Doctor at Sea (film)
| Doctor at Sea | |
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Original British 1955 quad film poster
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| Directed by | Ralph Thomas |
| Produced by | Betty E. Box |
| Screenplay by | Nicholas Phipps Richard Gordon Jack Davies |
| Based on | Doctor at Sea by Richard Gordon |
| Starring | Dirk Bogarde Brigitte Bardot James Robertson Justice Brenda De Banzie Joan Sims |
| Music by | Bruce Montgomery |
| Cinematography | Ernest Steward |
| Edited by | Frederick Wilson |
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Production
company |
Group Film Productions
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| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors (UK) Republic Pictures (US) |
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Release dates
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | 1,111,404 admissions (France)[1] |
Doctor at Sea is a 1955 British comedy film, directed by Ralph Thomas, produced by Betty E. Box, and based on Richard Gordon's novel by the same name. This was the second of seven films in the Doctor series, following the hugely popular Doctor in the House from the previous year. Once again, Richard Gordon participated in the screenwriting, together with Nicholas Phipps and Jack Davies, and once again Dirk Bogarde played the lead character Dr Simon Sparrow. The cast also includes James Robertson Justice and Joan Sims from the first film, but this time playing different characters. This was Brigitte Bardot's first English-speaking film.
Plot
With a view to escaping his employers' daughter, who has amorous designs on him, Dr Simon Sparrow (Bogarde) signs on as medical officer on a cargo ship, "SS Lotus". The ship is commanded by hot-tempered and authoritarian Captain Wentworth Hogg.
Sparrow overcomes initial seasickness and settles into life on board. After arriving in a South American port (unspecified, but possibly in Ecuador), Sparrow meets Hélène Colbert (Bardot), a sexy young French nightclub singer.
The misogynist Captain Hogg is forced to take on two female passengers, Muriel Mallet (De Banzie), the daughter of the chairman of the shipping company, and her friend, Hélène, for the return trip. Romance blossoms between Simon and Hélène, and when they reach home, Helene receives a telegram offering her a job in Rio de Janeiro. She and Sparrow return together.
Throughout the trip, Hogg has been romanced by Muriel and eventually becomes engaged to her - with almost certain promotion to Commodore.
Main cast
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- Dirk Bogarde as Dr. Simon Sparrow
- James Robertson Justice as Captain Hogg
- Brenda De Banzie as Muriel Mallet
- Brigitte Bardot as Hélène Colbert
- Maurice Denham as Steward Easter
- Michael Medwin as Third Officer Trail
- Hubert Gregg as Second Officer Archer
- James Kenney as Fellowes
- Raymond Huntley as Capt. Beamish
- Geoffrey Keen as Chief Officer Hornbeam
- George Coulouris as Ship's Carpenter
- Noel Purcell as Corbie
- Jill Adams as Jill
- Joan Sims as Wendy
- Cyril Chamberlain as Whimble
- Toke Townley as Jenkins
- Thomas Heathcote as Wilson
- Felix Felton as Dr George Thomas
Reception
The film was the 3rd most popular movie at the British box office in 1955, after The Dam Busters and White Christmas.[2]
Awards
- Nominated, 1956 BAFTA Film Award, Best British Screenplay, Nicholas Phipps and Jack Davies
Sequels
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This was the second installment of the Doctor series of films, with Bogarde featuring in the first three. Doctor at Sea was Brigitte Bardot's first ever role in an English-speaking film.
References
- ↑ Box office information for film at Box Office Story
- ↑ "'The Dam Busters'." Times [London, England] 29 Dec. 1955: 12. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
