DOCTOR IN DISTRESS

UK, 1963, 102 minutes, Colour.
Dirk Bogarde, Samantha Eggar, James Robertson Justice, Mylene Demongeot, Donald Huston, Barbara Murray, Dennis Price, Leo Mc Kern, Fenella Fielding, Jill Adams, Frank Finlay, Reginald Beckwith, Bill Kerr, Madge Ryan, Derek Fowlds, Ronnie Barker, John Bluthal, Richard Briers.
Directed by Ralph Thomas.

One of a series of very successful comedies. Most of these screen plays were written by the actor Nicholas Phipps who appears in most of them. He adapted the very popular novels by Richard Gordon about life in training for being a doctor and in medical practice in England in the fifties. They were a forerunner also of the rather more vulgar 'Carry On' series.

Dirk Bogarde starred in most of the films although in Doctor in Love, the star was Michael Craig and Leslie Phillips also took over in Doctor in Clover. The young Kenneth More, Donald Sinden, Donald Houston are all very vigorous support for Dirk Bogarde.

Many English character actors and actresses have supporting roles, especially James Robertson Justice as Sir Lancelot Spratt, a role he was to repeat in many of the other films. The production team of Betty Box and Ralph Thomas was responsible for the whole series. Doctor in the House is better than its successors. It is very entertaining British comedy of the fifties style.

1. The qualities of British comedy? The styles used in this film, its impact on the audience of the fifties, influence on later British comedies, especially the 'Carry On' series?

2. The colour, music, breezy style and atmosphere?

3. Audience response to the comedy routines: to students and their attitude towards studies, relationships? To the hospital way of life, humorous side, accidents? The wit of the dialogue, the humour of the situations?

4. The focus on sentiment especially with the character or Simon, his ambitions, study, relationship with Joy, the delivery and the mother calling the baby after him? The blend of sentiment and comedy in the British style?

5. Comment on the British tone of the film: its picture of English society in the fifties, London, youth and study, the various cross-sections of people presented for example the patients, landladies and their daughters, nurses and doctors? The comedy within the traditions of British comedy?


6. The last in Dirk Bogarde’s Doctor films? His air of aloofness? In comparison with ten years earlier? James Robertson Justice as Sir Lancelot Spratt – the same but mellowing?

7. The title, the reference to Doctor Spratt rather than to Doctor Sparrow?

8. The hospital, Spratt being in charge, mellowing slightly, his treatment of people? Simon and his work in surgery? The young interns? Their eagerness? The foundation stone, the mistake about Spratt’s name, the accident? His going to hospital?

9. The focus on Spratt, the massage, his infatuation with the masseuse? His pursuing her, the outings? His growing suspicious, following her, the dark glasses, on the train, his upsetting the passenger? His going to see her, knocking on the next door – and finding the passenger? Seeing her in love with the major? His persistence, the advice from Simon, Simon rescuing him? The happy ending? The masseur, her work, her no-nonsense with Sir Lancelot, attracted to him, her work with the major, his being a phony? Her response to Sir Lancelot?

10. Simon and his work, his meeting Delia, the interns fussing over her? His attraction, going to meet her, the outings? Going to see the film producer? Her wanting the job? Simon not wanting her to go? Her absence, the meeting, her going to Rome? Her return? His turning his attention to other girls? To Sonia and to Helga?

11. The women, as foils for the men? Delia as a model, her ambitions, going to Rome? Sonia and Helga, their taking her apartment? The reaction to Simon? The boyfriend leaving?

12. The range of character actors, in the train, the Australian sailor, the various women, the people at the reducing club? Sir Lancelot and his behaviour at the club, people wanting to talk to him, in the sauna, sneaking out for meals? Denis Price as the manager?

13. The English humour – in the tradition of the Doctor films? But the influence from the late 50s of the Carry On series?