Doctor in the House (1954)

The trials and tribulations of a group of medical students at St. Swithin's hospital in London, England.

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers:

Richard Gordon (by), Richard Gordon (adapted for the screen by)

Stars:

Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Kenneth More

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dirk Bogarde	...	Simon Sparrow
Muriel Pavlow	...	Nurse Joy Gibson
Kenneth More	...	Richard Grimsdyke
Donald Sinden	...	Tony Benskin
Kay Kendall	...	Isobel Minster
James Robertson Justice	...	Sir Lancelot Spratt
Donald Houston	...	Taffy Evans
Suzanne Cloutier	...	Stella
George Coulouris	...	Briggs
Jean Taylor Smith	...	Sister Virtue
Nicholas Phipps	...	Magistrate
Geoffrey Keen	...	Dean
Martin Boddey	...	Demonstrator at pedal machine
Joan Sims	...	Rigor Mortis
Gudrun Ure	...	May (as Ann Gudrun)

Storyline

Simon Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde) is a newly arrived medical student at St. Swithin's hospital in London, England. Falling in with three longer-serving hopefuls, he is soon immersed in the wooing, imbibing, and fast sports car driving that constitute 1950s medical training. There is, however, always the looming and formidable figure of Chief Surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice) to remind them of their real purposes.

---

Plot Keywords:

medical student | doctor | hospital | nurse | first of series | 

---

Taglines:

Republic's Happy-Go-Laughable Hit!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exterior shots of St. Swithin's Hospital were shot at University College London.

---

Goofs

Simon Sparrow attends to a birth at Christmas, then almost immediately afterwards takes part in a rugby match in November. What's more the trees are in full summer foliage on the day of the match.

---

Quotes

Jane: You're expecting failure; I'm not. I just don't admit the idea of failure; it doesn't exist. I expect a pass.
Grimsdyke: One wonders which examiner will be frustrated enough to make it.

---

Connections

Referenced in Stella Street: The Zulu Party (1997)

User Reviews

1950's Brit Comedy at its best

I cannot see how anybody can dislike this delicious film. One liners stay in the mind like the infamous

"What's the bleeding time, son?" and

"Cut it out, man, cut it out"

from the wonderful James Robertson Justice.

Muriel Pavlow is the girlfriend that went on to, well, do not much else but Kenneth More, Donald Sinden and Donald Houston developed and honed their excellent comedy talent.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Doctor in the House

Filming Locations:

Myddelton Square, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Group Film Productions Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1