Doctor in Distress (1963)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers:

Nicholas Phipps (screenplay) and
Ronald Scott Thorn (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 December 1963 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's that incurable 'DOCTOR' team in their NEWESTand SAUCIEST! [UK]

Plot:

The stuffy medical director of a big-city hospital and his nemesis, a cheeky young intern, finally come...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Medical | Beautiful Woman | Sequel | Independent Film

Cast

Dirk Bogarde	...	Dr. Simon Sparrow
Samantha Eggar	...	Delia Mallory
James Robertson Justice	...	Sir Lancelot Spratt
Mylène Demongeot	...	Sonia / Helga (as Mylene Demongeot)
Donald Houston	...	Maj. French
Barbara Murray	...	Iris
Dennis Price	...	Blacker
Leo McKern	...	Heilbronn
Jessie Evans	...	Mrs. Parry
Ann Lynn	...	Mrs. Whittaker
Fenella Fielding	...	Passenger
Jill Adams	...	Genevieve
Michael Flanders	...	Bradby
Frank Finlay	...	Corsetiere
Reginald Beckwith	...	Meyer

Runtime:

UK:102 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:PG (tv rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Maidenhead Town Hall, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Movie Connections:

Follows Doctor in the House (1954)

Good fun as Sparrow leaves the nest

This movie sees the return, after an absence of six years, of Dirk Bogarde to the role of Doctor Simon Sparrow. But for a change, the movie's main emphasis is not placed on the young, bungling medic, but, refreshingly, focuses on the wonderful James Robertson Justice as Sir Lancelot Spratt.

Because of this, 'Doctor In Distress' is my personal favourite of the 'Doctor' series. It's a joy to see James Robertson Justice take centre stage for a change, whether bashfully admitting his childhood nickname of 'Porker' or visiting a health farm; he never fails to raise a smile.

To be honest, Bogarde is largely wasted in this film; still it is nice to see Simon Sparrow for one final time. Indeed, 'Doctor In Distress' does have a feeling of closure to it, with Sparrow no longer a hapless young medic but instead an established colleague and friend of Sir Lancelot. It is a real pleasure to see these two fine actors reunited once again.

Sadly there would be eventually two more 'Doctor' movies made, of variable quality, but 'Doctor In Distress' sees out the classic 'Doctor' movies with style.