Nurse on wheels is directed by Gerald Thomas and adapted to screenplay by Norman Hudis from the novel Nurse Is a Neighbour written by Joana Jones. It stars Juliet Mills, Ronald Lewis, Joan Sims, Noel Purcell, Esma Cannon, Raymond Huntley, Athene Seyler and Norman Rossington. Music is by Eric Rogers and photography by Alan Hume.With much of the production team and some of the same actors coming from the British institution that is the Carry On series of films, Nurse on Wheels has been marketed over the years as being an unofficial Carry On movie. Even the Region 2 DVD release proudly proclaims that it is "funnier than Carry On Nurse" (1959), while the back of the cover wrongly states that folk legends like Sid James and Charles Hawtrey also star in the movie! It certainly feels like a Carry on movie in production terms, from Eric Rogers' musical score to the characterisations on show, it carry's the same attributes. What it doesn't have, however, is the bawdy nature and dialogue innuendos so firmly ensconced in Carry On lore.Nurse on Wheels is a throw back to a quaint time in British cinema, where comedy structure was simple and the actors enjoyed their work. The plot takes young new District Nurse Joana Jones (Mills) into the village of Blandley (hee hee), where she has the unenviable task of replacing the previous, older and much trusted, nurse of the village. Not only does she have to put up with gossip and suspicion, but also the attentions of red blooded males; some unwanted, one other encouraged. It holds absolutely no surprises and the comedy, even with the odd slapstick moment, is as gentle and harmless as it gets. With its eccentric characters, a sweet affecting backdrop of village life and all round warm glow, it's perfect afternoon viewing for the family really. The stalwart cast are faultless, with Mills utterly lovely and Cannon lighting the screen up with another of her jumping-bean performances. While Gerald Thomas was a good pro, and here he once again proves to be unobtrusive with his direction.It's more about putting a smile on your face and a glow in your belly than splitting your sides, and there's nothing wrong with that. 7/10

A marvellous bit of whimsy from Britain's film industry of the early 60's, when we knew how to make this kind of light-hearted comedy/drama. Almost everyone is perfectly cast - especially the pretty and pleasant Juliet Mills as Nurse Jones - and her mother, played by the incomparable Esma Cannon very nearly steals the show; the scene with the sink plunger never misses. Raymond Huntley's vicar is a bit thin on plot, but then he is there only to provide Joan Sims with a purpose anyway. All in all, a pleasant 90 minutes of classic British gentle comedy with a fine cast of regulars. I can only agree with other posters who have said 'they don't make them like this anymore'.

Nurse Joanna Jones finally passes her driving test and thus is eligible to take the job as District Nurse in a small country village. When she manages to get to her new location with her dotty mother in tow, she finds that she has got to fill the very large shoes of her predecessor Nurse Merrick. Settling into her job, Jones gets to know the eccentric set of patients she has to deal with – not to mention the attractive Dr Golfrey and the embittered local vicar.Modern packaging and marketing of this film would have you believe that it is part of the Carry On series but even a viewing of the first 15 minutes will tell you that, other than Joan Sims, this has very little in common with Carry On Nurse (which was of the similar period). Instead of the freewheeling irreverence of that series this is much more structured and actually a mix of a light humour with a reasonable story. This is not to say that it is brilliant of course, because it is a fairly unremarkable affair although it is enjoyable if you meet it on its own terms. The humour is consistently gentle but does coax out some laughs while producing an amusing tone throughout, it isn't hilarious of course but I quite liked it and did find it a bit more refined than the other Nurse film (although it does have some similar joking, including a "bottom" joke at the end that is reminiscent of Nurse's famous daffodil conclusion).The cast are quite pleasing and they seem to take to the relaxed tone of the material easier than the rather forced "wackiness" of the Carry On films. Mills is pretty and pitches it well in the lead role, but many of her scenes are stolen from her by Cannon's wonderfully comic dotty mother. Support features some good turns from Sims, Dale and a few others but I must admit that I wasn't overly taken by Howard as Dr Golfrey.Overall this is an enjoyable film even if it isn't anything special and is never hilarious at any point. The cast do well with the tone of the material and the film delivers a consistent good humour within a story that is well enough structured to stand up better than some of the Carry On films that did feel a bit like a collection of sketches at times.

This film is funny. Make no mistake about that. It's a gem of a comedy which provokes out-loud laughter in abundance. A whole host of comic characters are at hand to deliver some unforgettable lines amid a very simple, ungarnished plot.Passing her driving test qualifies nurse Joanna Jones (Juliet Mills) for a position as a district nurse. So she, together with her dotty mother, moves into an out-of-the-way village to take up her new duties. After twenty-odd years under the care of an elderly district nurse, the villagers are somewhat distrustful of the young and beautiful Nurse Jones. This leads to some hilarious situations as the new district nurse is thrown amongst the village's inhabitants. Abel Worthy (brilliantly played by the irascible Noel Purcell) is felled by a tin of corned beef - just one in a series of delightful mishaps. And the dialogue is even funnier. `You know Dr Golfrey's secretary? That flighty young thing? Well, she's flown.'Esma Cannon relishes the role of Joanna's eccentric mother and Norman Rossington plays a blinder as George Judd, the lovelorn hob-jobber but Juliet Mills is nothing short of outstanding in the lead role.All in all, Nurse On Wheels is a wonderful example of English comedy. It may be a cliché but they don't make 'em like this anymore.