Moving Pictures

11

Victor Tugelbend’s university career, with his uncle’s will and all that, shows parallels to similar situations described in Roger Zelazny’s (highly recommended) science fiction novel Doorways in the Sand, and in Richard Gordon’s ‘Doctor’ series of medical comedy books/movies (Doctor in the House, Doctor in Love, Doctor at Sea, etc.)

I had noticed the Zelazny parallel when I first read Moving Pictures, but thought the reference was too unlikely and too obscure to warrant inclusion. Since then two other people have pointed it out to me…

Terry later remarked, in response to someone mentioning the Doctor in the House movie on the net: “I remember that film — the student in question was played by Kenneth More. All he had to do, though, was fail — the people who drew up the will involving Victor thought they were cleverer than that. Maybe they’d seen the film…”