Cinema: Behind-the-Times Pioneer

The Caretakers. Fans of medical drama are well aware that when young doctor and old doctor disagree, the young doctor is right. So it takes little ingenuity to know whom to root for when Robert Stack, an earnest young doctor, comes into conflict with Joan Crawford, an aging, hardened head nurse, over how to handle the patients in a mental hospital.

Stack (warmly): I say they must be treated as normal human beings entitled to respect and human rights.

Crawford (coldly): But they can only be handled by the intelligent use of force.

Preparing for the intelligent use of force, Joan holds judo sessions...