Doctor at Sea (film)

Doctor at Sea
Directed by	Ralph Thomas
Produced by	Betty Box
Written by	Nicholas Phipps Richard Gordon Jack Davies
Starring	Dirk Bogarde Brigitte Bardot James Robertson Justice Brenda De Banzie Joan Sims
Distributed by	Rank
Release date(s)	July 12, 1955
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Doctor at Sea is a 1955 British comedy film, directed by Ralph Thomas and produced by Betty Box. The screenplay, by Nicholas Phipps, Richard Gordon and Jack Davies was the sequel to their film from the previous year Doctor in the House, and also starring Dirk Bogarde, playing the character of the Dr. Simon Sparrow. Also featured in the sequel were James Robertson Justice and Joan Sims, but this time playing different characters.

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.

Cast

• 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

Awards

• Nominated, 1956 BAFTA Film Award, Best British Screenplay, Nicholas Phipps and Jack Davies

Sequels

Main article: Doctor Series

This was the second of seven Doctor in the House films, with Bogarde featuring in the first three. Doctor at Sea was Brigitte Bardot's first ever role in an English-speaking film.

External links

• Doctor at Sea at the Internet Movie Database