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).
That Mothers Might Live (1938) is a drama film directed by Fred Zinnemann, released on April 30, 1938 with a runtime of 10m. It stars John Nesbitt, Shepperd Strudwick, Rudolph Anders and King Baggot. Viewers rate it 6.2 out of 10 across 12 ratings.
John Nesbitt
as Narrator (voice)
Shepperd Strudwick
as Dr. Semmelweis
Rudolph Anders
as Doctor (uncredited)
King Baggot
as Passerby (uncredited)
William Bailey
as Passerby (uncredited)
Barbara Bedford
as Nun Reading Book (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks
as Medical Student at Lecture (uncredited)
Mary Howard
as Young Stricken Mother (uncredited)
Leonard Penn
as Semmelweis' Assistant (uncredited)
Beatrice Roberts
as Passerby (uncredited)
Edward Van Sloan
as Hospital Chief of Staff (uncredited)
E. Alyn Warren
as Professor (uncredited)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann, written by Herman Boxer, produced by John Nesbitt.
Average viewer score of 6.2/10 from 12 ratings.
There isn’t any dialogue in this short feature, just an increasingly frenzied narration as Sheppherd Strudwick portrays the visionary Austrian physician Ignaz Semmelweis. He was a man determined to establish just why so many perfectly healthy women died so swiftly after childbirth - but with no obvious cause. Gradually, he began to realise that it might be the doctors themselves who were carrying diseases about…
Reviewed on June 28, 2025
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The main cast of That Mothers Might Live (1938) includes John Nesbitt, Shepperd Strudwick, Rudolph Anders, King Baggot and William Bailey. The film was directed by Fred Zinnemann. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
That Mothers Might Live was released on April 30, 1938 and runs for 10m.
That Mothers Might Live (1938) holds an average rating of 6.2 out of 10 from 12 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.