The 7th, and last, Doctor film, Doctor In Trouble, was released in June 1970. Richard Gordon wrote the novel, called Doctor On Toast, Jack Davies wrote the screenplay, and Ralph Thomas directed it.
Leslie Phillips is now back to being called Dr Anthony Burke, the same character he played in Doctor In Love. You have to admire the writers for not caring one bit about continuity. It was the last film that James Robertson Justice was in. Before the film started he was supposed to play Sir Lancelot Spratt and his twin Captain Spratt but a cerebral stroke put an end to that plan. James could hardly do the one role. Robert Morley took over the Captain Spratt role and it was less than it would have been with JRJ. James would die a few years later.
The film is the least interesting of the series, though it does have a bit of a role for Graham Chapman. He plays a camp photographer. Other notable cast members: Harry Secombe, Simon Dee, Angela Scoular (later Leslie's 2nd wife), Freddie Jones (father to Tobi Jones), Joan Sims and John Le Mesurier.
Like Leslie's Dr Burke, I'm disappointed at the end. He lost the girl and I lost a film series. I wish it had gone out with a better film. It's not awful or anything, it's just not up the the earlier films in the series, and that's, mostly for me, because the main character is less than the doctor that Dirk was in those films.
I'm happy to have the set and I can watch my favorites again in the future.
Comments