She defied doctors everywhere who insisted on treating infantile paralysis with casts, splints, and immobility. Rosalind russell, alexander knox, dean jagger, philip merivale, beulah bondi, dorothy peterson. Courage kenny rehabilitation institute was formed in june 20 through the merger of courage center and sister kenny rehabilitation institute, part of allina health. Sister of mercy 1946 drama alexander knox dean jagger save as many human lives as possible. Maverick heroine of the polio treatment controversy, greystone press, san luis obispo ca 2012. Oct 26, 2016 sister of mercy 1946 drama alexander knox dean jagger save as many human lives as possible. Sep 20, 2014 the queensland government paid for sister kenny to travel to the united states in 1940 to promote her treatment of polio. Kenny s work on behalf of polio patients brought her widespread praise and attention at the time. May 15, 2016 in 1952 the year sister kenny made her mark there was a record high of 58,000 new cases. Photo courtesy of the minnesota historical society. After the polio vaccine was developed in 1955, the sister kenny. The experiences she shared helped us understand the painful aspects of polio, along with the exact treatment given to patients, as she had us perform some kenny method stretches over the telephone. Great women in medicine elizabeth kenny jeffrey dach md. I have been trying to locate a copy of this movie for several years.
Could a simple country nurse possibly have found a treatment for polio when educated doctors have failed. However, i would like to say that this movie was a hollywood production and was not a documentary. As a nurse in isolated areas, and without prior knowledge of the traditional treatment for polio, she treated victims based on her observation of the symptoms. Slowly, kennys ideas won acceptance, and by the mid20th century had become the hallmark for the treatment of. Between 1946 and 1953, there were more cases of polio than at any other time in history, surprising for a disease that is traceable as far back as ancient egypt, with little end to the epidemic in sight. Karolyn grimes, who was carolyn a little girl with polio in the movie sent me this picture of herself with sister kenny and rosalind russell. Sister kenny rko radio, 1946, directed by dudley nichols, stars rosalind russell in a respectful biography of elizabeth kenny 18861952, a australian nurse who fought her entire life to bring her own methods of treating polio victims to international acceptance. Full movie online free hd true story of the australian nurse who fought to gain acceptance for her poliotreatment. Rko radio pictures promotion booklet, and photocopies of pages relating to the movie and to elizabeth kenny in rosalind russells autobiography, life is a banquet new. Many polio survivors will recognize themselves and the treatments portrayed in the movie.
Of course even in 1946, they have hollywooded up the movie. Sister kenny and the golden age of american medicine, a new biography by naomi rogers, a yale university medical historian, readers can learn why she gained such fame. Sister kenny movie polio indovietnam medical board. Sister of mercy 1946 drama alexander knox dean jagger save. Sister kenny was very famous, and hollywood made a movie about her. Elizabeth kenny, australian nurse and health administrator who was known for her alternative approach to polio treatment, known as the kenny method.
The movie about her life, sister kenny, starring rosalind russell, premiered on the evening of september 27, 1946 2. Story of a nurse who develops a treatment for polio in the early 20th century. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio was one of the most widespread and dreaded childhood. Sister kenny institute revolutionized treatment of polio patients. In 1952 the year sister kenny made her mark there was a record high of 58,000 new cases. Rosalind russell as title character, australian nurse elizabeth kenny, with boyfriend kevin dean jagger, an army doctor, recounting a polio case then reporting to her mentor doctor alexander knox about what they discover is a radical treatment shes invented, in sister kenny, 1946. Aug 30, 2004 sister kenny although an australian nurse, made a big splash in the usa with her claims of being able to cure polio. Kennys work was mostly in polio, which has nearly been eradicated, her emphasis on the care of individual patients and. Slowly, kenny s ideas won acceptance, and by the mid20th century had become the hallmark for the treatment of paralytic polio. Sister kenny, based on the book and they shall walk, by martha ostenso, earned russell one of those nominations. Both organizations bring a strong history of service to people with disabilities as well as.
