Plot

The trials and tribulations of a group of medical students at St. Swithin's hospital in London, England.

Simon Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde) is a newly-arrived medical student at St. Swithin's hospital in London, England. He falls in with three longer-serving hopefuls and is soon immersed in the wooing, imbibing, and fast-sportscar-driving that constitute 1950s medical training. However, the formidable figure of Chief Surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice) forever looms to remind them of their real purposes.—Jeremy Perkins {J-26}

Simon Sparrow (Dirk Bogarde) arrives at St. Swithin's Hospital to begin five years of study in order to become a doctor. From his first day, it's obvious that studious, inexperienced Sparrow will have a series of humorous adventures. He has some difficulty finding lodgings where the landlady's daughter isn't out to seduce him. Two fellow students, Richard Grimsdyke (Kenneth More) and Tony Benskin (Donald Sinden) finally take him in; they're old hands who didn't pass their exams the first time around. Aside from the normal medical-student woes and dealing with senior physician Sir Lancelot Spratt (James Robertson Justice), Simon has little luck with romance. His chums talk him into going out with nurse Joy Gibson (Muriel Pavlow); he isn't keen, but love is often found in the strangest places. As the years go by, Simon becomes a competent doctor as along with his pals he faces the hurdle of final exams.—garykmcd