Young Doctors in Love

Young Doctors in Love

Year: 1982

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Garry Marshall

Comedy

Warning: This film may be dangerously funny and leave you laughing nonstop. A slap‑slap‑comedy that parodies hospital soaps in the vein of Airplane! A brilliant trainee who faints at the sight of blood, a doctor who seduces the head nurse to steal the drug‑cabinet key, and a mobster masquerading as a woman create chaotic, nonstop laughs.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Young Doctors in Love yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Young Doctors in Love (1982) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Young Doctors in Love (1982), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

A group of eight young medical interns joins the City Hospital surgery team, led by Dr. Prang, a brash and cynical surgeon who lives an expensive, dissolute lifestyle.

Meanwhile, old mafioso Sal Bonafetti is admitted under an assumed name after a stroke, while his son Angelo / Angela Bonafetti disguises himself as a woman to watch over him, fearing retaliation by rival crime syndicates.

A professional hitman, Malamud, is admitted to a bed next to Sal to assassinate him, but his every attempt fails, forcing him into painful and unnecessary treatment.

The resident who regularly checks in with Sal and Angela is Dr. Walter Rist. Over time, he seems to develop feelings for “her,” not knowing it’s Sal’s son in disguise.

Dr. Stephanie Brody and Dr. Simon August begin a relationship as the hospital weeks unfold. On a night out, she experiences a strong pain in her side but tries to shrug it off.

As Dr. Phil Burns works two other jobs to afford the residency, he’s half-asleep when a dirty note is passed to him by head Nurse Nurse Norine Sprockett. He initially mistakes it for a come-on, and when he makes a pass at her, Norine slaps him. As an awkward apology, he demonstrates the fox step, his second job as a dance instructor. He then discovers Norine wears the key to the medications cabinet around her neck and uses that to press his luck for an upper.

Dr. Prang schedules Simon for a basic surgery, but Simon panics when assigned an appendectomy. He has a flashback to a birthday joke played on him with a piñata, a moment that lingers in his mind.

Stephanie and Simon’s bond takes a intimate turn when Stephanie has sex with him on the operating table to help him overcome his fear of the room.

Months pass, and Sal continues to foil Malamud’s assassination attempts, a tension that shadows the hospital corridors.

At the Christmas party, Stephanie and Simon announce their engagement, only for Stephanie to collapse shortly afterward. It’s revealed she has a condition requiring a labor-intensive procedure, forcing Simon to push for the operation.

Simon pressures a reluctant Dr. Prang to proceed, even though the procedure is highly complicated; to shield the team, they practice on a dummy first.

Meanwhile, Phil’s illegal drug dealing—sourced from the hospital—lands him in custody after Norine uncovers the scheme.

As the operation looms, Stephanie’s procedure is scheduled, but a nurses’ strike erupts at the last minute. Dr. Prang confronts bankruptcy on his books, leaving Simon to operate without him, supported by his fellow residents.

In the end, after a sequence of scares and setbacks, the operation is a success, delivering a cautious but hopeful resolution to a hospital filled with ambition, risk, and the fragility of life.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:56

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Young Doctors in Love

Don't stop at just watching — explore Young Doctors in Love in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Young Doctors in Love is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Young Doctors in Love Timeline

Track the full timeline of Young Doctors in Love with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Young Doctors in Love Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Young Doctors in Love

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Young Doctors in Love. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Young Doctors in Love

More About Young Doctors in Love

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Young Doctors in Love: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Young Doctors in Love