Dark Victory (1939)

From NetFlix: Fast living comes easy for Long Island socialite Judith Traherne (Bette Davis): Lavish soirées, free-flowing booze and raising thoroughbreds are among the pleasures in her hedonistic existence. But a horse-jumping accident forces her to come to terms with her lifestyle -- and mortality -- when a handsome doctor (George Brent) discovers that Judith suffers from a potentially fatal brain tumor. Humphrey Bogart costars in this timeless tearjerker. 1939, 104 minutes

A classic. Great acting and moving story.

Drunken Angel (1948)

From Netflix: Set amidst the postwar rubble of American-occupied Japan, Akira Kurosawa's film noir centers on hard-living gangster Matsunaga (Toshiro Mifune) and the doctor (Takashi Shimura) who tries to save his life. After diagnosing Matsunga's tuberculosis, Dr. Sanada goes the extra mile to reform his self-destructive patient. Matsunga comes to respect Sanada, but ultimately his dark side leads him into a brutal battle with a mob boss (Reisaburo Yamamoto). 1948, 102 minutes

Recommended by Charles Katz

The Hospital

Nefllix Blurb: George C. Scott stars in this black comedy as Herbert Bock, a suicidal doctor who struggles to find meaning in his life while a murderer stalks the halls of his hospital. Herbert's life is on a downward spiral, but just as he contemplates killing himself, patients at the hospital begin dying -- apparently from erroneous treatments they're being mysteriously ministered. Diana Rigg co-stars in this Academy Award winner for Best Screen Play 1971 103 minutes

This is a classic, timely today, too.

NY Times Review December 15, 1971

The Doctor

From Wikipedia: "Dr. Jack MacKee (William Hurt) has it all: friends, success, money, and no worries - that is, until he is diagnosed with throat cancer.
He then experiences life as a patient, including the coldness and detachment of his former colleagues. He begins to empathize with the patient, which is a new experience for him.
Eventually, he returns to work, and begins immediately to drill into the new incoming interns (whom he has charge of) the perspective of the patient and the patient's experiences by making the new interns spend 72 hours as patients."

This is a fine movie for medical students, residents and physicians. It is based on a wonderful (short) iconic book, "The Doctor" by Portland, OR internist Edward Rosenbaum. "The Doctor" can be purchased for $1.00 plus shipping from ABE Books.

Availability:
Milne Library Williamstown
Netflix
Williams College Libraries

Wit

Wit is a superb film about cancer and facing death.

It chronicles the personal awakening of a longtime literary scholar (two-time Oscar-winner Emma Thompson), who learns the importance of simple human kindness when faced with the most daunting of crises: a diagnosis of advanced cancer.

The film's principal character is Vivian Bearing, Ph.D. (Thompson), a 48-year-old professor specializing in the forbidding work of 17th Century metaphysical poet John Donne. With biting humor and wit, Vivian approaches her illness as she would one of Donne's sonnets, aggressively probing and intensely rational.