Owen, the institutes medical director and a polio victim. The book is now published by the sister kenny memorial house in nobby qld, au. In this film, rosalind russell stars as elizabeth kenny, tireless battler of. Sister kenny fought the good fight to bring treatment of victims who were written off by conventional medical wisdom of the day, and changed the doctor attitude that nothing could be done. Kennys work on behalf of polio patients brought her widespread praise and attention at the time. Rosalind russell, whose poliostricken niece was treated by sister kenny, was a strong supporter against the attacks. Russell shines in title role, as australian nurse who initiated treatment for polio. Elizabeth kenny was born at warialda in new south wales, the. Sister kenny and miss russell had become close friends during the production of the film. Sister kenny institute revolutionized treatment of polio. Sister kenny institute, along with lucille jobe holmes, a survivor of polio and former nurses aid at sister kenny institute. Miss russells nephew was successfully treated for polio using the kenny method, as was alan alda, of mash fame, who gives full credit to the.
Sister elizabeth kenny fought polio with physical therapy. Sister kenny later settled in minnesota where she established the sister kenny rehabilitation institute, beginning a worldwide crusade to advocate her system of treatment. However she was never accepted here in australia here is a story investigating her life and her claims. Sister kenny 1946 cast and crew while working in the outback, australian nurse elizabeth kenny rosalind russell encounters polio in some of her patients and witnesses its severe effects. This is the remarkable true story of elizabeth kenny rosalind russell, a nurse far out in the australian bush, who follows her instincts to treat small children inflicted with the dreaded crippling disease. Sister kenny although an australian nurse, made a big splash in the usa with her claims of being able to cure polio. She is credited with the birth of physiotherapy as a separate discipline.
Sister elizabeth kenny fought polio with physical therapy maria mitchell, americas first woman astronomer demonstrated womens scientific aptitude father jerome sixtus ricard becomes padre of the rains the 1897 andree expedition tries to balloon over the north pole thure and ludwig kumlien blazed trails in the scientific world. Sister kenny is a 1946 american biographical film about sister elizabeth kenny, an australian bush nurse, who fought to help people who suffered from polio. She died in 1952 of parkinsons disease, at the age of 72. A young nurse, sister elizabeth kenny, working in the outback of australia in 1909, found that several children suffered from a disease that she couldnt diagnose. Sister of mercy 1946 drama alexander knox dean jagger. Alexander knox and rosalind russell in sister kenny 1946. Sister elizabeth kenny, the australianborn nurse, is remembered by thousands of grateful parents and grandparents of young polio patients, as well as others who were less personally affected, as the woman who successfully fought the medical profession to win acceptance of her techniques to combat the crippling effects of this disease. It is still devoted to the rehabilitation of people who suffer from physical limitations because of disease, illness, neurological or neuromuscular problems, injury, or pain. In world war i, kenny served as an australian army nurse and was promoted to the rank of sister, the nurse corps equivalent to a first lieutenant. Scripted by nichols, knox, and mary mccarthy, from mary kenny s autobiography and they shall walk. Elizabeth kenny biography childhood, life achievements. Sister kenny is referenced in the tv movie an american christmas carol, in which the tiny tim character, jonathan, would be sent for treatment for his disability never referred to specifically, however, as polio.
This book is her if you were born after the 1950s, chances are youve never heard of sister elizabeth kenny, though she was so celebrated in her own time that in 1951, the year of her death, she beat eleanor roosevelt as the most admired woman in the. Both organizations bring a strong history of service to people with disabilities as well as people with chronic medical conditions. The film was moving in the reality of polio treatment. Oct 20, 2014 however, i would like to say that this movie was a hollywood production and was not a documentary.
Nov 27, 2012 the sister kenny institute was founded in 1942 as a rehabilitationbased treatment center for polio patients. During the polio epidemic of the 1940s, mainstream treatment of flaccid paralysis by orthopedic surgeons involved tendon transplant, after which the limb was immobilized and placed in a cast for many months. The sister kenny institute, opened in 1942, was a worldrenowned center for polio treatment. The sister kenny institute is now part of abbott northwestern hospital in minneapolis. As a young nurse, sister elizabeth kenny developed an unconventional polio treatment that avoided its crippling effects and helped patients fully recover. Her fight to gain the medical communitys acceptance for her method was the subject of the 1946 film sister kenny. Instead, she used common sense and her understanding of anatomy to treat the symptoms of the disease. Nov 22, 2017 the movie about her life, sister kenny, starring rosalind russell, premiered on the evening of september 27, 1946 2. It is in the australian outback that nurse kenny first confronts the debilitating illness. An australian nurse who discovers a treatment for polio fights an uphill battle to win its the classic film sister kenny. Her life story sounds like a movie script, and indeed it did become a movie, sister kenny, in 1946, starring rosalind russell, a fourtime academy award best actress nominee. Sister kenny is the ultimate alternativehealth movie. The results were as dramatic as the movie portrays. The movie shows the sacrifices she made in her own personal life, because of her calling to help children who contracted polio.
