The Doctor’s Dilemma 1958

In London in 1906, a circle of colleagues rushes to the Harley Street home of the unmarried Dr. Ridgeon to congratulate him on a knighthood tied to his bold claim that he can cure tuberculosis, a cure that medicine of the era has not proven. Among them is Michael Gwynn as Dr. Blenkinsop, who was at medical school with Ridgeon but now tends to poor patients who cannot pay much, and is himself infected with tuberculosis. Waiting in his hall is the young and lovely Leslie Caron as Jennifer Dubedat, who, having heard of his alleged cure, wants him to treat her husband Louis Dubedat, a penniless artist, portrayed by Dirk Bogarde. Struck by the beauty and charm of Jennifer, and by the quality of her husband’s drawings which she shows him, Ridgeon lets her believe he will try to save Louis, but stresses that his treatment is long and expensive, and that he can only handle ten patients at a time. So that he can meet Louis, and see more of Jennifer, he invites the two to a celebration dinner he is hosting that night.

While Louis is like his wife good-looking and charming, it emerges that he scorns all trappings of conventional morality, being a feckless liar, thief and seducer (a waitress recognises him as her vanished husband). Now highly doubtful about Louis, Ridgeon arranges with colleagues to visit the studio where he lives and assess his case. Recognising that his TB is far advanced, Ridgeon passes him on to a colleague and decides to take Blenkinsop instead. To Jennifer this is treachery and she begins to hate Ridgeon, while he hopes that he might marry her as soon as she is a widow. Beyond cure, Louis soon dies and in a moving last speech states his belief that love and beauty surpass all of conventional morality. He also begs Jennifer not to mourn, but to marry again and be happy.

In a postscript, Ridgeon attends the one-man exhibition of Louis’ works, which are selling well. Jennifer refuses to let him buy a painting and leaves with her new husband.