Film Snail

5.9

Doctor in Clover

NR·1966·97m

Comedy

Summary

Doctor in Clover is another 'Doctor' movie, but this time Leslie Phillips is the main doctor in the story, looking for love and romance from the hospital nurses, much to the annoyance of the main Administrator (James Robertson Justice) who wants his doctors to be 100% focussed on the job. Numerous antics follow, with Phillips getting Justice fixed up with the new prim-and-proper Matron (Joan Sims) and his attempted failures to lure the hospital's beauty, the physiotherapist.

Cast

Leslie Phillips

Dr Gaston Grimsdyke

James Robertson Justice

Sir Lancelot Spratt

Shirley Anne Field

Nurse Bancroft

John Fraser

Dr Miles Grimsdyke

Joan Sims

Matron Sweet

Arthur Haynes

Tarquin Wendover

Fenella Fielding

Tatiana Rubikov

Jeremy Lloyd

Lambert Symington

Noel Purcell

O'Malley

Robert Hutton

Rock Stewart

Eric Barker

Prof. Halfbeck

Terry Scott

Robert the hairdresser

Norman Vaughan

TV Commentator

Elizabeth Ercy

Jeannine Belmond

Alfie Bass

Fleming

Jean Benedetti

Man in French Movie

Anne Cunningham

Women's Ward Sister

Suzan Farmer

Nurse Holliday

Peter Gilmore

Len the Choreographer

Nicky Henson

Boutique Assistant

Robin Hunter

Sydney

Barry Justice

Beckwith

Bill Kerr

Digger

Harry Fowler

Grafton

Justine Lord

New Matron

Roddy Maude-Roxby

Tristram

Lionel Murton

Publicity Man

Dandy Nichols

Patient with Kidney Stones

Anthony Sharp

Dr. Dean Loftus

Ronnie Stevens

TV Producer

Jack Arrow

Porter (uncredited)

Ann Barrass

Patient (uncredited)

Alexandra Bastedo

Nurse at Party (uncredited)

Norman Chappell

Flower Delivery Man (uncredited)

Hugh Elton

Visitor (uncredited)

Mabel Etherington

Lady at Party (uncredited)

Catherine Feller

Catherine - Wife in French Movie (uncredited)

Danny Green

Ashby (uncredited)

Renee Heimer

Sister (uncredited)

John Junkin

Prison Warder (uncredited)

Harold Kasket

Husband in French Movie

Cheryl Kennedy

Nurse (uncredited)

Aileen Lewis

Party Guest (uncredited)

Fred Machon

Visitor (uncredited)

André Maranne

Pierre in French Movie (uncredited)

Mary Maxfield

Sister (uncredited)

Ronald Rich

Student Doctor (uncredited)

Wendy Richard

Nurse with False Eyelashes (uncredited)

Jack Smethurst

Long-Haired Patient (uncredited)

Esme Smythe

Patient (uncredited)

John Tatham

Party Guest (uncredited)

Reg Thomason

Hospital Porter (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Ralph Thomas

Novel

Richard Gordon

Screenplay

Jack Davies

Reviews

John Chard

March 25, 2016

An apple a day keeps the doctor away...

Doctor in the House was released in 1954 and promptly became the start of a franchise of Brit comedy films. The quality and standard of each film, a total of seven, varies and will always be a subject of debate among fans. Clover, the 6th offering, isn't particularly great, and minus series regular Dirk Bogarde, it is often painted as the runt of the litter. Yet there are some strengths worthy of time spent with the pic to save it from sequel damnation.

Leslie Phillips fronts up as the focal point, he's a randy doctor who as he attempts to go about his fanciful Lothario ways, becomes acutely aware of his advancing years, cue his attempts at looking young. James Robertson Justice is still on hand as the boisterous Sir Lancelot Spratt, while Joan Sims, Fenella Fielding, Arthur Haynes, Shirley Anne Field and John Fraser are filing in for some daft medical shenanigans.

It's a bit "Carry On" lite, at times feeling like it's trying to be more risqué than is possible. Yet Fielding and Haynes are super as strong personality patients, Phillips carries the movie with ease, while Justice cuts lose from the gruff persona - to see him have fun courtesy of a dubious serum plot line. Nobody's idea of a British classic, for sure, but fun enough with a G&T on a Sunday afternoon. 6/10