The Great Moment (1944): Cast & Plot
The Great Moment is a 1944 comedy drama directed by Preston Sturges, starring William Demarest as Eben Frost, Joel McCrea and Betty Field. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 23m (83 min)
- Director
- Preston Sturges
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Great Moment About?
The premise of The Great Moment without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A lively, comedic portrait of 19th‑century Boston dentist Dr. W.T. Morgan as he battles entrenched medical opinion to win public acceptance for ether anesthesia. The film blends humor with historical detail, following Morgan’s relentless campaign to demonstrate the safety and value of the new pain‑relief breakthrough.
The Great Moment Themes & Keywords
· 19 tags- scene during opening credits
- patent infringment
- widow
- boston dentist
- washington d.c.
- glass inhailer
- surgery
- laughing gas
- medical retaliation
- flashback
- lie
- story about a dentist that happened in the xix century
+7 more Show fewer
- franklin pierce character
- sturges and demarest
- anesthesia
- dentist
- doctor
- medical discovery
- based on book
The Great Moment Cast & Characters
William Demarest leads the cast as Eben Frost, with Joel McCrea as William Thomas Green Morton and Betty Field as Elizabeth Morton. Directed by Preston Sturges; 22 actors are credited in all.
- Director Preston Sturges
- William Demarest as Eben Frost
-
Joel McCrea as William Thomas Green Morton -
Betty Field as Elizabeth Morton - Donivee Lee as Betty Morton
Also Starring in The Great Moment
· 18 more- Porter Hall President Franklin Pierce
- Byron Foulger Morton's Clinic Manager (uncredited)
- Hank Worden Morton's Sign Painter - replaced Roscoe Ates (uncredited)
- Roscoe Ates Morton's Sign Painter - replaced by Hank Worden (uncredited)
- Julius Tannen Dr. Charles T. Jackson
- Louis Jean Heydt Dr. Horace Wells
- Harry Carey Professor John C. Warren
- Franklyn Farnum Massachusetts Medical Society Man (uncredited)
- Edwin Maxwell Vice-President of Medical Society
- J. Farrell MacDonald The Priest
- Thurston Hall Senator Borland
- Harry Hayden Judge Shipman
- Franklin Pangborn Dr. Heywood
- Hank Bell Onlooker (uncredited)
- Grady Sutton Homer Quimby
- Arthur Hoyt Presidential Secretary (uncredited)
Show all 22 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Torben Meyer Dr. Dahlmeyer
- Victor Potel First Dental Patient
More from Preston Sturges
More films directed by Preston Sturges, best-rated first: The Lady Eve, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The French, They Are a Funny Race and The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend.
The Great Moment Plot Summary
What happens in The Great Moment from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a cold, snowy day, Eben Frost makes his way to the farmhouse of Elizabeth Morton, the aging widow of William Morton. At the door, he returns a medal once awarded to Morton—the inscription reads “To the benefactor of mankind. With the gratitude of humanity.” Inside, Lizzie softly recalls the life she shared with Morton, painting a portrait of a man driven by curiosity, generosity, and a relentless urge to ease suffering.
Full summary
The whole story of The Great Moment, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Great Moment?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the aging widow who receives the medal at the beginning of the film?
The Great Moment Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “El gran momento” and “Seger över smärtan”.
- Also known as
-
- El gran momento
- Seger över smärtan
Seen The Great Moment?
Movies Like The Great Moment
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Great Morgan, The Great Man and The Big Moment.
The Great Moment FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Great Moment, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Great Moment?
The Great Moment runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).
When was The Great Moment released?
The Great Moment was released on July 18, 1944.
Who directed The Great Moment?
The Great Moment was directed by Preston Sturges.
More films by Preston Sturges Who is in the cast of The Great Moment?
The Great Moment stars William Demarest as Eben Frost, Joel McCrea as William Thomas Green Morton and Betty Field as Elizabeth Morton, among 22 credited actors.
Does The Great Moment have a post-credit scene?
No. The Great Moment has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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