Life Begins
1932 | 71m | English
Popularity: 0.9 (history)
| Director: | James Flood, Elliott Nugent |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Earl Baldwin |
| Staring: |
| A day in the maternity ward from the lens of accepted morals and medical attitudes of 1932. The ward includes women from all walks of life and situations. | |
| Release Date: | Sep 10, 1932 |
|---|---|
| Director: | James Flood, Elliott Nugent |
| Writer: | Earl Baldwin |
| Genres: | Drama |
| Keywords | pregnancy, hospital, doctor, pre-code, expectant father, maternity ward, social class, infant death, medical drama, unwed mother, convicted murderer, maternal death, nurses, childbirth, compassionate |
| Production Companies | Warner Bros. Pictures, First National Pictures, The Vitaphone Corporation |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2026 Entered: Apr 27, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Loretta Young | Grace Sutton |
| Eric Linden | Jed Sutton |
| Aline MacMahon | Miss Bowers |
| Glenda Farrell | Florette |
| Clara Blandick | Mrs. West |
| Preston Foster | Dr. Brett |
| Frank McHugh | Ringer Banks |
| Walter Walker | Dr. Tubby |
| Hale Hamilton | Dr. Cramm |
| Vivienne Osborne | Mrs. McGilvery |
| Dorothy Peterson | A Patient |
| A.S. Byron | First Druggist (uncredited) |
| Marjorie Campbell | Baby (uncredited) |
| Frank Darien | Harry (uncredited) |
| Donald Douglas | Medical Student (uncredited) |
| Helena Phillips Evans | Mrs. Riggs, the Prison Matron (uncredited) |
| Paul Fix | Anxious Expectant Father (uncredited) |
| Esther Howard | Mrs. Tubby’s Friend (uncredited) |
| Reginald Mason | Dr. Lee (uncredited) |
| Herbert Mundin | Mr. MacGilvairy (uncredited) |
| Elizabeth Patterson | Mrs. Tubby (uncredited) |
| Mary Philips | Miss Pinty (uncredited) |
| Terrance Ray | Medical Student (uncredited) |
| Gilbert Roland | Tony, Rita's Husband (uncredited) |
| Gloria Shea | Gladys Banks (uncredited) |
| Ruthelma Stevens | Rose Laughton (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Tree | Rita (uncredited) |
| Bobs Watson | Edgar, Harry’s Son (uncredited) |
| Jack Wise | Medical Student (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Earl Baldwin | Screenplay |
| George Marks | Editor |
| Esdras Hartley | Art Direction |
| James Van Trees | Director of Photography |
| William Forsyth | Casting Assistant |
| Rufus Le Maire | Casting |
| James Flood | Director |
| Orry-Kelly | Costume Design |
| Raymond Griffith | Production Supervisor |
| Elliott Nugent | Co-Director |
| William Maybery | Casting Assistant |
| Leo F. Forbstein | Conductor |
| Mary M. Axelson | Theatre Play |
| Dr. Harry Martin | Technical Advisor |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Darryl F. Zanuck | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Trending Position
fbacher
7.0
This film provides a window into life of 1932 as viewed from a higher-risk maternity ward. These were the days when surgery was much more dangerous, where ether ruled and the risk of infection was high (penicillin wasn't in widespread use for another 10 years). The expectant mothers in the ward come ... from all walks of the working-class life: a woman about to deliver her fifth child, an Italian, a proud "modern woman" (single), a nightclub singer and a convicted murderer. A film worth watching.
Jun 23, 2021