That Mothers Might Live

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That Mothers Might Live
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Written byHerman Boxer
Produced by John Nesbitt
Starring Shepperd Strudwick
CinematographyHarold Rosson
Music by David Snell
Distributed by MGM
Release date
  • April 30, 1938 (1938-04-30)
Running time
10 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

That Mothers Might Live is a 1938 American short drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann. In 1939, at the 11th Academy Awards, it won an Oscar for Best Short Subject (One-Reel). [1] [2]

Contents

The short is a brief account of Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis and his discovery of the need for cleanliness in 19th-century maternity wards, thereby significantly decreasing maternal mortality, and of his struggle to gain acceptance of his idea. [3] Although Semmelweis ultimately failed in his lifetime, later scientific luminaries advanced his work in spirit like microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who provided a scientific theoretical explanation of Semmelweis' observations by helping develop the germ theory of disease, and Dr. Joseph Lister, who revolutionized medicine by putting Pasteur's research to practical use.

Cast

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References

  1. "The 11th Academy Awards (1939) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  2. "New York Times: That Mothers Might Live". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2011. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
  3. "That Mothers Might Live". TopTenREVIEWS. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2013.