Carnaby, M.D. (1966)
"Doctor in Clover" (original title)

Dr Gaston Grimsdale is working in a prison looking after the prisoners who are sick and keeping off the blocks as a result; it is not a great career but he has settled into it. By chance he bumps into his former tutor Sir Lancelot Spratt who gruffly demands that Grimsdale give up his pathetic excuse for a job and come and learn what a real doctor is supposed to be doing. Grimsdale agrees to join Spratt (did he have a choice?) and finds that his cousin Dr Miles Grimsdyke also works at the hospital.

From the opening title sequence featuring wacky behaviour and simple slapstick it is clear that the Doctor series has decided to throw its weight behind the Carry On series in the hope that it could cash in on its success. The plot is pretty thin and really the only thing approaching a plot is the fact that Grimsdale has come to join the regular hospital staff and instead the aim just seems to be to facilitate as many of the usual scenes as possible. I suppose it does deserve credit for being a year before Carry On Doctor so it isn't like it ripped that film off but in essence the structure is the same with lots of minor scenes and comic threads that only last a short while and draw a few laughs. It isn't anything special at all and I rarely laughed throughout the whole film but it is all quite inoffensive stuff and I was glad that it never fell into crudity or lazy double-entendres.

The performances are of the same standard as the material which is to say that they are perfectly serviceable without ever threatening to be memorable. Phillips was a good addition to the cast in the place of the much less comic Bogarde and he does the best he can with the material. It is a shame that his scenes are all pretty basic and that he isn't as funny as his normal character can often be. Justice is as enjoyable as ever and his delivery is good fun. Fraser is as dull as dishwater and the film wisely keeps him on the sidelines where possible. Sims' Matron works reasonably well in the film even if her character is a bit basic and just what you expect it to be. Turns from Haynes, Field and others are quite good while there are a few cameos along the way.

Overall then this is an inoffensive piece of nonsense. It isn't hilarious but it isn't rubbish either and those looking for gently swinging comedy for a wet weekend might find this to hit the mark; just don't expect much from it other than to be mildly entertained.