Top Famous Movie Dentists

What is it about going to the dentist that strikes fear into the hearts of children and adults alike? There has for longer than anyone now can remember an almost stereotypical belief that dentist are sinister drill wielding maniacs. Well for a few that may well be the case but mainly this can be put down to two things. The medical practices of the 19th century certainly call up a few horror stories, and why wouldn't they? It wasn't uncommon for dentists to have saws in their surgery. The other reason I much prefer is the way they've been portrayed on the silver screen. Here is a countdown of four of the most sinister portrayals of dentists in cinema history.



4. Laffing Gas (1914)



In the days before talkies dentists were still portrayed as the sadists we know and love. Slap slick in style (what else with Chaplin) this takes nothing away from the dentist's vivacity. When he prompts Chaplin to drop the broom and grab the pliers to assist him with some surgery, most viewers where probably a lot happier not to be hearing it.



3. The Dentist (1932)



With W. C. Fields as the callous and disillusioned dentist this film is probably not far from real life. Fields is definitely not the most obviously sinister character, but the subtle little sinister moments really make his character a high ranking evil dentist. While drill deep in a patient's mouth the patient is screaming out in agony. Fields simply smiles and hums a merry tune.



2. Little Shop of Horrors



Getting back towards the slapstick Steve Martin is fantastic as the lunatic dentist who seems to take great pleasure in torturing his patients while high on gas. The fact that Seymour sees him as evil enough to feed to his plant says a lot for the dentist Serivello.



1. Marathon Man



Number one in our list and with good reason. Has there ever been a better idea for an evil villain than a Nazi war criminal dentist? In the role that won Laurence Olivier an Oscar for best supporting actor, his torture of Dustin Hoffman is enough to put anyone off going back to the dentist's chair.



That's the list and frankly I'd be surprised if anyone still has the nerve to get there bite problems fixed or see about teeth replacement for a while.



An honorary mention goes out to Ricky Gervais' cynical practitioner in Ghost World as well as the dentist from Finding Nemo, whose fish even want out of his theatre.