Doctor in the House is directed by Ralph Thomas and collectively written by Nicholas Phipps, Richard Gordon (novel) and Ronald Wilikinson. It stars Dirk Bogarde, Kenneth More, Donald Sinden, Muriel Pavlow, Kay Kendall, James Robertson Justice and Donald Houston. Music is by Bruce Montgomery and cinematography by Ernest Steward.
Story follows the fortunes of Simon Sparrow (Bogarde), who starts as a medical student at St Swithins Hospital in London. Quickly hooking up with a couple of fun seeking students, Simon sets about trying to survive the 5 years of student life before passing the grade to become a doctor. Wine, women, song and adventure beckons; as does being expelled
The most popular film of 54 at the British box office, Doctor in the House spawned 6 sequels and a TV series, whilst it also represented the point when Bogarde became a "name" actor. It looks a bit tame now of course, its affability hardly giving credence to the given observation that it's an important movie in the British comedy film pantheon. But its worth should not be under stated, nor should the flame of warm old time Brit comedy ever be extinguished as the sexually tinged comedy of today jettisons smiley simplicity in favour of overt crudeness.
Many behind the scenes of the production had family links to the team that would go on and produce the Carry On series of films that became a staple of British cinema, Doctor in the House represents the flip side of the Carry On medical adventures. Where boisterous sauce is replaced by awkward innocence and double entendres replaced by jovial japes; and of course there's a wealth of British talent across the cast list to enjoy as they deliver the well timed gags and scenarios. Lovely film really. 7.5/10
Story follows the fortunes of Simon Sparrow (Bogarde), who starts as a medical student at St Swithins Hospital in London. Quickly hooking up with a couple of fun seeking students, Simon sets about trying to survive the 5 years of student life before passing the grade to become a doctor. Wine, women, song and adventure beckons; as does being expelled
The most popular film of 54 at the British box office, Doctor in the House spawned 6 sequels and a TV series, whilst it also represented the point when Bogarde became a "name" actor. It looks a bit tame now of course, its affability hardly giving credence to the given observation that it's an important movie in the British comedy film pantheon. But its worth should not be under stated, nor should the flame of warm old time Brit comedy ever be extinguished as the sexually tinged comedy of today jettisons smiley simplicity in favour of overt crudeness.
Many behind the scenes of the production had family links to the team that would go on and produce the Carry On series of films that became a staple of British cinema, Doctor in the House represents the flip side of the Carry On medical adventures. Where boisterous sauce is replaced by awkward innocence and double entendres replaced by jovial japes; and of course there's a wealth of British talent across the cast list to enjoy as they deliver the well timed gags and scenarios. Lovely film really. 7.5/10