Doctor in Clover (1966) Leslie Phillips, James Robertson Justice, Shirley Anne Field, John Fraser, Joan Sims Movie Review

Doctor in Clover (1966)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Jeremy Lloyd and Leslie Phillips in Doctor in Clover (1966)

Doctor's Almost Over

Having served time at her majesty's pleasure working as a prison doctor Dr. Gaston Grimsdyke (Leslie Phillips) is back at the teaching hospital and up to his old tricks when it comes to charming all the fit young nurses. He also sets about using that legendary charm to score himself a cushy job when another professor moves abroad. But in between the flirtations and the patients there is also Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice) judgemental eye and also the new matron (Joan Sims) to deal with.

I believe that "Doctor in Clover" was the sixth of the seven "Doctor..." movies but it was only the second one I have watched from beginning to end and to be honest I can understand why the series didn't last much longer even though it was still enjoyable. The answer is because with Leslie Phillips in the lead role, Joan Sims as matron and Fenella Fielding showing up as one of the troublesome patients it feels like an offshoot of a "Carry on" movie rather than a continuation of the "Doctor..." series. And that means lots of hijinx and confusion when it comes to the doctors, nurses and patients.

Fenella Fielding in Doctor in Clover (1966)

Now in fairness "Doctor in Clover" does have a smattering of a storyline as we Gaston trying to score with a younger woman who works as a therapist whilst there is romantic confusion between Spratt and Matron but it is barely enough to work as a vehicle for the comedy which gives it even more of a feeling of being a collection of comedy ideas rather than a coherent movie.

What this all boils down to is that "Doctor in Clover" should bring a smile to the faces of those who enjoy the humour of the "Carry on..." movies but it does feel a bit light and not the barrel full of laughs it needed to be.


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