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06/03/1973 Comedy 1h 38m
69
User score

Overview

Peter Nichols adapted his own hit play to the screen, based on his experiences in hospitals. A riotous black comedy that's as timely today as ever, it contrasts the appalling conditions in a overcrowded London hospital with a soap opera playing on the televisions there. In an ingenious touch, the same actors appear in the "real" story as well as the "TV" one, thus blurring the distinctions even further. Jack Gould directs such outstanding British actors as Lynn Redgrave, Colin Blakely, Eleanor Bron, Jim Dale, Donald Sinden, Mervyn Johns, and, in only his second film, Bob Hoskins. The renowned Carl Davis composed the score.

  1. Jack Gold

    Director

Top billed cast

  1. Lynn Redgrave

    Nurse Sweet / Nurse Betty Martin

  2. Colin Blakely

    Edward Loach

  3. Eleanor Bron

    Mr. Carr / Senior Surgeon Boyd

  4. Donald Sinden

    Mr. Carr / Senior Surgeon Boyd

  5. Jim Dale

    Barnet / Dr. Neil Boyd

  6. Bob Hoskins

    Foster

  7. David Hutcheson

    Mackie

  8. Mervyn Johns

    Rees

  9. Bert Palmer

    Flegg

  10. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf
Written by CinemaSerf on 2025-08-04
I think this must have worked better on stage, for once it hits the big screen it really only comes across as a slightly more earnest, lightly politically charged, “Carry On” or “Doctor at…”, concept with shades of the “Likely Lads” added for good measure. Hospitals always did provide very fertile territory for a sitcom, and here the pithy dialogue goes some way to raising a laugh. The characterisations are, however, all a bit two-dimensional - though that does work rather better when we are watching their own television parody of American medical soaps starring the same actors w...read the rest
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Status
Released

Original Language
English

Budget
$0.00

Revenue
$0.00

Keywords