Search - Dentist in the Chair on DVD

Mild British Comedy

peterfromkanata | Kanata, Ontario Canada | 09/14/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I remember seeing "Dentist in the Chair" in 1960 when I was a kid. I have always been a big fan of British comedy films, but "Dentist" is hardly a classic. At the same time it has a cast of likeable actors, and it is still a pleasant way of spending 80 minutes.

With the success of the British "Doctor" comedies, I suppose it was inevitable that the subject of dental students would also be turned into an amusing film. In fact, there was a sequel to this title, "Dentist on the Job". Since Amazon has already provided a plot synopsis, I don't think I need to repeat the plot-line.

British comedian, Bob Monkhouse, is the leading man here ( he was to become a British television icon for decades ), with Peggy Cummins as the woman he falls for. There is the usual cast of British actors in support--people like Eric Barker and Reginald Beckwith who could play roles like this in their sleep. Finally we have Kenneth Connor, most famous to North American audiences as a "Carry On Gang" regular. As the incompetent burglar who causes all the trouble at the dental school, Mr. Connor is a born scene-stealer and he generates most of the chuckles in the film.

The DVD is full-screen, black and white, mono sound and I had no problems with the quality. Extras are sparse--a trailer and some stills from the film--and the packaging is very rudimentary. This gives rise to the question--why is this disc so expensive ? I could certainly understand a person who is interested in this movie, waiting for a cheaper, second-hand copy.

Bottom line--a pleasant but unexceptional British comedy that has a few amusing sequences. There is nothing "amusing" about the price of the disc though."