6.4
The first of the seven "Doctor" films, based on Richard Gordon's novels and released between 1954 and 1970. Simon Sparrow is a newly arrived medical student at St Swithin's hospital in London. Falling in with three longer-serving hopefuls he is soon immersed in the wooing, imbibing and fast sports-car driving that constitute 1950s medical training. There is, however, always the looming and formidable figure of chief surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt to remind them of their real purpose.
Dirk Bogarde
Simon Sparrow
Muriel Pavlow
Nurse Joy Gibson
Kenneth More
Richard Grimsdyke
Donald Sinden
Tony Benskin
Kay Kendall
Isobel Minster
James Robertson Justice
Sir Lancelot Spratt
Donald Houston
Taffy Evans
Suzanne Cloutier
Stella
George Coulouris
Briggs
Jean Taylor Smith
Sister Virtue
Nicholas Phipps
Magistrate
Geoffrey Keen
Dean
Martin Boddey
Demonstrator at Pedal Machine
Joan Sims
Rigor Mortis
Gudrun Ure
May
Harry Locke
Jessup
Cyril Chamberlain
Policeman
Ernest Clark
Dr. Parrish
Maureen Pryor
Mrs. Cooper
George Benson
Lecturer on Drains
Shirley Eaton
Millicent "Milly" Groaker
Eliot Makeham
Elderly Examiner
Joan Hickson
Mrs. Groaker
Brian Oulton
Medical Equipment Salesman
Noel Purcell
Padre (uncredited)
Amy Veness
Grandma Cooper (uncredited)
Mona Washbourne
Midwifery Sister (uncredited)
Richard Wattis
Medical Book Salesman (uncredited)
Carol White
Girl (uncredited)
Director
Ralph Thomas
Screenplay
Richard Gordon
Screenplay
Nicholas Pipps
April 4, 2022
6
Time hasn't been especially kind to this, but there is a strength amongst this pretty solid cast that, alongside some half decent writing that avoids the obvious smut and double entendre to be found in the "Carry Ons", makes it a passable watch. It centres around a group of medical students under the imperious supervision of James Robertson Justice's "Sir Lancelot" trying to get a grip with their studies - a task well beyond most of them - whilst their hormones rage a bit too. There is balance here: the girls and boys are as equally up for some fun and games and Dirk Bogarde, Kenneth More, Kay Kendall and Muriel Pavlow come across as if they are having quite a bit of fun making this. Sure, the scenarios are all very predictable (or just downright far-fetched) but the humour is harmless fun that I suspect, though maybe not to quite to the extremes depicted here, could remind many of us of our youthful japery when the studying was not so important. Uniquely British, I'd have thought - I can't think this will travel well, but almost 70 years on I still quite enjoyed it.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00