Doctor at Large *** (1957, Dirk Bogarde, James Robertson Justice, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden, Shirley Eaton, Derek Farr, Michael Medwin, Edward Chapman, Barbara Murray) – Classic Movie Review 3140

Director Ralph Thomas’s 1957 British comedy is number three in the incredibly popular Doctor films franchise and writer Richard Gordon’s series is still getting most of its comic gag shots right on target. Nicholas Phipps writes the screenplay from Gordon’s novel.

Dirk Bogarde again stars as Dr Simon Sparrow, who this time gets back on dry land after his previous high-seas adventure (Doctor at Sea, 1955) and sets up a country practice only to find his old medical school, London’s St Swithin’s Hospital, and its estimable head surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice) exerting their strong pull. Dr Sparrow applies for a surgeon’s job at the hospital, but insults Sir Lancelot, then rescues one of the hospital’s governors.

Fifties familiar, treasured British character actors appear everywhere to delightful effect, and series regulars Muriel Pavlow and Donald Sinden also happily return as Dr Joy Gibson and Dr Tony Benskin. But perhaps the most pleasure comes from the teaming of Bogarde and Robertson Justice as the appealingly amusing medicine men.

It was a huge home at home and was Britain’s number one box-office hit of the year.

Also in the cast are Shirley Eaton as Nurse Nan McPherson, Derek Farr as Dr Potter-Shine, Michael Medwin as Dr Charles Bingham, Edward Chapman, Barbara Murray, Gladys Henson, Lionel Jeffries, A E Matthews, Athene Seyler, George Coulouris, Anne Heywood, Mervyn Johns, Ernest Thesiger, Geoffrey Keen, Dilys Laye, Guy Middleton, Nicholas Phipps, Frederick Piper, Noel Purcell, Harry Locke, Terence Longden, George Relph, Donald Pickering, Martin Benson, John Chandos, Judith Furse, Ernest Jay and Michael Trubshawe.

Followed by Doctor in Love (1960) without Bogarde, who returned for Doctor in Distress in 1963.

Sir Donald Sinden CBE died on 12 September 2014 at the age of 90. His first major film performance was in 1953 naval drama The Cruel Sea and he went on to appear in some 30 films. He was best known as the star of hit comedies such as Doctor in the House and Doctor at Large.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3140

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