"Emergency Call" is well worth seeing just because the subject matter of this Pre-Code film is so unusual. Imagine...a film about a hospital working hand in hand with organized crime!!
William Boyd (who later remade himself as the screen cowboy 'Hopalong Cassidy') stars as a young doctor, Joe Bradley, who works at a most uusual hospital. It seems that SOMEONE working there is helping organized crime! How? First, lots of fake injury cases arrive and the doctors treat the 'victims'....even though they know the folks are faking they aren't allowed to discharge them. Second, ambulance chasing shyster lawyers are being alerted when real accident cases arrive and they sneak in and get the patients to unknowingly sign away all their rights to them! But Joe and his friend, the ambulance driver, are making it hard for these crooks...and the crooks decide to fight back with a vengeance! Additionally, no one knows who at the hospital is helping these folks...but they must be identified as soon as possible.
I loved this film...particularly the second portion. This is because Post-Code they simply couldn't have made the very gritty ending...one that was very satisfying and violent! Wonderful acting, wonderful writing...and a pretty amazing picture.
William Boyd (who later remade himself as the screen cowboy 'Hopalong Cassidy') stars as a young doctor, Joe Bradley, who works at a most uusual hospital. It seems that SOMEONE working there is helping organized crime! How? First, lots of fake injury cases arrive and the doctors treat the 'victims'....even though they know the folks are faking they aren't allowed to discharge them. Second, ambulance chasing shyster lawyers are being alerted when real accident cases arrive and they sneak in and get the patients to unknowingly sign away all their rights to them! But Joe and his friend, the ambulance driver, are making it hard for these crooks...and the crooks decide to fight back with a vengeance! Additionally, no one knows who at the hospital is helping these folks...but they must be identified as soon as possible.
I loved this film...particularly the second portion. This is because Post-Code they simply couldn't have made the very gritty ending...one that was very satisfying and violent! Wonderful acting, wonderful writing...and a pretty amazing picture.