The Complete Doctor Collection [DVD] [1954]

I bought this set because I was collecting Dirk Bogarde films, but actually I am glad also now to possess those where Leslie Phillips played the leading role. The films stretch from 1954's `Doctor in the House' all the way through to 1970's `Doctor in Trouble' and one can therefore gauge to some extent the changes in humour through these years.The influence of the `Carry On' series starts to have an impact in the third movie: witness Dirk Bogarde saying to a young girl, "Big breaths!" for the patient to reply, "Yes, and I'm only sixteen!" But Bogarde was probably very uncomfortable with this kind of humour, so when he returned in `Doctor in Distress' six years later, the naughtiness seems consciously dampened down. The best joke is reserved for the final film: Irene Handl visits the doctor (Leslie Phillips) to discuss contraception for her daughter. Phillips suggests that her daughter go on the pill, but Handl replies that she has tried that to no avail: "It kept dropping out". There then follows a five second gap as the audience take in what has just been said. Classic! No way would a joke of that nature have been allowed in the cosy original film with Bogarde and Kenneth More. And, of course, the films display the mores of their times, the sexism, casual racism and homophobia. The accompanying commentaries at times seek to justify this humour, but I don't think they ultimately can. All that we can accept is that at least the humour in these areas is not cutting.After the success of the first in the series, the follow-ups were generally weaker, at least until the fifth, `Doctor in Distress' of 1963. In my opinion, the weakest of the set is the second movie, `Doctor at Sea', which is slower in pace and not as funny. We learn that Joan Collins was originally factored in to play the Brigitte Bardot role, but she did not work well with Bogarde. Interestingly, this early film introduced for me the Leslie Phillips character through the shape of Michael Medwin.What the series also affords is a chance to see in action a whole host of famous actors in minor cameo roles. Some of them crop up with surprising regularity playing different parts over the series. (James Robertson Justice is the only one in all seven, but he was hardly a minor actor.) Examples include Barbara Murray, Ronnie Stevens, Fenella Fielding, Bill Fraser, Joan Hickson, and Irene Handl - even Frank Finlay appears in one of the films.There is a good selection of extras with this set. Apart from `Doctor at Sea' and `Doctor in Distress', each of the seven films comes with a commentary. All are hosted by Robert Ross (who sounds like Jonathan's brother; maybe he is), and feature Donald Sinden and Muriel Pavlow (`Doctor in the House' & `Doctor at Large'); Leslie Phillips and Liz Fraser (`Doctor in Love') - the former feigning Alzheimer's, the latter sounding as young as ever - both being fractious in a playful way; Leslie Phillips and Shirley Anne Field (`Doctor in Clover'); and Leslie Phillips alone (`Doctor in Trouble'). Other extras worthy of mention are the generous selection of production stills, and the cursory production notes that provide much background information.

I purchased this for friends who are old enough to remember the films the first time around.Suffice to say they were very pleased with this collection and the overall quality considering the age.I watched the first one with them and it was lovely, charming and innocent fun.The films are worth watching for James Robertson Justice and his portrayal of Sir Lancelot Spratt alone!Sometimes it is nice to go back to a time where people did not swear at one another constantly and doctors remembered their patients were actually people!If this sounds like your sort of thing, then buy this.If you want guns, mayhem and explosions - maybe not!Thanks for reading and I hope this was useful.

i like it was funny

The quality of the DVDs is generally very good. Variable ratios, most frequently 16.9 but in the middle of the screen surrounded by black bars. (DR AT SEA is Vistavision and fills my screen). Sound good as are the subtitles. For all 7 films this is an absolute bargain even if you aren't familiar with them. However, I can't agree with the majority of reviewers here. To my mind none of these films have stood the test of time very well. Some are better than others, and the shrewd Betty Box knew that bringing in Bardot (AT SEA), Demongeot (I think it was "DISTRESS") and Elizabeth Ercy (IN CLOVER), not forgetting Samantha Eggar (IN LOVE) and many glorious young ladies of the time including Shirley Eaton and Fenella Fielding, that she was giving the male cinema going public what they wanted, apart from the comedy - Such comedy! Did we really think Donald Sinden grimacing and lusting everything in a skirt was funny? Ditto Leslie Phillips. Thank goodness for Bogarde who brought real charm to Dr Sparrow. JR JUSTICE does overdo the fearsome surgeon a bit but is fun. Good to see all the films and in such good nick, but it's a once only watch for me. However, if in doubt give it a go and if you like, disagree entirely with me!! Good viewing!.

Great collection to remember old movies laugh

I remember watching the Doctor films when I was younger, usually on a Sunday afternoon. Dirk Bogarde and James Robertson Justice work so well together. In Doctor in Love Michael Craig takes the lead role, a good choice in the absence of Dirk Bogarde but happy to see the return of Mr Bogarde in Doctor in Distress. Great films but i wouldn't really class the last film Doctor in Trouble as Good as the previous films, its too Bawby to be classed as a classic Doctor film, I only watched it because Leslie Phillips takes the main role in the film.. Too much like a Carry on film.. Brought in by Mr Rogers from the Carry Ons.. But well worth the price. Now I can watch a great film after my Sunday lunch again.

The first film in the series, ‘Doctor in the House’, was shot in the old standard 1.375:1 format using Technicolor film. The next two, ‘Doctor at Sea’ and ‘Doctor at Large’, were shot with VistaVision cameras (which would have had to be hired) and using, firstly, Technicolor and, secondly, Eastman Color film. The final four films were shot in a 1.60:1 format and The Rank Organisation did its own colour processing.The first film appears pillar-boxed on my HDTV, the two VistaVision films fill the 16x9 screen, and the final four films appear slightly pillar-boxed in a 14x9 format.Dirk Bogarde carried the first three films (and resurfaced, very much older, in the fifth). James Robertson Justice is the only principal actor to have appeared in all seven films.The overall quality of the films sank along with the production standards.

Loved this collection of Doctor films. Found they took me back to my younger days and made me laugh a lot. Very good value for the money and the quality isn’t too bad. Dirk Borgade Leslie Phillips and James Robinson Justice were great in these films.