The Impatient Maiden

Lew Ayres and Mae Clarke, the reigning king and queen of the Universal lot in 1932, were teamed under the guidance of the studio's star director James Whale in Impatient Maiden. Anticipating his "Dr. Kildare" duties by nearly six years, Ayres is cast as inexperienced young surgeon Myron Brown. In love with Ruth Robbins (Mae Clarke), Dr. Brown is separated from his sweetheart thanks to clashing values (she wants to marry him; he doesn't think he can afford to, but still wants to fool around). They are brought together again under unusual circumstances when Ruth is stricken with acute appendicitis and Brown is obliged to operate, permitting Whale to indulge in his usual ghoulish fascination with surgical procedure. A few moments of comedy relief are offered by Una Merkel, as a dingbat Southern belle, and ratchet-voiced Andy Devine as a male nurse. (official distributor synopsis)