Doctor Sparrow on the Roam
With Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice) turning Dr. Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde) down for a senior position the recently graduated doctor must head out in to the world to find work. What he finds is a miserly doctor whose randy wife wants to jump in to bed with him and crazy patients who cling on to their medication when he tries to stop it. Mean while his colleague Dr. Tony Benskin (Donald Sinden) finds himself going to be failed again so pops over to Ireland where he can pay to be qualified.
As a child I watched a few of these "Doctor" movies, they seemed to appear surprisingly regularly on TV, yet I remember very little about them other than having a very similar feel to the "Carry On" movies which I also once loved. And now having finally watched a complete "Doctor" movie for the first time in many years I can say it had the same effect as when I indulge in a "Carry On" movie now, often entertaining but ending up out staying its welcome.
Now "Doctor at Large" is simple as all it is are the misadventures of Dr. Sparrow often involving women despite the fact he is in relationship. There is a misadventure with a nurse played by Shirley Eaton, a randy doctor's wife who tries to seduce him as well as a neurotic patient who manipulates him with threats of screams. It is why the movie out stays its welcome as whilst each scenario is amusing when strung together it becomes a little repetitive. Even the subplots surround Sparrow's friend Benskin fail to add much to the story.
But "Doctor at Large" is entertaining with enjoyable performances from the ensemble with Dirk Bogarde at his relaxed best as Sparrow whilst Donald Sinden gives it the full charmer as his friend. Plus there are many familiar faces in supporting parts such as Shirley Eaton and Dilys Lane, yes two actresses who appeared in "Carry On" movies.
What this all boils down to is that "Doctor at Large" is a lot of fun with some great lines but due to its episodic nature it ends up a little too repetitive for my liking.
