The Complete Doctor Collection [DVD]

I bought this set because I was collecting Dirk Bogarde films, but actually I am glad also now to possess those where Leslie Phillips played the leading role. The films stretch from 1954's `Doctor in the House' all the way through to 1970's `Doctor in Trouble' and one can therefore gauge to some extent the changes in humour through these years.

The influence of the `Carry On' series starts to have an impact in the third movie: witness Dirk Bogarde saying to a young girl, "Big breaths!" for the patient to reply, "Yes, and I'm only sixteen!" But Bogarde was probably very uncomfortable with this kind of humour, so when he returned in `Doctor in Distress' six years later, the naughtiness seems consciously dampened down. The best joke is reserved for the final film: Irene Handl visits the doctor (Leslie Phillips) to discuss contraception for her daughter. Phillips suggests that her daughter go on the pill, but Handl replies that she has tried that to no avail: "It kept dropping out". There then follows a five second gap as the audience take in what has just been said. Classic! No way would a joke of that nature have been allowed in the cosy original film with Bogarde and Kenneth More. And, of course, the films display the mores of their times, the sexism, casual racism and homophobia. The accompanying commentaries at times seek to justify this humour, but I don't think they ultimately can. All that we can accept is that at least the humour in these areas is not cutting.

After the success of the first in the series, the follow-ups were generally weaker, at least until the fifth, `Doctor in Distress' of 1963. In my opinion, the weakest of the set is the second movie, `Doctor at Sea', which is slower in pace and not as funny. We learn that Joan Collins was originally factored in to play the Brigitte Bardot role, but she did not work well with Bogarde. Interestingly, this early film introduced for me the Leslie Phillips character through the shape of Michael Medwin.

What the series also affords is a chance to see in action a whole host of famous actors in minor cameo roles. Some of them crop up with surprising regularity playing different parts over the series. (James Robertson Justice is the only one in all seven, but he was hardly a minor actor.) Examples include Barbara Murray, Ronnie Stevens, Fenella Fielding, Bill Fraser, Joan Hickson, and Irene Handl - even Frank Finlay appears in one of the films.

There is a good selection of extras with this set. Apart from `Doctor at Sea' and `Doctor in Distress', each of the seven films comes with a commentary. All are hosted by Robert Ross (who sounds like Jonathan's brother; maybe he is), and feature Donald Sinden and Muriel Pavlow (`Doctor in the House' & `Doctor at Large'); Leslie Phillips and Liz Fraser (`Doctor in Love') - the former feigning Alzheimer's, the latter sounding as young as ever - both being fractious in a playful way; Leslie Phillips and Shirley Anne Field (`Doctor in Clover'); and Leslie Phillips alone (`Doctor in Trouble'). Other extras worthy of mention are the generous selection of production stills, and the cursory production notes that provide much background information.

This is an exemplary re-issue of an important series of films involving the cream of Brish character actors of the period.

What is not properly emphasised in the feature data is five of the seven films contain an audio commentry by the likes of Donald Sinden,Muriel Pavlow,Leslie Phillips,Liz Fraser and Shirley Anne Field.

Sadly the feature is missing from Doctor at Sea which starred the delectable Briette Bardot as background information on that famous early appearance would be of great intertest.

I realise audio commentry is not everyones cup of tea (you can turn the feature off and on) but for those of us with an interest in and love of early British cinema the insight provided is a priviledge and one of the very best reasons for DVD re-issues.

All the stalwart British Thespians of the period are represented as is the great James Robertson Justice last film and thanks to the audio commentry I now know he had to be helped with his lines how that was done on set and Robert Morley drafted in the take some of his work load

The tranfer quality to DVD is first rate and at the price for what you get an absolute bargain

Take a bow ITV DVD and thank you.

We have all probably seen these films on tv over the years but i've just bought this set and have watched four of the films so far and i was not only pleased at the price but the commentaries on some of them with the stars have been a real delight as well as insightful into British film production in the sixties. You only have to look at the quality of the prints as well as the catalogue of stars included to know you are getting a real bargain. If you are a carry on fan you need this set to complete your collection. Keep taking the medicine.....