Night Nurse

Night Nurse

Year: 1931

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: William A. Wellman

ComedyDramaCrimeCrime

Lora Hart secures a trainee nurse position at a hospital. After completing her training, she takes a night shift caring for two seemingly ill children. As the darkness deepens, she uncovers a far more sinister reality lurking behind their symptoms.

Night Nurse (1931) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Night Nurse (1931) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

Lora Hart arrives at the bustling city hospital with a fierce determination to prove herself despite lacking a formal high‑school credential. The institution’s rigid hierarchy, overseen by the stern Miss Dillon, looms over every ward, while the charismatic chief of staff, Dr. Bell, offers a rare chance for those who can navigate the unspoken politics. From the outset, the film immerses the viewer in a world of sterile corridors lit by fluorescent hum, where ambition collides with the relentless demands of patient care.

Amidst the clatter of night‑shift emergencies, Lora forms a steady friendship with her fellow trainee, Miss Maloney. Their bond becomes a quiet anchor as they grapple with the moral gray areas that surface when the hospital’s doors swing open to the city’s underbelly. The night hours bring a palpable tension, the shadows lengthening over the emergency room and hinting at stories that linger just beyond the fluorescent glare.

Upon completing her training, Lora takes a private nursing position for two ailing children, Desney Ritchey and Nanny Ritchey, in the opulent yet oddly subdued Ritchey mansion. The house pulses with late‑night gatherings, a socialite matriarch, Mrs. Ritchey, her enigmatic chauffeur Nick, and the family physician Dr. Ranger. The juxtaposition of genteel luxury against the fragile health of the young wards creates an atmosphere thick with unspoken unease, inviting Lora—and the audience—to question what lies beneath polished surfaces.

The film’s tone marries classic noir suspense with a stark, clinical realism, as darkness settles over both the hospital and the mansion. Lora’s keen intuition senses that the children’s symptoms may conceal something far more unsettling. With each quiet observation, the story drifts deeper into a world where the comforting glow of night‑shift lamps barely masks a lingering, unseen dread.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:20

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Moral Crusades in Film Like Night Nurse

Stories of individuals risking everything to expose systemic rot.Fans of the determined fight against corruption in Night Nurse will find these movies compelling. If you liked watching Lora Hart stand up to a sinister plot, explore these stories of lone heroes facing down systemic evil in tense, high-stakes dramas and thrillers.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character who stumbles upon or is drawn into a conspiracy of corruption, often involving the powerful preying on the vulnerable. The plot is a steady, propulsive investigation where the protagonist uses their wits and moral conviction to expose the truth, facing increasing danger and isolation as they proceed.

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Gritty Pre-Code Era Movies Like Night Nurse

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Narrative Summary

Narratives are typically straightforward and driven by harsh realities, focusing on characters navigating a dangerous urban landscape. Plots involve crime, exploitation, and ethical struggles, often ending on a note that is ambiguous or bittersweet, reflecting a cynical or realistic view of society rather than a neatly moralistic one.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific historical context (pre-1934), their shared aesthetic of realistic grit, a tense and often oppressive tone, and their thematic bravery in tackling subjects like violence, corruption, and social decay head-on, resulting in a uniquely heavy and anxious mood.

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Night Nurse Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Night Nurse

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Night Nurse

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