Doctor at Large

Date: 1957
Director: Ralph Thomas
Production Company: Group Film Productions Limited

Stars: Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice
Location(s): Buckinghamshire, London, Middlesex, West Flanders (Belgium)

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

Losing out for the position of Senior House Surgeon, a newly qualified Doctor works in a northern town, on Harley Street and in the country before getting the post he wants after rescuing a hospital governor from an embarrassing predicament.

Additional Information:

Originally added in the early days of ReelStreets, now with replacement screen captures and storyline by Phil Wilkinson

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Dr. Charles Bingham arrives at St. Swithin's Hospital in his Austin Seven Ruby. University College London, Gower Street WC1, which can be seen in many other productions including 'Raising the Wind', 'Wicked as They Come', 'Thunderbirds', 'The Lost Language of Cranes', ‘The Idol’, ‘Doctor in the House’, ‘The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu’, 'A Business Affair', ‘Inception’, 1959’s ‘The 39 Steps’, ‘The Man Who Never Was' and the television series 'Silent Witness'.

Without the height. SJ

Along the street, Dr. Sparrow approaches in his Vauxhall 14/40. Gower Street with the corner of Gower Place in the right distance.

Almost a repeat of Doctor in the House. SJ.

And here we are again. SJ

Hardly slowing down, Dr. Simon Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde) signals to turn into St. Swithin's. Gower Street, outside UCL.

Note the extension on Gower Street. SJ.

More accurately framed. SJ

The Gatekeeper salutes as the Doctor enters the hospital courtyard. The gateway to UCL on Gower Street.

Looking into University College. SJ.

In a different season. SJ

Returning the Gatekeeper's greeting, Dr. Sparrow heads for a vacant parking space. Looking onto Gower Street from UCL.

The Cruciform Building in the background. SJ.

Taken from inside the entrance looking across Gower Street. SJ

Explaining that he has a busy afternoon ahead, Dr. Charles Bingham (Michael Medwin) tells Dr. Sparrow that the post of Senior House Surgeon is down to the two of them. Within the grounds of UCL on Gower Street.

In the college grounds. SJ.

The astronomy observation shed remains though much of the quadrangle has been remodelled. SJ

The pair speak with Nurse Nan McPherson (Shirley Eaton) on their way into the hospital. Facing the Wilkins Building.

The north east corner. SJ.

I'm not all that happy with this angle but there was obstruction as works for the bicentennial revamping of the quadrangle come to a close. SJ

Sir Lancelot Spratt attempts to out manoeuvre a refuse truck as it heads for his reserved parking space. From outside the Wilkins Building, looking towards the Cruciform Building on Gower Street.

A good shot of the entrance, but obscured by the extension on the right. SJ.

A more paved look to the entrance. SJ

Following a faux pas by Dr. Sparrow involving a Governor of St. Swithin's, there's another examination. Queen Square WC1 with Guilford Street in the distance identified by Adrian Grepnold. The location also appears in 'Doctor in the House'.

Looking north-west. SJ.

Dr. Sparrow drives Tony Benskin (Donald Sinden) to the exam by car. The north-west side of Queen Square.

This is looking towards Alexandra House with Guilford Street in the right distance. SJ.

  • 'Now' required

Failing to get the position of Senior House Surgeon, Simon takes a job assisting Dr. Hatchet in the midlands.

  • 'Now' required

Driving from London, Dr. Sparrow pulls up outside Dr. Hatchet's home and surgery.

  • 'Now' required

Simon walks up to the front door where he's let inside by the physician's attractive wife Jasmine.

After his Father stops supporting him financially when he fails the exam, Benskin travels to Ireland. Located by Bob Corcoran this is Church Street in Staines, Middlesex.

Nick Boorman captured the scene where there have been small alterations over the intervening years.

Having been directed to O'Malley (John Chandos) who grants medical degrees, Tony jumps up beside him as he's driven to the golf course by Séamus. Church Street near the Lammas in Staines found by Bob Corcoran who adds that St. Mary's church is standing in the background.

Greenery and a car now obscure Nick Boorman's view.

The pair share a hip flask as O'Malley begins the examination. Bob Corcoran recognised Church Street, Staines, here facing south-westward.

