- After her admission to the hospital, town-famous stern teacher Miss Dove nostalgically reminisces about her youth and about the pupils she taught over the years.
- Miss Dove is a strict disciplinary, plus a well respected teacher, who has inspired her students to individual greatness. One day during class, Miss Dove experiences great pain in her back, but continues with the class. After class she asks one of her students who is staying after class to get a doctor. Thomas, a doctor, and a former student of her's takes her to the hospital and hospitalizes her. While in the hospital her former students rally around her causing Miss Dove to reflect on her past.—Kelly
- In the small town of Liberty Hill, most of the current generation of children to young adults have been under the tutelage of the same Cedar Grove Elementary School Geography teacher, middle-aged spinster Miss Dove, who has taught there for fifteen years. Most in town, even those that are too old to have ever had Miss Dove as a teacher, treat her with respect to her face, but mock her behind her back because of her proper, no-nonsense and regimented "Miss Dove knows best" ways, and her strict, stern and somewhat cold attitude and demeanor. During one of her classes at a crucial time in the school year before state-wide proficiency exams, Miss Dove begins to suffer severe lower back pains, and numbness in her limbs. During her hospitalization awaiting the diagnosis, Miss Dove reflects back on her life, including: the reason she never married, despite being considered a catch for any man when a young woman, when she did receive a marriage proposal specifically from then aspiring archaeologist, Wilfred Pendleton III, who she loved; the reason she became a Geography teacher in Liberty Hill, despite having no plans to become such beforehand or plans to return to the town to live after her stint away at college; and a specific incident with her father's former business partner, John Porter, regarding a bank run. But she reflects most on her relationships with her past students, including: Tom Baker, who has ended up being her physician on this case in the absence of her own doctor; Virginia Baker, Tom's pregnant wife, who was going through emotional distress just one year earlier; Officer Bill Holloway, who grew up on the proverbial wrong side of the tracks; Billie Jean Green née McVay, who came from an uncultured background and is now Miss Dove's day nurse at the hospital; Maurice Levine, a Polish-Jew who knew no English entering her class as an immigrant at age 11, but who went on to become a Broadway playwright; and Fred Makepeace, whose stealing of apples to give to her when he was a child was an early sign of becoming a convict as an adult. They, in turn, reflect on how Miss Dove has influenced their life. But as her life threatening diagnosis becomes known and news of it spreads, the residents of Liberty Hill demonstrate their true feelings for the terrible Miss Dove.—Huggo
- In the small town of Liberty Hill, Miss Dove, a prim schoolteacher who is known as "terrible Miss Dove" because she is a strict disciplinarian, keeps a boy after class for swearing, but when she experiences sharp pains, sends him home to get his father, Dr. Tom Baker. As Miss Dove waits, she remembers years earlier when she first returned home from college: Miss Dove goes to see her father, the town banker, as soon as she arrives, and is warmly greeted by the bank's vice-president, John Porter. That night, her father dies suddenly after Miss Dove tells him that she is in love with an archaeologist named Pendleton. Miss Dove is startled to learn that her father had embezzled $11,000 from the bank, although John stresses that the money was merely "borrowed." To avoid a scandal, Miss Dove vows to repay the money by working as a schoolteacher. Miss Dove then rejects Pendleton's marriage proposal and sacrifices her own happiness to work at the local elementary school. Back in the classroom, Tom, one of Miss Dove's former pupils, insists that she be hospitalized. The attending nurse is another former student, Billy Jean, who is in love with her former classmate, policeman Bill Holloway, who reveres Miss Dove. Miss Dove recalls Bill as a child: Bill, a poverty-stricken orphan being raised by his alcoholic grandmother Annie, comes to class in filthy, ill-fitting clothes. Bill's ethics, however, outclass those of some of the wealthier students, and Miss Dove encourages him without showing undue affection. While maintaining her usual strict discipline, Miss Dove lavishes attention on Bill, allowing him to do yard-work at her house in exchange for lunch, and eventually buys him a graduation suit. Years later, after Annie dies, Miss Dove supports Bill, and when he returns from Marine service after World War II, she is the first person he visits. Miss Dove also recollects Tom's wife Virginia, who is now happily married and pregnant, but previously seemed misguided. Billy Jean, meanwhile, confesses that her own child is illegitimate, and that she claims to be a widow to protect her