People Will Talk

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People Will Talk

1951,

1h 50m,

Comedy/

Drama

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89%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

The unorthodox methods of Midwestern physician and lecturer Noah Praetorious (Cary Grant) make him popular with students and patients but ruffle the pride of Professor Rodney Elwell (Hume Cronyn). When student Deborah Higgins (Jeanne Crain) faints in Noah's class and confides that she is pregnant and unmarried, Noah takes an interest in her. Eager to ruin Noah, Elwell uses the doctor's connection to Deborah and to a mysterious and shady friend to bring charges of unsuitability against him.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Sep 14, 2020

Joseph Mankiewicz's noble, mysterious 1951 comedy of medicine and mores...

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Nov 27, 2025

6/10

A somewhat perfunctory story is enlivened by a strong cast and a sharp screenplay in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1951 romantic comedy-drama People Will Talk. Based on a German play by Curt Goetz, it is a bright little gem for fans of classic Hollywood.

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Manny Farber

The Nation

Sep 15, 2021

Though People Will Talk is basically only a Dr. Kildare story about "good" medicine and "bad," it has been precociously adult-erated a the toniest film of the year.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Aug 23, 2020

8/10

Despite the diminishing likelihood of a believable happy ending, there's an impressive authenticity to the leads' relationship, thanks chiefly to their performances.

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Nov 26, 2019

People Will Talk had the nerve to present two such conventional box-office stars as Cary Grant and Jeanne Crain in a highly unconventional story which the bankers who underwrite Hollywood would never have sanctioned a few years ago.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 6, 2005

3/5

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Draco G

Apr 27, 2019

This is an odd but deeply interesting and ambitious film. It addresses many important topics: political correctness, witch hunts, unwanted pregnancy, friendship, professional conduct, the role of psychology in healing, and others. Yet it also toggles among comedy, drama and romance in an unsettling way, and descends into an odd preachiness at times. It's tackling of adult themes requires intelligence and engagement from the audience. It is a dense film, and I'd like to watch it again.

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Han P

Nov 18, 2017

A slight and dated film that stretches credulity. Even Grant is annoying and cloying. Had the film focused on the unwed and pregnant Jeanne Crain and her predicament in 1951, there might be something here. Instead the film goes off a ridiculous tangent with so called secrets of both Grant and his hunkering friend. I stayed with the film because it was unknown to me and I was curious. The fun part is when Grant's character speechifies against the tasteless and hygienically packaged food on 1951. Having been alive in the fifties as a child, I can attest to the quality of food during that era compared to what came later. Yes Mr. Mankewicz we bought sauerkraut from barrels, butter from huge blocks, and milk in bottles during the fifties. And food had taste.

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Ron W

Sep 24, 2017

Such a great movie!!! Human beings ARE more than just bodies....unwed pregnancy has been around forever, and people are people, and people aren't perfect...now throw in a talented bunch of movie stars and it's a classic must see hit!! Love love love

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Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Director

Cary Grant

Dr. Noah Praetorius

Jeanne Crain

Deborah Higgins

Finlay Currie

Shunderson

Walter Slezak

Prof. Barker

Hume Cronyn

Prof. Rodney Elwell

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Synopsis

The unorthodox methods of Midwestern physician and lecturer Noah Praetorious (Cary Grant) make him popular with students and patients but ruffle the pride of Professor Rodney Elwell (Hume Cronyn). When student Deborah Higgins (Jeanne Crain) faints in Noah's class and confides that she is pregnant and unmarried, Noah takes an interest in her. Eager to ruin Noah, Elwell uses the doctor's connection to Deborah and to a mysterious and shady friend to bring charges of unsuitability against him.

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 1951, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 50m

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