Within fifteen minutes Barbara Stanwyck has disrobed twice and jumped into bed with Joan Blondell, signaling the start of our cultural fascination with naughty nurses. There's also a bootlegger with a heart of gold, Clark Gable poured into a chauffeur's uniform as a scummy villain, and a bizarre conflict that feels out of left field (if left field is where people discard their old V.C. Andrews paperbacks). The cherry on top is a mostly off-screen resolution that includes some wacky slapstick comedy cross cut with the revelation of a vengeful homicide. Ah, the pre-code era!
Lora Hart manages to land a job in a hospital as a trainee nurse. Upon completion of her training she goes to work as a night nurse for two small children who seem to be very sick, though something much more sinister is going on.
Where to watch
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Cast & crew
6What people say
"I'm Nick"*camera zooms in*"The chauffer."Reader, I died. This wasn't even a comedy and that might have been the funniest thing I have ever seen.
Back when you can tackle sensuality, violence, issues of alcoholism, drug addiction, child abuse, medical malpractice and murder, all within a 72 minute runtime. Where did we go wrong?
What is Night Nurse about?+
A newly trained nurse takes a night job caring for two sickly children in a wealthy household, where she begins to suspect a murderous conspiracy is taking place.
Who directed Night Nurse?+
The film was directed by William A. Wellman, a prolific American director known for his fast-paced, gritty storytelling style in early Hollywood.
Is Night Nurse considered a pre-Code film?+
Yes, it is widely cited as a definitive example of pre-Code cinema due to its bold depictions of sexuality, violence, and social corruption before the enforcement of the Hays Code.














