That Mothers Might Live is a 1938 American short drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann. 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. 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 the British surgeon, Dr. Joseph Lister who revolutionized medicine putting Pasteur's research to practical use. In 1939, at the 11th Academy Awards, the film won an Oscar for Best Short Subject (One-Reel).
Credits
That Mothers Might Live Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Shepperd Strudwick
He was 30, 75 years old when he died
|
as Dr. Semmelweis |
|
Edward Van Sloan
He was 55, 81 years old when he died
|
as Hospital Chief of Staff (uncredited) |
|
Mary Howard
She was 30, 101 years old when she died
|
as Young Stricken Mother (uncredited) |
|
Ralph Brooks
He was 34, 86 years old when he died
|
as Medical Student at Lecture (uncredited) |
|
Beatrice Roberts
She was 33, 65 years old when she died
|
as Passerby (uncredited) |
|
Leonard Penn
He was 30, 67 years old when he died
|
as Semmelweis' Assistant (uncredited) |
|
William Bailey
He was 51, 76 years old when he died
|
as Passerby (uncredited) |
|
E. Alyn Warren
He was 63, 65 years old when he died
|
as Professor (uncredited) |
|
Rudolph Anders
He was 35, 84 years old when he died
|
as Doctor (uncredited) |
|
King Baggot
He was 58, 68 years old when he died
|
as Passerby (uncredited) |
|
John Nesbitt
He was 27, 49 years old when he died
|
as Narrator (voice) |
|
Barbara Bedford
She was 34, 78 years old when she died
|
as Nun Reading Book (uncredited) |
That Mothers Might Live Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
Harold Rosson as Director of Photography. He was 43 (93) years old when He died
|
Camera |
|
Leonid Raab as Orchestrator. He was 38 (68) years old when He died
|
Sound |
|
David Snell as Music. He was 40 (69) years old when He died
|
Sound |
|
George Bassman as Orchestrator. He was 24 (83) years old when He died
|
Sound |
|
John Nesbitt as Producer. He was 27 (49) years old when He died
|
Production |
