THE NEW INTERNS

Dean Jones and Stefanie Powers

THE NEW INTERNS (1964).  Director: John Rich. Colorized. 

This sequel to The Interns has Alec (Michael Callan of Mysterious Island) returning to New North Hospital to complete his internship. Phil (George Furth) tries to hide his wife, Madeline (Ellie Wood Walker), in the dorm, which is presided over by the no-nonsense Mrs. Hitchcock (Lee Patrick). The marriage of Dr. Worship (Dean Jones) hits a snag when his wife, Gloria (Stefanie Powers), learns that he can't have children. Nurse Laura (Barbara Eden) fears that Alec will never be able to settle down, and Dr. Parelli (George Segal) gets involved with a social worker, Nancy (Inger Stevens), whose life turns into a tragedy after she is gang-raped. Meanwhile Dr. Riccio (Telly Savalas) becomes the new administrator and wants to batten down the fiscal hatches. 

George Segal and Inger Stevens

The New Interns is a fast-paced, slick, well-acted comedy-drama that puts the emphasis much more on romance than it does on medicine, although babies are born, worried people die, and there are the very occasional discussions on medical business and hospital policies. George Segal is "introduced" in this film although he had already appeared in The Young Doctors and other films and TV shows. Others in the cast include Greg Morris (Mission: Impossible), Alan Reed Jr., Dawn Wells, Michael Fox, and James Mathers, the brother of Jerry ("the Beaver") Mathers, as young Freddie. Michael Vandever is quite vivid as the miserable rapist, "Beep." The sub-plot with Jones and Powers is resolved in a nicely sentimental and touching fashion. 

Verdict: Enjoyable "doctor" picture. ***.