That Mothers Might Live 86 years old

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
That Mothers Might Live poster
That Mothers Might Live (86 years)

  • Release day: Saturday, April 30, 1938
  • Runtime: 10 minutes