''Doctor in Love'' is a 1960 British
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
film, the fourth of the seven films in the ''
Doctor
Doctor or The Doctor may refer to:
Personal titles
* Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree
* A medical practitioner, including:
** Physician
** Surgeon
** Dentist
** Veterinary physician
** Optometrist
*Other roles
** ...
'' series, starring
James Robertson Justice
James Robertson Justice (15 June 1907 – 2 July 1975) was a British actor. He is best remembered for portraying pompous authority figures in comedies including each of the seven films in the '' Doctor'' series. He also co-starred with Greg ...
as Sir Lancelot Spratt and
Michael Craig as Dr Richard Hare. This was the first film in the series not to feature
Dirk Bogarde
Sir Dirk Bogarde (born Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde; 28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999) was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as ''Doctor in the House'' (1954) for the Rank Organ ...
, although he did return for the next film in the series ''
Doctor in Distress''. It was loosely based on the 1957
novel of the same title by
Richard Gordon.
Plot
Dr Richard Hare is a recently graduated medical intern at St Swithins Hospital. When his new romantic interest,
nurse
Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...
Sally Nightingale, suddenly leaves the hospital, he is devastated. He also leaves after being offered a job in private practice. But when his senior partner, Dr Cardew, has to visit
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
for a few months, Hare is left in charge.
He is joined by Dr Tony Burke who proceeds to airily order expensive equipment that the practice cannot afford but leaves the practice after breaking an arm. Dr Nicola Barrington joins the practice and Hare is suddenly in love again. The romance doesn't go well, especially when Sally re-appears and takes the job of practice secretary and eventually Nicola leaves.
Hare struggles through various comedic and other complications, mainly stemming from Burke's amorous attentions to female patients.
After enlisting Sir Lancelot Spratt's assistance to save a young dying boy, he diagnoses Spratt with
appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rup ...
and decides to operate, despite Spratt's loud objections. He objects even more when Dr Burke fills in at the last moment as the
anaesthetist
Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology, or anaesthesia is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine ...
. Despite Spratt's vociferous protestations, the operation is a success.
Hare is reunited with Nicola and returns to St Swithins.
Main cast
*
James Robertson Justice
James Robertson Justice (15 June 1907 – 2 July 1975) was a British actor. He is best remembered for portraying pompous authority figures in comedies including each of the seven films in the '' Doctor'' series. He also co-starred with Greg ...
as Sir Lancelot Spratt
*
Michael Craig as Dr. Richard Hare
*
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor, director, producer and author. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. ...
as Dr. Tony Burke
*
Joan Sims
Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress).
On television, she is known for playing Gran i ...
as Dawn
*
Liz Fraser
Elizabeth Joan Winch (14 August 1930 – 6 September 2018), known professionally as Liz Fraser, was a British film actress, best known for being cast in provocative comedy roles.
Early life
Fraser was born in Southwark, London. Her year of bi ...
as Leonora
*
Virginia Maskell
Virginia Elizabeth Maskell (27 February 1936 – 25 January 1968), was an English actress.
Biography
Virginia Maskell was born in Shepherd's Bush, London, daughter of William Eric Brands Maskell, of Little Down, Duncton, Sussex. After the ou ...
as Dr. Nicola Barrington
*
Carole Lesley
Carole Lesley (27 May 1935 – 28 February 1974), was a British actress who had a short but significant career as a "blonde bombshell".
She was born Maureen Rippingale in Chelmsford, Essex, but ran away from home at the age of 16, "aiming to ...
as Kitten Strudwick
*
Reginald Beckwith as Wildewinde
*
Nicholas Phipps
William Nicholas Foskett Phipps (23 June 1913 – 11 April 1980) was a British actor and writer who appeared in stage roles between 1932 and 1967 and more than thirty films between 1940 and 1970. He wrote West End plays, songs and sketches for ...
as Dr. Clive Cardew
*
Ambrosine Phillpotts
Ambrosine Phillpotts (13 September 1912 – 12 October 1980) was a British actress of theatre, TV, radio and film. '' The Times'' wrote, "She was one of the last great stage aristocrats, a stylish comedienne best known for playing on stage a ...
as Lady Spratt
*
Irene Handl
Irene Handl (27 December 1901 – 29 November 1987) was a British author and character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films.
