America needs to go back to this kind of wholesomeness. This was an excellent movie to watch!

Love it!

The Great Moment (1944) is a black-and-white historical drama directed by Preston Sturges. The film tells the true story of Dr. William T. G. Morton, a 19th-century dentist who pioneered the use of ether as an anesthetic. The movie is told in a non-linear fashion, beginning with Dr. Morton’s struggles and eventual recognition before flashing back to his early experiments. Initially, Morton searches for a way to make dental procedures painless and, through trial and error, discovers that ether can induce unconsciousness without harming the patient. Despite the groundbreaking nature of his discovery, Morton faces skepticism, betrayal, and legal battles over patent rights. The film portrays his financial struggles and the lack of recognition he endured during his lifetime. Unlike many of Sturges’ comedies, The Great Moment is more serious in tone, though it retains moments of his signature wit. The film ultimately serves as a tribute to Morton’s contributions to medical science, highlighting the hardships innovators often face.

The Great Moment (1944) is a black-and-white historical drama directed by Preston Sturges. The film tells the true story of Dr. William T. G. Morton, a 19th-century dentist who pioneered the use of ether as an anesthetic. The movie is told in a non-linear fashion, beginning with Dr. Morton’s struggles and eventual recognition before flashing back to his early experiments. Initially, Morton searches for a way to make dental procedures painless and, through trial and error, discovers that ether can induce unconsciousness without harming the patient. Despite the groundbreaking nature of his discovery, Morton faces skepticism, betrayal, and legal battles over patent rights. The film portrays his financial struggles and the lack of recognition he endured during his lifetime. Unlike many of Sturges’ comedies, The Great Moment is more serious in tone, though it retains moments of his signature wit. The film ultimately serves as a tribute to Morton’s contributions to medical science, highlighting the hardships innovators often face.

What a great period film. It is a perfect companion to "The Court-martial of Billy Mitchell," as it is the true story of what the WW1 Flying Ace went through to get the Navy to embrace the vision of Naval Air. Also, Sterling Hayden, doing a great acting job here. What a tribute to the actor, who did not let his roles make him take himself too seriously, portraying the mad base commander in "Dr. Strangelove."

Just a note; the family is wearing 50s-style clothes and hair, including the wife. This was common in films back then. No one saw much difference and it was not a high-production film requiring elaborate costuming, etc.

What makes this movie watchable is the incredible live footage. As in all his other movies, hayden's stiff acting style screams "amateur". The only film he ever seemed relaxed in was actually a reflection of his real life: Dr. Strangelove. The post-amputation segments border on the absurd, despite the characters lame speech about what Navy wives have to endure. His character cares more for the new ship than about his own family. This ranks as one of the worst "patriotic" films of all time. It was only towards the end that Hayden's character seemed to warm up to the role. If this is a true-to-the facts autobiography, I'll eat my words, but I can't shake the feeling that the screenplay was written by the Pentagon.

Lovely film watched it 3 times over the years.

Patent Medicine should be against the law. We would avoid so much difficulty if medicine were a more altruistic calling. Make a living is honorable, but to profit from misery is miserable.

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Morton learned about ether in medical school. It was already in use. He quit school and tried to patent it as Letheon.

Funny to hear them referring to the " talkies" - talking pictures which were pictures with synchronised dialogue. That was in 1927 and the first film where the audio and video were synchronised was called " The Jazz Singer". Some people hated the " talkies" and some actors and actresses hated them even more, because they didn't have very nice voices!😂 That's all folks, won't bother you anymore 😊

Wish they made good wholesome movies like this one today !! Millions of others feel the same way. Thankyou for sharing❤

What's the name of this movie

Can you get, I REMEMBER MAMA?

There was too much fighting

What a gem!

Lovely little movie, worth the watch.🤗👌👍

I can say confidently, they dont make 'em like this anymore!! Thank you so much for sharing🙏

I found this hidden gem I’ve never seen it I love this era of movies thank you

Thanks for sharing it! I always enjoy watching Great Old Movies though. 👍👌👏 And of course, I'm a subscriber! Thanks Again Though.

همزاد منه😊 خیلی شبیه منه بیخود ترکا عاشقم میشن 😊 شبیه بازیگرشونم

A lovely film..tnks ❤🙏🏻

September 30th, 1864 (161 years ago). No more bodily or dental pain without some form of anaesthesia by one invention. Imagine that! ❤

Thanks.... Loved it I've seen it a few times....but it's been awhile ❤❤❤

Wonderful movie! Ty🙂

WONDERFUL ❤❤❤ THANK YOU 🙏

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Ah the day when there were still Mercurys as well as a whole lot of deceased car makes. Do you like how big the steering wheels are ?

This is a really good movie!! Enjoyed every minute of it! Thank you for downloading it!

Gunfire and ricochet sound effects back on the ship 😂 Still a good movie.

😊

❤❤❤❤ Very 😍beautiful😍✨❤

Todays CIA, works for our Guh'ment. They interfere with the innerworkings of foreign countries. Now they work against the interest of American citizens. They work loosely with the NWO.

What a different breed of men in his day, and he is not the only one who returned to duty and work after war injury. Today, the same man, after the leg injury, would take a medical discharge and disability payment and quit serving or working immediately. He believed in continued service, even at great further hazard to himself. That is a man. A true warrior. After WWII ended, men with missing limbs WORKED the rest of their life for the post office, for example. Today, they would quit and loaf.

Almost forty years ago I saw this movie with my Dad . Hayden Sterling , Dean Jagger , great story & acting !

Eugene Burton Ely oct 21 1886 oct 19,1911 was an American aviation pioneer, credited with the first shipboard aircraft and landing

إنتصار حجاج 😊❤

Waiting for Sterling to say 'precious bodily fluids'.

How odd. 3:00 displays something in the foreground that looks like a laptop, or some similar peace of technology.

In six days America shames itself worldwide. “Losers & suckers” - Donald Trump America’s deplorable 47thPOTUS is to be inaugurated, a convicted felon (34 counts), adjudicated rapist, convicted of defamation, repeatedly convicted business fraudster, state and federal quadruply indicted (91 counts) of some of the most serious crimes in a democratic republic, Vietnam War repeatedly criminally fraudulently draft-dodger, infamously unprecedented dishonest Republican, Christian supported (adulterer with all three wives) Donald Trump referring to WW1 American Veterans that gave their life for their country as “losers & suckers” according to one of four of Trump’s Chiefs-of-Staff General Kelly. Oh far you have fallen Americans.

Warum die blöde Musik beim romantischten Teil

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It's reputation as a bad movie doesn't do the movie justice. So bad it's, uh...still pretty bad.

Great classic❤

@14 minutes it goes from a clear blue sky to night in 1 second!! No wonder intelligent people don't believe in little gray/green/blue men!! That said this was a good movie for its time and I've seen it a lot of times. And Joan Taylor was a very pretty lady.

Wow 😲😲 look at those groovy 🤩 looking 6inch heel shoes Bela is wearing!!!!

1956 eh...and people are just as nutty today believing this BS.

Very cool, thank you! xx

My first dentists never used novacaine. It's why I'm not nostalgic for the '50s and '60s. It was horrible.