardly impresses with her acting. Van Johnson is the star of this one. He does well in his scenes with Gardner and sexy Marilyn Maxwell, though he was never convincing as a ladies man. Worth watching for fans of the Kildare & Gillespie films but this isn't one of the best.

3 Men In White featured a trio of upcoming talent in the cast. Vying for the position of being the new assistant to Lionel Barrymore is up and coming Van Johnson. Vying for Van's attention is nurse Marilyn Maxwell and Ava Gardner who brings in the case of her mother who struggles with arthritis.Walter Kingsford head of Blair General Hospital finally wants Lionel Barrymore to once and for all choose between Johnson and Keye Luke. When you think about it this whole thing is rather silly and stems for Dr. Gillespie's inability to make up his mind. Barrymore never showed a Hamlet streak in his crusty makeup before.Despite a really contrived and silly plot the three up and comers were all shone to best advantage. For Ava Gardner this film marks her first real acting role and according to Lee Server's fine book on Gardner her then husband Mickey Rooney helped pull her through the film as she was having doubts about being able to cut it with the dramatics.I get the impression that what Dr. Gillespie really wanted was for Jimmy Kildare to return and not to have to pick a new one.Fans of the three upcoming stars should like this.

The post-Lew-Ayres Dr. Kildare series sputters with Keye Luke and Van Johnson still competing to be Lionel Barrymore's assistant -- and each has to solve a medical mystery of his own choice. Meanwhile, various plots continue from earlier entries in the series, mostly comic. The series was winding down and only two more entries would come out, at two-year intervals.This episode is better than a couple of the polished stinkers that immediately preceded it. The comic relief does not overwhelm the movie, the usual character actors are on hand in their series roles for your enjoyment and they also give you a young Ava Gardner, just another of the MGM contract players. Hubba Hubba.But the principal reason to watch these movies is, of course, Lionel Barrymore, always an enormously enjoyable and expert performer for any role. Unfortunately, he suffered badly from rheumatism and so he spent this entire series sitting down in a wheelchair. But standing or sitting, he's always good to watch.