daughter. Billy Jean was severely disappointed because Bill broke their engagement when she admitted her transgression. The next morning, renowned playwright Maurice Levine and convict Fred Makepeace, two more former pupils, come to visit Miss Dove. Miss Dove recalls when Maurice, then an eleven-year-old Polish refugee, first came to her class: Maurice is placed in the first grade so he can learn English, and she soon discovers he has a vivid imagination. However, his peers tease the bright Jewish boy, calling him "Rab," short for the word "rabbi." During geography lessons, Miss Dove instructs her class about the Jewish homeland, noting that "rabbi" is a term of respect. She then arranges for Maurice's family to host a special dinner for her class, in order to demonstrate that a Jewish family is the same as any other family. Miss Dove has since followed Maurice's career, and he thanks her for attending the opening night of his play. She then realizes that Fred has escaped from jail, and tactfully suggests that Bill go to lunch with Fred and Maurice, then escort Fred back to prison. Fred is grateful to Miss Dove, as is Bill after he hears her praise Billy Jean for being genteel. Not long after, John visits Miss Dove with news that the Board of Rotarians has elected to pay her medical bills. John insists that it is not out of charity, but respect for her, as he feels indebted to her. Miss Dove then recalls years earlier when there was a run on the bank: A national scare causes anxious patrons to crowd the bank in order to withdraw their money before the bank closes. Although John tries to dispel rumors about the bank's closing, even loyal customers demand their money. Just a few minutes before closing, Miss Dove quietly makes her way through the throng and, with her usual air of authority, goes to the front of the line to make a deposit. When she tries to fill out a slip, she pretends that her pen is out of ink and asks for another. To further delay the process, Miss Dove calmly notes that the pen John gives her is also out of ink and, given another pen, slowly fills out the deposit slip. She finishes the transaction just at closing time, and reminds the protesting patrons that John is merely obeying federal law. John is still grateful for Miss Dove's action. Tom now reports that Miss Dove has a tumor on her spine which will require an operation. Miss Dove expresses her confidence in Tom's skill as a surgeon, and when he warns her the operation could be fatal, she gives him her father's pocket-watch, which he has always admired. The next day, after Tom begins surgery, the principal dismisses class for the day, while Fred escapes from jail again to go to Liberty Hill, and Bill reunites with Billy Jean. When Miss Dove finally awakens from her surgery, Tom returns the watch as a sign that all is well, and reports that Virginia has given birth to twins. The church bells chime as everyone gathers in the street below to celebrate the successful operation. In typical fashion, Miss Dove asks that the principal resume classes so that her students can study for an upcoming test.
- Miss Dove (Jennifer Jones), a middle-aged geography teacher in Liberty Hill, takes the same route to school every day. She walks past old Mr. Porter's (Robert Douglas) house and observes him using a new spray on his lilies. He sputters when she informs him that the flowers will die. Later, she proves to be correct. She passes the home of Tommy (Robert Stack) and Jincey Baker (Kipp Hamilton), both former pupils. Tommy is now a doctor and Jincey is expecting their first child any day. Since Miss Dove doesn't believe in nicknames, she calls them Thomas and Virginia. Alex (Biff Elliot) and Polly Burnham (Rebecca Welles) are also on Miss Dove's route. He is the pastor of the local church. David (Ted Marc), their son, rudely declares that he hates oatmeal. His mother tells him to hurry, that Miss Dove has just passed and he doesn't want to be late.
Children in Miss Dove's class are expected to have a clean handkerchief pinned to their clothing. They file into her classroom in an orderly manner, responding politely with "Good morning Miss Dove" when she greets them. She has strict rules and expects them to be obeyed, yet she is not unkind.
Flashbacks show how Miss Dove became a teacher. Her wealthy father died shortly after she finished college. They were very close and Mr. Dove had promised to take his daughter on a trip to Europe. She had a beau, Mr. Pendleton (Marshall Thompson), and hoped that their friendship would eventually ripen into something more. But the sudden death of Mr. Dove (Leslie Bradley) changed everything. To her horror, Miss Dove learns that she is destitute. Her father's home was heavily mortgaged and not only that, he had embezzled money from the bank where he worked. To prevent a scandal, Miss Dove persuades Mr. Porter, the bank president, to transfer the debt to her. Since she has read her father's books on geography, she feels qualified to teach that subject in the elementary school. Thus begins her teaching career.