Major changes to the road here where Nick Boorman also notes that the stink pipe/lamp post has gone.

  • 'Now' required

Meeting Lady Howkins on the ferry back to England, Dr, Benskin is given a job as her personal physician. Fulmer Hall on Windmill Road, Fulmer in Buckinghamshire.

  • 'Now' required

Dr. Benskin arrives at Lady Howkins' stately home in his Austin A30. Fulmer Hall in Buckinghamshire also features in 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines', 'The Man in the Road' and 'The Truth About Women'.

Resigning from his post in the midlands after Dr. Hatchet's wife makes advances, Dr. Sparrow arrives on Park Lane after taking a position as Dr. Potter-Shine's locum. Belgrave Square in SW1 recognised by SJ, with the junction of Wilton Crescent, Grosvenor Crescent and Halkin Street in the background.

Belgrave Square now. SJ.

And the square 15 years later in a different but matching season. SJ

Simon enters the clinic where he encounters various neurotic patients including aristocrats and society women. SJ identifies this as outside number 6 Belgrave Square. Various part of Belgrave Square and the surrounding streets have been seen in many films, including 'Indiscreet', 'Foreign Exchange', ‘The Wild Geese’, ‘The Fallen Idol’, 'Fanny by Gaslight', 'On Approval', ‘Stolen Face’ and ‘Crossplot’.

Now. SJ.

A sunnier shot taken at nearly the same time of day. SJ

  • 'Now' required

Leaving Park Lane for a job in the country, Dr. Sparrow is pulled over by the a Policeman who suspects that his vehicle's brakes are inefficient.

  • 'Now' required

Simon makes it to Dr. Farquarson's practice in the back of beyond where patients pay in kind rather than cash.

  • 'Now' required

Dr. Sparrow pays a house call to see Dad Ives.

  • 'Now' required

Six Children and two dogs rush out to meet the Doctor.

  • 'Now' required

Tony takes Dr. Joy Gibson (Muriel Pavlow) and Simon for a holiday to celebrate inheriting £15,000 from Lady Howkins. La Réserve hotel at Knokke-Heist in West Flanders.

  • 'Now' required

As he's about to order food, Simon spots Charles Hopcroft (Ernest Jay), the Governor from St. Swithin's who he was rude to. La Réserve hotel at Knokke-Heist, West Flanders.

  • 'Now' required

Hopcroft admires the young Ladies before choosing a changing room. The sign reads Casino Plage so this is likely to be on the sands opposite the Grand Casino on Zeedijk-Knokke in Knokke-Heist.

  • 'Now' required

The short-sighted bather leaves his glasses behind before heading to the beach.

  • 'Now' required

Finishing their meal, Tony, Joy and Simon order coffee. La Réserve hotel at Knokke-Heist.

  • 'Now' required

The three friends look towards a commotion at the changing rooms. La Réserve hotel in West Flanders.

  • 'Now' required

Police are alerted after a Woman screams when Hopcroft mistakenly enters one of the ladies changing rooms. Zeedijk-Knokke at Knokke-Heist.

Having saved Hopcroft from an embarrassing situation, in gratitude Dr. Sparrow is offered a post at St. Swithin's.

As high as I could manage. SJ

Discovering that Lady Howkins expected him to donate his £15,000 to a worthy cause as a condition of his inheriting, Dr. Benskin also returns to St. Swithin's as an anaesthetist. UCL on Gower Street WC1.

Quite a few changes here. SJ

A group of Surgeons follow Sir Lancelot Spratt into the hospital. University College London on Gower Street with the Wilkins Building to the right.

Taken from an empty plinth. SJ.

The sun beats down on the back of a copy of Discophorus. SJ

Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice) heads back to his car after overhearing Dr. Sparrow's excellent bedside manner. The steps down from the Wilkins Building.

The same details. SJ

In the hospital car park, Sir Lancelot comes face to face with an elephant. The car park outside the Wilkins Building at University College London.

The car park has gone in the reshaping of the quad but can also be seen in The Awakening. SJ

Dr. Bingham runs after Sir Lancelot to apologise for the animal being wrongly addressed to him. Facing the Wilkins Building at UCL on Gower Street in WC1.

Looking towards the same corner as seen in cap07. SJ