A Child Is Born (1940)
A Child is Born is a remake of 1932's Life Begins, softened to conform to stricter movie censorship and lengthened to qualify as an "A" picture. The film is an episodic account of one particularly busy night in a maternity hospital. A generous portion of screen time is lavished on a gangster's moll (Geraldine Fitzgerald), about to give birth to her illegitimate baby. The young woman dies in childbirth, but other subplots end more happily. Even at 79 minutes, A Child is Born seems more padded and protracted than its 1932 predecessor--notably in a contrived sequence wherein the only surgeon qualified to perform a delicate operation is blinded in an accident. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jeffrey Lynn, (more)
- Director(s):
- Lloyd Bacon
Synopsis of A Child Is Born
A Child is Born is a remake of 1932's Life Begins, softened to conform to stricter movie censorship and lengthened to qualify as an "A" picture. The film is an episodic account of one particularly busy night in a maternity hospital. A generous portion of screen time is lavished on a gangster's moll (Geraldine Fitzgerald), about to give birth to her illegitimate baby. The young woman dies in childbirth, but other subplots end more happily. Even at 79 minutes, A Child is Born seems more padded and protracted than its 1932 predecessor--notably in a contrived sequence wherein the only surgeon qualified to perform a delicate operation is blinded in an accident. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Complete Cast of A Child Is Born
- Geraldine Fitzgerald - Grace Sutton
- Gladys George - Florette
- Spring Byington - Mrs. West
- Henry O'Neill - Dr. Lee
- Gloria Holden - Mrs. Kempner
- Eve Arden - Miss Pinty
- Louis Jean Heydt - Mr. Kempner
- George Irving - Dr. Cramm
- Dorothy Adams - Nurse
- Sidney Bracey - Drugstore Clerk
- Edward Gargan - Guard
- Frank Mayo - Policeman
- Buz Buckley - Little Tot
- Maris Wrixon - Information Girl
- Garry Owen
- Charles Marsh
- Creighton Hale - Elevator Operator
- Edgar Dearing - Sergeant
- Georgia Caine - Mrs. Norton's Mother
- Jeffrey Lynn - Jed Sutton
- Gale Page - Miss Bowers
- Johnnie Davis - Ringer Banks
- John Litel - Dr. Brett
- Johnny Downs - Johnny Norton
- Fay Helm - The Woman
- Hobart Cavanaugh - Mr. West
- Nella Walker - Mrs. Twitchell
- Marie Blake - Gladys
- Esther Dale - Matron
- Sibyl Harris - Flower Woman
- Owen King
- George O'Hanlon - Young Husband
- John Ridgely - William Hopper
- Carlyle Moore, Jr. - Intern
- Winifred Harris - Mrs. Holt
- Nanette Fabray - Gladys Norton
- Virginia Brissac - Mr. Norton's Mother
- Director(s):
- Lloyd Bacon
- Writer(s):
- Robert Rossen
- Producer(s):
- Hal B. Wallis
- Looking for special editions of A Child Is Born?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
BY MAIL
We're sorry, this title is not available to rent or buy by mail.
IN-STORE
What's Your Take?
Member Reviews
