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Sister Kenny

Play trailer Poster for Sister Kenny 1946 1h 57m Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
While working in the outback, Australian nurse Elizabeth Kenny (Rosalind Russell) encounters polio in some of her patients and witnesses its severe effects. As she treats many young children and babies, Kenny starts to develop theories about how to fight the disease, including hot presses on the afflicted limbs. When the medical community disputes her methods, Kenny sacrifices much of her personal life to convince doctors around the world that her practices are the best treatment.

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rosalind Russell received her second Best Actress Oscar nomination for this solemn but inspiring biopic of the heroic Aussie nurse. Rated: B Apr 11, 2011 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It works as inspirational entertainment. Rated: B- Nov 6, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Daria D Fantastic film about the "mother of physical therapy," and how polio was ineffectively treated by doctors, and much more successfully treated through Sister Kenny's methods, which came to be seen as the roots of the entire field of physical therapy. Sister Kenny had to battle the entire medical establishment to eventually be taken seriously and have her methods widely adopted. She also had to give up a lot in her personal life, which was heart-wrenching. Very inspiring and educational movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/07/23 Full Review Audience Member I contracted Polio in 1956. The Kenny method was used on me and within 5 years I was out of braces, crutches, and a wheelchair. I didn't fully realize how fortunate I was until I saw this movie. I had heard of the torture many polio victims endured through faulty medical beliefs and practices, but this movie was enlightening and heartfelt. I'm sure that it was probably enhanced, as Hollywood does - but very real to me. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review steve d Russell is great in this powerful film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review ashley h Sister Kenny is an incredible film. It is about an Australian nurse discovers an effective new treatment for infantile paralysis. Rosalind Russell and Alexander Knox give excellent performances. The screenplay is well written. Dudley Nichols did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama. Sister Kenny is a must see. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Rosalind Russell excellent as always. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member A little slow in places but everyone should know this story of a nurse who goes up against big medicine and is a pioneer in physical therapy. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sister Kenny

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Cast & Crew

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Dudley Nichols

Director

Rosalind Russell

Elizabeth Kenny

Alexander Knox

Dr. McDonnell

Dean Jagger

Kevin Connors

Philip Merivale

Dr. Brack

Beulah Bondi

Mary Kenny
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Sister Kenny

Sister Kenny (1946) Sister Kenny (1946) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis While working in the outback, Australian nurse Elizabeth Kenny (Rosalind Russell) encounters polio in some of her patients and witnesses its severe effects. As she treats many young children and babies, Kenny starts to develop theories about how to fight the disease, including hot presses on the afflicted limbs. When the medical community disputes her methods, Kenny sacrifices much of her personal life to convince doctors around the world that her practices are the best treatment.
Director
Dudley Nichols
Producer
Dudley Nichols
Screenwriter
Dudley Nichols, Alexander Knox, Mary McCarthy
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
RKO Pictures
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 1946, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 7, 2015
Runtime
1h 57m