Customer Reviews

Doctor in the House

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a funny movie about the trials and tribulations of med students, struggling thru the British med school of the 50s.
It's quite a culture shock to see how much has changed since the 50s (does anyone ever see the nurses in full uniform, complete with cap in hospitals anymore?). As opposed to recent medical shows, you won't learn much about medicine from this video but you will have lots of laughs.
So take this prescription and pop it in your vcr and enjoy - cheaper than your health insurance payments;)

This popular series of comic novels was filmed twice: as a series of feature films in the early 1950s and as a British sitcom 1969-77. Having seen parts of both, I prefer the TV series (although the films are probably more faithful to the books). This is partially because more was permitted in the way of sex and scatology by the time the TV series was made. But I also think the TV show was better cast. Dirk Bogarde struck me as an odd choice for the lead role of the naive young medical student; comedy isn't really Bogarde's forte.

The very funny TV series doesn't seem to have been released on DVD, but hopefully it will be at some point. The episodes are best watched in order since they tell something of a continuing story, so DVD is the perfect medium for them.

Please note that this review is about the original movie and not the TV collection, which is what this boxed set appears to be. I couldn't review the movie otherwise since it doesn't seem to be available on Amazon.

This is an engaging, funny, and unpretentious movie about the trials and tribulations of a group of student doctors. The dialog is superb, and the sight gags still hold up despite this now being a 65 year old movie. If the movie is to be believed, student doctors in the U.K. come in for even more abuse than young American doctors, as everyone from the patients to the nurses to the professors try to make their internship as harrowing as they possibly can. The crusty medical professor is always calling one of them an idiot for not knowing some obscure fact, and even the patients taunt them and try to trip them up.

Of course romance can't be left out of the picture, either, and the young nurses and doctors proceed to engage in a somewhat wary dance--the nurses not knowing which of the handsome, young doctors is going to pass his exams, complete his internship, and go on to a successful and profitable practice. In one scene, one of the doctors calls the nurse he's trying to put the make on "...a succulent starched uniform with a soft center." LOL. In another scene, Dirk Bogarde inadvertently ends up in a pricey restaurant with his date and realizes that he can barely afford the price of the drinks, let alone the meal, and has to invent an excuse to get back to the hospital to save face, which backfires on him (but which I'll leave for the movie so as not to provide any spoilers).

I noted that the print of this movie still seemed in very good condition, not grainy or blotchy and the colors were still bright. Perhaps 65 years isn't long enough for the films from this age (not sure which process was being used back then since I'm not expert in this area) to deteriorate as with the earlier nitro-cellulose or guncotton derived panchromatic film stock from the teens and 20s that are now in such poor condition.

Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pawlow, Kenneth More, and Sir Lancelot Spratt are all excellent in their roles. Overall, this is a charming, funny, and light-hearted comedy from another age.

VCI Entertainment and The Rank Collection presents "DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE" (1954) (92 min/Color) -- Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice, Kay Kendall, Donald Houston, Suzanne Cloutier, Geoffrey Keen, George Coulouris, Shirley Eaton, Joan Hickson, Richard Wattis

Directed by: Ralph Thomas

VCI has restored and brought from their vaults another great film from the British Invasion.

Sir Lancelot Spratt was written with James Robertson Justice in mind, or so it would seem because it's a perfect fit. When he walks into a room, you start immediately to put a smile on your face - just stand by for anything that's about to happen.

The supporting players is a dream cast, J R J, Kenneth More (so underrated), Donald Houston, Kay Kendall, Muriel Pavlow and Muriel Pavlow. Some very over the top (which I love) --- "what's the bleeding time...ten past ten sir"

Doctor in the House is just what the Doctor ordered!!

Growing up, watched all of the Doctor Series films, this just stands out from all the rest, the perfect example of British comedy in the 1950's.

Doctor In The House was so successful that it spawned not only six sequels, but also a television spin-off.

The dialogue is side splitting and the sight gags even better. Marvelous, fast-paced entertainment that holds up well to this day!

Won BAFTA Film Award for Best British Actor (Kenneth More)
Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Best British Film, Best British Screenplay (Nicholas Phipps) and Best Film from any Source

For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review

SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES:
1. Commentary with Muriel Pavlow and Donald Sinden
2. Photo Gallery

BIOS:
1. Ralph Thomas (Director)
Date of Birth: 10 August 1915 - Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK
Date of Death: 17 March 2001 - London, England, UK

2. Dirk Bogarde [aka: Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde]
Date of Birth: 28 March 1921 - Hampstead, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 8 May 1999 - Chelsea, London, England, UK

3. James Robertson Justice [aka: James Norval Harald Justice]
Date of Birth: 15 June 1907 - Lewisham, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 2 July 1975 - Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK

4. Muriel Pavlow
Date of Birth: 27 June 1921 - Leigh, England, UK

5. Kenneth More [aka: Kenneth Gilbert More]
Date of Birth: 20 September 1914 - Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Date of Death: 12 July 1982 - Fulham, London, England, UK

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 92 min on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment #8665 ~ (August 2, 2011)

Amazon has a picture of the MOVIE collection of Doctor In The House. This was a series of movies starring Dirk Bogard.
It is NOT the the very very funny TV series from London Weekend TV that played on PBS for a long time.
So neither Amazon.Com nor Amazon UK seem to have the TV series. They do have the movie collection.
But if your looking for the Barry Evans Doctor In the House, keep looking or maybe Amazon will correct their listing.

It's a pity that VCI have given us such a poor transfer: VHS-quality made worse by crude attempts at sharpening and color boosting. The cover claims that "This Special Edition motion picture has been digitally restored to its present condition." Unfortunately its present condition has to be rated as awful. Not to be watched on anything grander than a 13" television. This is a fine film that deserves much better treatment.