Doctor at Sea *** (1955, Dirk Bogarde, Brigitte Bardot, James Robertson Justice, Maurice Denham, Joan Sims, Brenda de Banzie, Geoffrey Keen, Michael Medwin) – Classic Movie Review 2690

Director Ralph Thomas’s 1955 British comedy is the welcome second Doctor adventure, more farcical than the first one, Doctor in the House (1954). Dirk Bogarde returns as Dr Simon Sparrow, this time leaving St Swithin’s Hospital to become the resident doctor on a trading ship.

He gets a surprise co-star in French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot, who bounces into his life as the pouting Hélène Colbert, along with the agreeable returning co-star James Robertson Justice (not as his usual series character Sir Lancelot Spratt but this time as Captain Hogg) and Maurice Denham as Easter.

And the Fifties vintage star character actor comedy crew is completed by Joan Sims as Wendy Thomas, Brenda de Banzie as Muriel Mallet, Geoffrey Keen as Hornbeam and Michael Medwin as Sub-Lieutenant Trail.

It is enjoyable, undemanding and comfortably familiar mix of romantic and farcical entertainment, nimbly written by Nicholas Phipps and Jack Davies, along with the series creator Richard Gordon, adapted from his novel. And is is directed at a rate of knots by Ralph Thomas.

The main interest is the genial playing of the impeccable comedy cast, plus the Bogarde-Bardot teaming. Despite their funny antics, the movie is still a notch down from Doctor in the House, while remaining a pleasant, old-style caper. It may be old style, but it still isn’t stale.

Joan Sims explains: ‘In Doctor at Sea I was cast again as the Plain Jane character … my rival in love was played by … Brigitte Bardot. Joan Sims versus Brigitte Bardot. I’ll leave you to guess which of us got her man.’

Also in the cast are Jill Adams, Hubert Gregg, James Kenney, George Coulouris, Noel Purcell, Frederick Piper, Paul Carpenter, Martin Benson, Thomas Heathcoate, Cyril Chamberlain, Toke Townley, Michael Shepley, Eugene Deckers and Joan Hickson.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2690

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