Dr. Guy Montford moves back to his seaside Massachusetts hometown at the request of old friend Larry McFie, who is dying of cancer. Over the objections of Larry's father, Sam, hospital administrator Dr. Sol Kelsey puts the patient in Guy's personal care.
Guy runs into Bert Mosley, an unscrupulous lawyer who is running for district attorney. He is unaware that Mosley is having an affair with Kelsey's chief nurse, Fran, until one night he is summoned to a motel fire and finds that Bert and Fran were secretly meeting there.
Larry knows his condition is terminal, despite Guy's mentions of a possible miracle drug. Larry's death-bed wish is that his wife, Margaret, will end up married to Guy, whom he trusts. Sam McFie, for some reason, does not want his son being treated by Guy.
Margaret goes sailing with Guy, but is devoted to her husband. She is also unhappy with Guy's cruel treatment of a town drunk, Stew, until she learns that the man once had an illicit romance with Guy's mother, resulting in the suicide of his father. Margaret and Guy briefly become lovers.
Fran has hopelessly fallen in love with Guy, but is being blackmailed by reporter Parker Welk, who knows of the motel affair and threatens to go public unless Fran poses for provocative photographs. Bert finds out about it and assaults Parker, who receives medical attention from Guy.
Complications develop when Larry pleads with Guy to put him out of his misery and Margaret discovers she is pregnant from the one-night stand. Guy can't bear to see his friend in pain. He gives him a fatal overdose of morphine. Fran realizes what happened and tells Bert, who has Guy placed under arrest.
Larry's father lies on the witness stand that his son feared for his life in Guy's care, believing the doctor was in love with his wife. Sol, however, testifies that he personally heard Larry beg Guy for euthanasia. A jury acquits Guy, who hopes he and Margaret can move beyond all that has happened someday.
Richard Burton (right) and James Dunn in a publicity still
The film was based on a novel by Charles Mergendahl which was published in 1958. Reviewers compared it with other novels about the underbelly of small towns such as Peyton Place and King's Row.[4][5]
In August 1958, film rights were bought by Milton Sperling, who had a production unit, United States Pictures at Warner Bros.[6]
In January 1959 Richard Burton signed to play the male lead.[7] Sperling wanted Carolyn Jones to play the female lead.[8] Eventually, the part went to Angie Dickinson, who had just impressed in Rio Bravo. In February Daniel Petrie, best known for his work on television including adaptations of Wuthering Heights, signed to direct.[9][10]
A support role was given to James Dunn, making his first film in eight years, and his first movie at Warners since 1935.[11]
Filming began 30 March 1959.[12] The film was mostly shot at the studio, with a few days location work at Newport and Balboa to look like Cape Cod.[13]
During filming, Mergendahl died after a fall at his home. He was only 40 years old.[14]
Bantam Books published 1.5 million editions of the novel to coincide with the release of the film. It was the largest order in Bantam's history.[15]
Reception
The film earned rentals of $3 million in the United States and Canada.[1][16]
^BRAMBLE BUSH, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 51.
^Novel a Lightning Rod Put Up to Entice the Flash of Best-Sellerdom: THE BRAMBLE BUSH,
Mergendahl, Charles. Chicago Daily Tribune (Aug 31, 1958: b3.
^The Doctor Takes a Wife: THE BRAMBLE BUSH. By Charles Mergendahl. 382 pp. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. $3.95. Dempsey, David. New York Times Aug 24, 1958: BR27.
^2 U. S. FILM UNITS OFF TO AUSTRALIA: Hecht, Hill, Lancaster Plan Movies There in Winter -- 'Bramble Bush' Assigned
By OSCAR GODBOUT Special to The New York Times. New York Times Aug 27, 1958: 33.
^FILMLANDE EVENTS: Richard Burton in 'Bramble Bush'
Los Angeles Times 29 Jan 1959: B8.
^Carolyn Jones May Do 'Bramble Bush'
Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times Jan 7,1959: 18.
^FILMLAND EVENTS: Anne Aubrey Will Star With Taylor
Los Angeles Times Feb 20, 1959: A9.
^M-G-M PLANS FILM OF 'BUTTERFIELD 8': Studio Buys Rights to Book by O'Hara -- Newcomer in 'Bramble Bush' Cast
By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 11 Mar 1959: 41.
^HESTON TO CO-STAR WITH GARY COOPER: Actors Get Roles in M-G-M's 'Wreck of Mary Deare' -Dunn Returning to Films New York Times Mar 30, 1959: 24.
^Method Described as Self-Hypnosis: Margaret Leighton Airs View; Angie Dickinson Revives Legs
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 11 Mar 1959: B7.
^Sin Behind 'Bramble Bush' to Test Code's Laxity
By Thomas Wood. The Washington Post and Times-Herald Nov 15, 1959: H9.
^Charles Mergendahl Dead at 40;] Novelist Wrote 'Bramble Bush'I
-'epectal. to The New York Times,. New York Times Apr 30, 1959: 31.
^FILMLAND EVENTS: Nancy Walters Gets Contract at MGM
Los Angeles Times 3 June 1959: A9.
^DAN PETRIE, THE "UNDERGROUND RAILWAY" FROM CANADA TO BROADWAY
Moore, Jacqueline. Maclean's; Toronto, Canada Vol. 74, Iss. 11, (Jun 3, 1961): 24.
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