Dentists, it seems, aren’t portrayed in movies as much as physicians but here is a list of some movies that have dentists in key roles. This list isn’t complete; if I haven’t included your favorite, please feel free to add it to the comments. My thanks to the Dental Library at the University of Toronto for the basis of this list and the Internet Movie Database.
Ghost Town (2008) – Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear
Bertram Pincus, is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Ricky Gervais a dentist who can talk to the dead.
Good Luck Chuck (2007) – Dane Cook and Jessica Alba
Standup comedian Dane Cook stars in this romantic comedy as Charlie Logan, a successful dentist cursed with the affliction of having the women he dates fall in love with the next guy they meet.
Reign Over Me (2007) – Adam Sandler & Don Cheadle
A man who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate. Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) – Johnny Depp
When Willy Wonka decides to let five children into his chocolate factory, he decides to release five golden tickets in five separate chocolate bars, causing complete mayhem. The tickets start to be found, with the fifth going to a very special boy, called Charlie Bucket. With his Grandpa, Charlie joins the rest of the children to experience the most amazing factory ever. But not everything goes to plan within the factory. Christopher Lee plays Charlie’s Dad, Dr. Wonka.
Finding Nemo (2003) – Bill Hunter voices the dentist
A father-son underwater adventure featuring Nemo, a boy clownfish, stolen from his coral reef home. His timid father must then travel to Sydney, and search Sydney Harbour find Nemo. Little Nemo ends up in a dentist’s aquarium. The next time you watch this, listen to the fish in the aquarium, they have very interesting things to say about dental materials!
The Secret Lives of Dentists (2003) – Hope Davis, Campbell Scott
An introspective dentist’s suspicions about his wife’s infidelity stresses his mental well being and family life to the breaking point. Hope Davis and Campbell Scott play married dentists in this insightful dramatic comedy.
Snow Dogs (2002) – Cuba Gooding Jr.
When Dr. Ted Brooks, a successful, sun-loving dentist from Miami, receives a summons to the minuscule town of Tolketna, Alaska, his mother is forced to confess that he was adopted. Teddy’s desire to quickly return to Miami yields to a burgeoning curiosity about his deceased mother and biological father. Teddy’s experiences in Alaska acquaint him firsthand with the wonders of sled dogs, the sport of mushing, human sacrifice, and love. The city slicker’s hilarious attempts to mush even culminate in a hero’s reception at the finish of the prestigious “Arctic Challenge.”
Novocaine (2001) – Steve Martin
A dentist finds himself a murder suspect after a sexy patient seduces him into prescribing her drugs. A film noir-like thriller with Steve Martin, also starring Laura Dern and Helena Bonham Carter.
Tombstone (1993) – Kurt Russell & Val Kilmer
A successful lawman’s plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona, are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating. Doc Holliday was a dentist. There are several versions of this story but this one is my favorite so it got included.
Eversmile, New Jersey (1989) – Daniel Day Lewis
Traveling dentist, Fergus, travels across South America in search of teeth to clean while representing Eversmile foundation of New Jersey. Along the way, he encounters Estella who ends up hiding in his vehicle as a stoway and who ends up becoming his assistant.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Rick Moranis & Steve Martin
A nerdish florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed. Steve Martin plays a jealous dentist in this deadly musical. Complete with such classic songs as “You’ll be a Dentist!”
Marathon Man (1976) – Dustin Hoffman & Laurence Olivier
A graduate history student is unwittingly caught in the middle of an international conspiracy involving stolen diamonds, an exiled Nazi war criminal, and a rogue government agent. Three words: “Is it safe?” Dr. Christian Szell was voted one of the AFI’s 100 Years.. 100 Greatest Villains.
Cactus Flower (1969) – Walter Matthau, Goldie Hawn & Ingrid Bergman
Toni Simmons believes that the only reason her married lover won’t leave his wife is because of the children. In truth, her lover, dentist Julian Winston, doesn’t have any children. In fact, Julian doesn’t even have a wife – he just tells women he does to avoid getting involved. When Julian does decide to take the plunge with Toni she insists on meeting the first wife and Julian enlists the aid of his long-time nurse/receptionist to play the part.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his beaming honker, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudoph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa’s sleigh is fogged in. But when Santa looks over Rudolph, he gets a very bright idea. My personal favorite dentist in movies!
The Dentist (1932) – W.C. Fields
Fields plays an unconventional dentist who deals with patients in slapstick fashion.
There is another list with classic movies that originally appeared on Turner Classic Movies bolg: http://www.classicfilmguide.com/index.php?s=essays&item=24
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