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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 85487" data-attributes="member: 23">Doctor - last night's rewatch - was something of a surprise to me. It's among my most frequently watched Carry Ons, having been a favourite when I was a child, and I've enjoyed watching it more recently. It has been a while though, and with the earlier Carry Ons having grown on me so much I thought Doctor may seem a little flat in comparison. It's turned out to be among the most enjoyable yet. Such a punchy little film. Not a moment is wasted, which is particularly appreciated after moments of filler in the previous couple of films. The one-liners are fun. There's even a tangible plot. I hadn't thought about it on previous watches, but this is only Talbot Rothwell's third contemporary Carry On, following on from Cabby and Spying. Which makes it appropriate that this marks Hattie Jacques and Barbara Windsor's return to the series. Hattie had been out of seven consecutive films by this point and it's a delight to see her back and right at the centre of things. Nurse May is quite possibly my favourite Carry On of Barbara's, with the balance of sauce and innocence hitting the right notes. The casting of Doctor is impressive all round. This feels like one of the largest ensembles of primary Carry On actors yet. It's possibly worth noting that this is the only Carry On film to feature all eight of the actors whose head-shots get included on the banner with the logo these days...<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/Carry_On_logo_illustration.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />(Not that I think ALL of these actors necessarily represent the Carry On crème de la crème. Indeed, it's very restricting to take such a huge rotating ensemble and push a handful front and centre). Other featured regulars in addition to these eight include Peter Butterworth, Dilys Laye, Peter Gilmore and Julian Holloway. Anita Harris is back from Camel. There are a whole host of cameos and walk-on roles playing various hospital visitors and staff. AND there's a guest starring lead role in Frankie Howerd. With such a huge cast, it's natural that some leads' roles are smaller than could be expected. It's natural that Sid James would be a little less visible than usual. Not much, mind you. Or at least it doesn't feel like it given how well he's used. Last night I noticed how little Charles Hawtrey had to do in this one. And Peter Butterworth barely said a word for the first hour or so. Nevertheless, James and Hawtrey were given second and third billing here (Hawtrey wouldn't appear, I believe,  if he had anything below third billing). In addition to Howerd, it's Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Jim Dale who, to me, seem to do the lion's share of the work. Out of interest, Williams and Dale get fourth and fifth billing respectively, while original cast member Jacques is relegated to a shocking ninth billing. If Doctor's cast is iconic, its locations are no less so. On a few occasions I've visited many of the filming locations the series used around Windsor and Maidenhead, and the one that felt most like stepping into a Carry On film for real was that visit to Maidenhead Town Hall. I think I'm due another visit soon. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> It seems to be widely felt that the period Carry Ons look better than the contemporary ones. Watching last night, though, I was struck by how rich Doctor looks. Alan Hume's touch is everywhere. Just look at those long, moody shadows in the night-time scenes where the patients' rebellious march up the stairs cross cuts with Matron throwing herself at Dr. Tinkle. It looks like a 1940s Fleischer cartoon brought to life. In the years since I last watched the series, I've acquired a TV with a bigger screen than I've ever had before. Being far too young to have seen any of the series in the cinema I'm finally seeing them more clearly than I ever have. And they hold up well. Another argument for getting this series released on Blu-ray sooner rather than later.</blockquote>

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