Dottore nei guai

Bogarde returned one final time to the 'Doctor' series for old time's sake to maintain the box office clout he was otherwise happily squandering on his films with Joseph Losey; and the funniest moment in the film is probably the in-joke reference to Bogarde's previous film when Simon Sparrow stands in front of the huge round mirror "gentleman's gentleman" Barrett polished in 'The Servant' (I wonder were it is now?) and his head appears to be on a platter.

The opening credits reveal that Nicholas Phipps was still one of the scriptwriters (although that's hardly a recommendation); but the script was this time only "by arrangement with Richard Gordon", not based on any of his original novels (although that was never much of a recommendation either). Although prettily photographed in Eastmancolor with a huge cast of familiar faces (the tiny handful that are still alive looking heart-breakingly youthful); the reappearance over the final shot of Norrie Paramor's jaunty music from the opening sequence serves simply to remind one of how one's spirits had initially lifted only to be deflated by the dreary hundred minutes you'd then sat through.

The Doctor films continue and like the Carry On films which were directed by Ralph Thomas's brother, it seemed that the film series would go on forever.

Dr Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde) is now a senior doctor at Hampden Cross Hospital in love with a model and aspiring actress.

The film focuses more on the irascible Spratt who injures his back and becomes a patient in his own hospital and falls for the charms of his physiotherapist. Dr Sparrow sends him to a health clinic to lose some weight but the Physio is also romantically pursued by another patient at the hospital.

The film is well worth seeing for early appearances for some future comedy legends such as Ronnie Barker and Richard Briers. The film itself did not maintain my interest or was very funny. In fact I felt that by the end of the movie some of the plot threads remain unresolved leaving you to think that the producers must have run out of money.

The usual formula for this series featuring the urbane Bogarde, the irascible Robertson-Justice and - pardon my political incorrectness - some top notch tottie.

Probably considered quite risque in its time but hardly likely to provoke an "ooh err, missus!" these days, it mostly raises smiles rather than laughs although the odd bits of slapstick made my 7 year old son laugh.

Perhaps the most fun is to be had spotting future starts down the cast list: Richard Briers (The Good Life), John Bluthal (Vicar of Dibley), the uncredited Denise Coffee (Do Not Adjust Your Set), Ronnie Barker (Two Ronnies) and Derek Fowlds (Yes, Minister) are all here, not to mention Frank Finlay (Casanova) and Leo McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey). No Richard Wattis or John Le Mesurier though - they must have been working on 5 other British comedies that week.

This movie sees the return, after an absence of six years, of Dirk Bogarde to the role of Doctor Simon Sparrow. But for a change, the movie's main emphasis is not placed on the young, bungling medic, but, refreshingly, focuses on the wonderful James Robertson Justice as Sir Lancelot Spratt.

Because of this, 'Doctor In Distress' is my personal favourite of the 'Doctor' series. It's a joy to see James Robertson Justice take centre stage for a change, whether bashfully admitting his childhood nickname of 'Porker' or visiting a health farm; he never fails to raise a smile.

To be honest, Bogarde is largely wasted in this film; still it is nice to see Simon Sparrow for one final time. Indeed, 'Doctor In Distress' does have a feeling of closure to it, with Sparrow no longer a hapless young medic but instead an established colleague and friend of Sir Lancelot. It is a real pleasure to see these two fine actors reunited once again.

Sadly there would be eventually two more 'Doctor' movies made, of variable quality, but 'Doctor In Distress' sees out the classic 'Doctor' movies with style.

Doctor in Distress is directed by Ralph Thomas and adapted to screenplay by Nicholas Phipps and Ronald Scott Thorn from the Doctor series of characters that feature in the novels written by Richard Gordon. It stars Dirk Bogarde, James Robertson Justice, Samantha Eggar, Donald Houston, Barbara Murray and Mylène Demongeot. Music is by Norrie Paramor and cinematography by Ernest Steward.

Sir Lancelot Spratt (Justice) injures his back and finds himself a patient at his own hospital. Falling in love with his physiotherapist Iris Marchant (Murray), Spratt turns to senior doctor Simon Sparrow (Bogarde) for some lady wooing advice when Iris blows him off. But Simon has his own matters of the heart to contend with, his relationship with aspiring actress Delia Mallory (Eggar) is about to be challenged by a acting assignment in Italy.

The fifth of seven "Doctor" movies, Distress sees Bogarde return after missing part four of the series. The truth is that as a series it was never high end comedy anyway, more a case of solid light entertainment and a chance to spend some time in the company of some fine British actors. The Box Office take in the UK was as usual very healthy, but as amiable as it all is, it feels tired, like an auto-pilot production, where really there's only enough good material to have filled out an extended TV episode (Spratt trying to lose weight and following Iris when he learns another man is in the frame for her affections).

The makers try to invigorate this instalment by shifting the focus from Bogarde's Dr. Sparrow to Justice's irascible Spratt. Which while it undoubtedly is no bad thing having more of Justice's bluster to enjoy, the film wastes Bogarde (who would not return for parts six and seven) and the central joke just isn't strong enough to carry a running time of an hour and forty minutes! The girls are lovely and sexy (Murray impressive), but in the case of Eggar and Demongeot they are short changed by a screenplay that asks practically nothing of them.

Is it a good afternoon by the fire movie? Yes, absolutely, the cast (and the ream of cameos by notable British stars of film and TV) ensure that is the case. But don't be surprised if you find yourself looking at your watch after the hour mark has passed. 6.5/10