Review of Doctor at Sea

Among all of the film accomplishment of Dirk Bogarde, this one I can readily state is his least convincing. He has played many parts all of which stem from his fabulous ability to act mostly men of authority. In this story he is a new doctor driven to sea due to the unwanted advances of an unattractive daughter of his former employer. Signing on as a Ship's doctor, he realizes it's filled with men who are in their own way trying to escape life's problems. Nevertheless, it's interesting work and he's soon out to sea and away from his own home. That's when he learns of the ship's crew and his ability to sort them out one by one. The Captain (James Robertson Justice) is a tyrant at sea and like the rest of the crew proves to be a complex figure, To complicate things, the ship's owner insists one of his daughters and her companion travel on his ship with the Bachelor Captain. Thus Dirk Bogarde tries to do his best to entertain in more than one way. As a result, the audience is enthralled by him and the rest of the strange crew. However it's an interesting movie and one which generates many smiles. Brigitte Bardot and James Robertson Justice add to the fun. ***