Life
Irene Handl was born in Maida Vale, London, the younger of two daughters of an Austria-born father ...
as Professor MacRitchie
*
Fenella Fielding
Fenella Fielding, OBE (born Fenella Marion Feldman; 17 November 1927 – 11 September 2018) was an English stage, film and television actress who rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, and was often referred to as "England's first lad ...
as Mrs. Tadwich
*
Nicholas Parsons
Christopher Nicholas Parsons (10 October 1923 – 28 January 2020) was an English actor, straight man and radio and television presenter. He was the long-running presenter of the comedy radio show '' Just a Minute'' and hosted the game show '' ...
as Dr. Roger Hinxman
*
Moira Redmond
Moira Redmond (14 July 1928 – 16 March 2006) was an English actress.
Biography
She was born in Bognor Regis, Sussex, England. Her parents were actors and director managers, although she was also cared for by other relatives. Her grandfath ...
as Sally Nightingale
*
Ronnie Stevens as Harold Green
*
Michael Ward as Dr. Flower
*
John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier (, born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 191215 November 1983) was an English actor. He is perhaps best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation co ...
as Dr. Mincing
*
Meredith Edwards as Father
*
Avis Bunnage
Avis Bunnage (22 April 1923, Ardwick, Manchester – 4 October 1990, Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea) was an English actress of film, stage and television.
She attended Manley Park Municipal School and Chorlton Central School in Manchester. She ...
as Mrs. Mimp (uncredited)
*
Esma Cannon
Esma Ellen Charlotte Littmann (née Cannon) (27 December 1905 – 18 October 1972), credited as Esme or Esma Cannon, was a diminutive () Australian-born character actress and comedian, who moved to Britain in the early 1930s. Although she freque ...
as Raffia Lady (uncredited)
*
Patrick Cargill
Patrick Cargill (3 June 191823 May 1996) was an English actor remembered for his lead role in the British television sitcom ''Father, Dear Father''.
Career
Cargill was born to middle-class parents living in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. After educati ...
as Car Salesman (uncredited)
*
Bill Fraser
William Simpson Fraser (5 June 1908 – 9 September 1987) was a Scottish actor who appeared on stage, screen and television for many years. In 1986 he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for his stage role in the play '' ...
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
*
Joan Hickson
Joan Bogle Hickson, OBE (5 August 1906 – 17 October 1998) was an English actress of theatre, film and television. She was known for her role as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series ''Miss Marple''. She also narrated a number ...
as Sister (uncredited)
*
John Junkin
John Francis Junkin (29 January 1930 – 7 March 2006) was an English actor and scriptwriter who had a long career in radio, television and film, specialising in comedy.
Early life
Born in Ealing, Middlesex, the son of a policeman, he and h ...
as Policeman (uncredited)
*
Rosalind Knight as Doctor (uncredited)
*
Roland Curram
Roland Curram (born 1932) is an English actor and novelist.
Curram was educated at Brighton College and has had a long film, television and theatre career. His appearances include Julie Christie's travelling companion in her Oscar-winning film ...
as Student Doctor (uncredited)
*
Sheila Hancock
Dame Sheila Cameron Hancock (born 22 February 1933) is an English actress, singer, and author. Hancock trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before starting her career in repertory theatre. Hancock went on to perform in plays and musica ...
as Librarian (uncredited)
*
Robin Ray
Robin Ray (17 September 1934 – 29 November 1998[Roger T. Stearn, "Ray, Robin (1 ...](_blank)
as Doctor (uncredited)
*
Norman Rossington
Norman Rossington (24 December 1928 – 21 May 1999) was an English actor best remembered for his roles in ''The Army Game'', the ''Carry On'' films and the Beatles' film '' A Hard Day's Night''.