Back in the present time, Miss Dove overhears David using a swear word. While the rest of the class goes to lunch, David has to write 50 times "Nothing is achieved by swearing." Suddenly Miss Dove feels a crushing pain in her lower spine. She tries to stand up but cannot. Reluctantly she asks David to go home and have his father fetch Dr. Hurley (Robert Lynn). But he is ill and Tommy Baker comes in his place. It is obvious that Miss Dove would rather have her own doctor, but Tommy is available and she tells him her symptoms. He and Alexander make a chair with their arms and carry her to the hospital, just two blocks away. Tommy didn't want to jostle her spine by putting her in a car.
Another of Miss Dove's former pupils, William "Bill" Holloway (Chuck Connors), is now a policeman. He races to the hospital to have them reserve a room for Miss Dove. By the time she arrives, a crowd has gathered. Miss Dove is assigned a nurse, Mrs. Greene, who reveals that she is the former Billie Jean McVey (Peggy Knudsen). Miss Dove finds her overly caring manner irritating. Billie Jean was once engaged to Bill Holloway but he broke up with her several weeks earlier.
Once settled in bed, Miss Dove reminisces about Bill, who was one of her favorite pupils. He was being raised by an alcoholic grandmother in a shack outside town. Miss Dove sees potential in him and hires him to do her yard work. Later, she is the only one who attends his grandmother's funeral. After a tour of duty in the Army, Bill returns to Liberty Hill and becomes a police officer.
Tommy visits and tells Miss Dove that the following day she will have a battery of tests. Until then she is not to worry. The room fills up with flowers and Miss Dove dispatches Billie Jean to give them to other patients. Later, Billie Jean confides that she is not really Mrs. Greene. She took the name for her daughter's sake. When she told Bill about her past, he broke up with her. Miss Dove believes he has made a mistake and later praises Billie Jean, causing Bill to change his mind.
Other visitors stop by to see their favorite teacher, including Maurice Levine (Jerry Paris) and Fred Makepeace (Eddie Firestone). Maurice is a playwright and earlier had invited Miss Dove to New York as his guest, to see his new play. When Maurice was in her class, the others made fun of him because he was Jewish. Miss Dove put a stop to that by having his parents invite the class to a Passover meal at their home. This changed their opinion of Maurice. Fred Makepeace was among what Miss Dove considered her failures. He was a petty thief as a child and eventually was sent to prison for armed robbery as an adult. While on a chain gang, he heard of Miss Dove's illness and escaped to visit her, stealing a suit from a funeral home. Miss Dove is unaware that Fred is "on the lam." Later, he is captured by Bill Holloway.
After many scans and tests, Miss Dove awaits word on her condition. Tommy and Mr. Porter visit her. Mr. Porter is there representing the Rotary Club, who has voted to assume full financial responsibility for her medical bills. They can even charter a plane to transfer her to the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins, if she wants. Tommy tells her that she has a growth on her spine and it must, if possible, be removed. He won't know until he performs the surgery whether the tumor is malignant or not. Miss Dove decides to remain in Liberty Hill for the surgery. Although she at first refuses Mr. Porter's offer, she decides to accept it after learning that it is not charity Liberty Hill offers her, but respect.
Not knowing whether she will survive the surgery or if the tumor is malignant, Miss Dove gives Tommy her father's gold pocket watch. It is bequeathed to him in her will, but she wants him to have it temporarily. If all goes well and she will be all right, he can return it.
The surgery takes hours and the crowd in front of the hospital grows larger. They are finally told to go home, that a report will not be available until the next morning. Billie Jean chases away a group of children who want to give blood. She tells them the best thing they can do for Miss Dove is to go home and study for the state proficiency tests, which are coming up.
The next morning, church bells ring as the town learns that Miss Dove's surgery was a success. Tommy tells her that Jincey gave birth to twin boys and that they will be a handful in school. He returns the watch to her. Miss Dove is puzzled as to why the church bells are ringing. Billie Jean reports that the crowd in front of the hospital is wild with excitement and that the schools are closed. At this, Miss Dove replies that they must not close the schools because the children need to review for the proficiency tests. But she is obviously touched that so many of her former pupils care about her.
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By what name was Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955) officially released in India in English?
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