In 1911, when she encountered her first case of polio, sister kenny was unaware of conventional polio treatment immobilizing the affected muscles with splints. She invented a treatment for polio that had an 87% success rate in preventing paralysis. Elizabeth kenny 18861952 was an australian nursing sister who pioneered a method of treatment for infantile paralysis. Sister was a designation for senior nurse, not a religious title. Sister kenny and the golden age of american medicine. I graduated nursing school in 1964 fifty years ago. A nurse gains fame in the days of polio the new york times. This fine movie has a very inspirational message and rosalind russells strong performance delivers it. San diego in its earlier days, said he had had polio as a child, had had the kenny treatment and was convinced it had saved his life and his mobility. In the end, there is the happy ending, we have all been waiting for, but it feels completely tacked on by studio producers, and the speech, given by sister kenny at the end, though still relevant. Sister elizabeth kenny was born in australia and completed her nursing training there. Based on a true story, sister kenny never wavers from her conviction about the amazing treatment she has discovered for helping polio sufferers.
The film stars rosalind russell, alexander knox, and philip merivale. Sister kenny 1946 while working in the outback, australian nurse elizabeth kenny rosalind russell encounters polio in some of her patients and witnesses its severe effects. Sister elizabeth kenny came to the united states in 1940 to seek medical approval for her new methods of polio treatment. Read about her lifes work or watch the sister elizabeth kenny movie starring rosalind russell. Elizabeth kenny was an australian nurse and health administrator who went against the conventional medical thought and wisdom and advocated the treatment of muscles affected by poliomyelitis by wet hot compresses and exercises instead of immobilizing them with splints. Nov 01, 2010 in 1946 sister kennys story was dramatized in the wellreceived movie, sister kenny, starring rosalind russell. Sister kenny saint or charlatan success stories allnurses. Her determination and persistence helped to focus efforts on finding a cure or a preventive vaccine for polio. This is an unredacted edition which includes content not in the outback presscqu 2003 edition which is out of print. Rosalind russell as title character, australian nurse elizabeth kenny, with boyfriend kevin dean jagger, an army doctor, recounting a polio case then reporting to her mentor doctor alexander knox about what they discover is a radical treatment shes invented, in sister. A focus on sister elizabeth kenny, an australian nurse based in minneapolis in the 1940s and early 1950s, who developed controversial methods of treating patients paralysed by polio, is used to link these themes together around the boundaries of medical authority. Jan 05, 2014 great women in medicine, sister elizabeth kenny. Sister kenny 1946 movie clip reeducate the muscles.
Sister kenny is a 1946 american biographical film about sister elizabeth kenny, an australian bush nurse, who fought to help people who suffered from polio, despite opposition from the medical establishment. Rosalind russell, whose polio stricken niece was treated by sister kenny, was a strong supporter against the attacks on sister kenny and wished to tell her story. In 1946 sister kennys story was dramatized in the wellreceived movie, sister kenny, starring rosalind russell. Hollywood, where the late rosalind russell starred in sister kenny, the film. At the age of three i had polio and received the sister kenny treatment in minnesota during an epidemic. Founded by australian nurse elizabeth kenny, it was an early leader in the field of rehabilitation medicine and remains a prominent center for rehabilitation treatment and research. Engrossing drama is among the better hollywood biopics. The queensland government paid for sister kenny to travel to the united states in 1940 to promote her treatment of polio. This movie is superb and chronicles the life of sister elizabeth kenny, the australian nurse, who was a pioneer in physical therapy, and who invented a successful treatment for polio. Co india book of records b121, 2nd floor, green fields, faridabad haryana india phone. Add this to reading polio wars by naomi rodgers and old news articles, etc to round out the remarkable era of polio. Sister elizabeth kenny was an army nurse who used common sense to treat her first case of polio in 1911. The sister kenny institute was founded in 1942 as a rehabilitationbased treatment center for polio patients. During the polio epidemic of the 1940s, mainstream treatment of flaccid paralysis by orthopedic surgeons involved tendon transplant, after which the limb was immobilized and placed in a.
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