Early life
Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, ...
as Doorman (uncredited)
*
Peter Sallis
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a su ...
as Love-struck Patient (uncredited)
*
Marianne Stone
Marianne Stone (23 August 1922 – 21 December 2009) was an English character actress. She performed in films from the early 1940s to the late 1980s, typically playing working class parts such as barmaids, secretaries and landladies. Stone appe ...
as Nurse (uncredited)
*
Jimmy Thompson as Doctor (uncredited)
*
Sally Douglas
Sally Douglas (30 November 1941 – 1 September 2001) was a British supporting actress of the 1960s and 1970s. She died in September 2001 at the age of 59 from cancer.
She appeared in many notable films and television series. Comedy film credi ...
as Stripper (uncredited)
*
Angela Browne
Angela Browne (14 June 1938 – 20 June 2001) was a British actress. She had a recurring role in the early 1960s crime series '' Ghost Squad''. She also appeared in episodes of shows such as ''Danger Man'', ''No Hiding Place'', '' The Saint'', ...
as Susan (uncredited)
*
Warren Mitchell
Warren Mitchell (born Warren Misell; 14 January 1926 – 14 November 2015) was a British actor. He was a BAFTA TV Award winner and twice a Laurence Olivier Award winner.
In the 1950s, Mitchell appeared on the radio programmes ''Educatin ...
as Haystack Club Manager (uncredited)
Production
Dirk Bogarde
Sir Dirk Bogarde (born Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde; 28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999) was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as ''Doctor in the House'' (1954) for the Rank Organ ...
did not want to make any more ''Doctor'' films, so the filmmakers cast
Michael Craig and
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor, director, producer and author. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. ...
as young doctors. Producer
Betty Box
Betty Evelyn Box, (25 September 1915 – 15 January 1999) was a prolific British film producer, usually credited as Betty E. Box.
Early life and career
Born in Beckenham, Kent, England, she initially planned to be a commercial artist or journa ...
later said the entire cast cost as much as Bogarde's current fee at that time.
[Box p. 219] Craig said "it was no sweat, a bit like a mildly peasant piece of deja vu" because he had just worked with the same team on ''
Upstairs and Downstairs
''Upstairs and Downstairs'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Michael Craig (actor), Michael Craig, Anne Heywood, Mylène Demongeot, Claudia Cardinale, James Robertson Justice, Joan Sims, Joan Hickson and Sid ...
''.
Box says "We all developed an affection for ''Doctor in Love''. It was a gay, happy comedy which brought us into contact with some fine fresh talents."
Shooting took place at
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London.
The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to te ...
and
on location around
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
including at
University College London
, mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward
, established =
, type = Public research university
, endowment = £143 million (2020)
, budget = ...
. The sets were designed by the
art director
Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games.
It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...
Maurice Carter. The film features a visit to a strip tease club.
Reception
The film was the most popular movie at the British box office in 1960. Craig said "I don't think ''Doctor in Loves success had anything to do with me - King Kong probably could have played the part with the same result."
Betty Box claimed it earned more than ''
Doctor at Large''. "We felt we'd pushed our luck to the ninth degree and should now forget about doctors and medical students", she said.
[Box p. 221]
Not all reviews were positive, ''
Monthly Film Bulletin
''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 to April 1991, when it merged with ''Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those with a ...
'' described the film as "an antediluvian farce of staggering witlessness and vulgarity".
[
]
References
External links
*
''Doctor in Love''
at Britmovie
{{Ralph Thomas
1960 films
1960 comedy films
British comedy films
Doctor in the House
1960s English-language films
Films directed by Ralph Thomas
Medical-themed films
Films shot at Pinewood Studios
Films produced by Betty Box
Films set in London
Films shot in London
Films based on British novels
1960s British films