Dark Victory 1939

The First Cancer Movie -  Dark Victory, 1939

Wikipedia entry for Dark Victory. 

There were general illness-themed movies going back to the earliest days of motion pictures, with the illness most often being consumption or tuberculosis.  Dark Victory is considered the first cancer movie.  Notice that in the trailer the word 'cancer' is never mentioned. There is not even a suggestion of 'illness' at all. It's presented as any ordinary sweeping romantic drama. Dark Victory (1939) Official Trailer - Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart Drama Movie HD

In the movie itself, the word cancer is used once, but even then it is spoken by one doctor to another, and certainly not to the patient. 

This leads to the first cancer movie issue - SECRECY. This is an issue that will occur throughout the decades in cancers movies, with many variations and nuanced takes. But in this case it is the most egregious issue I have a problem with - KEEP IT SECRET FROM THE PATIENT. This is the first movie where the doctor conspires with a spouse or friend to keep the truth from the patient. The patient always finds out, of course, as that's where the drama is most heightened.

Another common problem that will go on for decades, but gradually improve - LACK OF TECHNICAL MEDICAL EXPLANATION. The most technical Dark Victory gets (apart from using the word cancer ) is to say that the type of cancer is Glioma. They also use the word malignant. Again, all these only once, and from doctor to doctor, not with the patient present.

One curious observation - the earliest cancer movies seem to favor brain tumors. I've not heard any solid theories as to why this might be. General lack of knowledge about types of cancer? More presentable in movies, as the only prop needed is a head bandage? One thing that is positive (I suppose) is that this is the only cancer movie I've seen where the patient smokes in in the hospital room. She smokes quite a lot in the movie actually, very common in Hollywood movies at the time. But the hospital room?