On the way to New York in a ship, a famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Decker, sees a young girl, Georgi attempting suicide by jumpingfrom the top because of a failed romance with Phil Mayberry. The doctor rescues her and makes her understand how to live by doing real work. After reaching New York, she visits the doctor and joins him in his practice at a clinic for the poor. They fall in love and marry. The doctor leaves his clinic and joins a famous hospital so that he can earn more money to support his wife in style. He becomes highly successful, and the owner takes him as a business partner. Meanwhile, Phil pesters her to renew their love affair, saying that he still loves her. She finally meets with him at his apartment and asks him to stop disturbing her, realizing that she loves Karl instead. Before Georgi and Karl can depart for a belated honeymoon, Karl learns that Georgi and Phil had met in his apartment. Believing that she still loves Phil, Karl breaks off his relationship with Georgi in spite of her protest. An important call comes from the hospital regarding a suicidal case of a young girl. Karl rushes to the hospital, but the girl dies in spite of his efforts. On the death certificate, he writes "suicide," but the father of the girl opposes him, wanting to avoid any scandal. Karl will not listen to him, and finally decides to quit working for the hospital and travel to China to do research. Before his departure, he visits his old clinic. His former patients are pleased, having heard from Georgi that he was planning to open the clinic again. But he refuses in spite of their disappointment. When some of the children, whose lives he saved, entreat him to reopen the clinic, he relents at last. Georgi asks, "Can I stay too?" Karl happily agrees, and the film ends as they kiss.
Production Dates: 18 Oct – early Nov 1938; 7 Nov 1938 – late Jan 1939; 4 Dec – late Dec 1939
This picture was based on the unpublished original story "A New York Cinderella," by Charles MacArthur.
Production of the film had a long and troubled history, earning it the infamous nickname I Re-Take This Woman. Director Josef von Sternberg began shooting in October 1938, but soon quit because of artistic differences; director Frank Borzage then took over, and the production was shelved in January 1939. W.S. Van Dyke assumed direction, re-shooting nearly the entire picture, with many different cast members. Further re-takes were done in December, 1939.
The film's suicide attempt thwarted by Spencer Tracy was referenced by comedian Louis C.K. on the April 28, 2015 episode of "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross.
Box office
According to MGM records the film earned $907,000 in the US and Canada and $528,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $325,000.
