Review of Dentist In The Chair

Introduction

This Carry-On style farce was made in the same year as the fourth Carry On (Constable) and shares something of that movie`s fun-filled irreverance. In truth, there is something subversive going on in both, where the Producers probably had a lot of fun getting subtle `filth` past the censors. (Compare the `You rotten constable` line to the `pheasant plucker` gag shoe-horned into this movie …).

Like Carry On Constable, this series of vaguely connected sketches centres around a series of new recruits (dental students here) going about their everyday lives. Sadly, unlike the Carry-On`s, and despite sterling efforts from the genuinely amusing Kenneth Connor, this one doesn`t quite cut the mustard. Part of its problem is that it`s just not that funny. Bob Monkhouse is too knowing and too smug to really make this work.

On the plus side there`s something charming about it`s atmosphere, where everyone (even the crooks) aren`t that bad, and where good always victors over bad, and where romance blossoms at every step.

The music is classic Pinewood period comedy, as is the direction and dialogue. And of course every conceivable dentistry gag and pun is present here, from the `the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth` to the obligatory mix up between sleeping gas and laughing gas.

Set in The King Alfred Dental Hospital, it follows the trials and tribulations of a young student, David (Bob Monkhouse) who is about to be turned over to the great British public. Having fallen in love with the grumpy Dean`s niece (Peggy Cummins), he gets himself into some deep water buying cheap dental equipment from hapless crook Sammy Field (Kenneth Connor). Farce ensues, with Sammy being disguised as a fellow dental student whilst Monkhouse sets out to make amends.

Running at just over 75 minutes, the movie moves at a gentle pace that makes it seem much longer.

Video

Reasonable transfer though it looks as if it`s been pan and scanned to achieve its 4:3 ratio. I`m unsure what the movie`s original ratio was.

Audio

Servicable enough mono.

Features

None.

Conclusion

Think early sixties black and white period `Carry On` but without the sparkle. It`s a charming enough trawl through an endless and predictable parade of dentistry gags and puns, and was successful enough at the time to warrant an inferior (if such a thing is possible) sequel in 1961 in the form of `Dentist on the Job`. But in the final analysis its pretty lightweight stuff, not helped by Bob Monkhouse`s lacklustre and wooden performance.

This edition is bare-bones and should be reserved only for die-hard fans and period British comedy completists.