Norman strikes again!
 Jun 29th, 2006
Advantages:
For everyone aged 4 - 100 !
Disadvantages:
If he is not your cup of tea I suppose he could be irritating !
Recommendable:
Yes
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Characters / Performances
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  dazmufc
About me:
Not going to be around at all much for a while got loads on, hope you all have a great 2007!
Member since:11.11.2005
Reviews:15
Members who trust:12
Review rated by 43 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
HIS FILMS
*********** In every film he appears, there always seems to be a reason why it was made, indeed in all these films which he stars it always appears to be the little guy against the big/bad guy.
A funny little man who no matter how tough the going is always prospers in the end.He takes whatever his enemies throw at him and gives them some back and more.
His films perhaps reflect his own life in which the vast majority of them start by him dreaming of becoming something or someone.He apparently came from a poor background, and tried his luck several times at auditions for plays and acting schools.Until eventually he got his break in London and took it with both hands.
In his films he not only acts but sings, jokes, romances(very badly), boxes, laughs, polices, and much more, it was his wide variety of subjects for which he was given his chance.
Perhaps what he his most famous for to many people his his "Mr Grimsdale" quip, who is starred by Edward Chapman.
REVIEW
*********
There are 12 films on 12 discs with 2 discs per sleeve that I am reviewing, 10 of the films are in black and white, 2 of them are in colour.I am going to review all of the films and mark them out of ten at the end. THE BULLDOG BREED
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In this black and white film he plays Norman Puckell, a lovestruck grocer who loves women but unforunately they dont love him, he falls in love with a girl called Marlene, who is smitten with someone else.Taking revenge badly he promises her he will commit suicide.
After several attempts of getting it wrong a navy officer persuades him to join the navy,saying that if he feels this low he may as well and that its a great way of meeting girls.
His eyes light up as he sees this as his great opportunity, not thinking at all about his duties just the girls!!!
Meanwhile the admiral of the fleet is trying desperately to have a navy recruit to be the first man in to space,this honour in the beginning falls to Norman Pitkin,but as he cant even peel a potato,he gets withdrawn.The navy try hard to find out what Norman can do, which they discover is not alot,but after a case of being in the right pace at the right time, or opposite whichever is true Norman manages to after all fulfill the ambitions of the admiral.
MY THOUGHTS
*****************
This is a very funny film from the start when he tries to do himself in, to the scenes in the gymnasium and the mountainside,this was one of the 1st films I ever watched so for me the others had a lot to live up to. Rating 9/10 ONE GOOD TURN
********************
This is also black and white,he works in an orphanage,organising the running of the building and taking the children to/from school.
His attempts to romance a woman who is already attached come unstuck,his efforts however dont stop his relationship with the children,and one in particular whose meeting with his Aunt doesn`t materialise,Norman finds himself trying to cheer him up in doing so he promises to buy him a new toy of his own,as this toy costs alot of money Norman has to come up with a quick money making scheme to grant the little boys wishes.
Eventually he gets the money from an unlikely source,but at he same time the orphanage is under threat of closure from planners,sticking together everything works out in the end.
MY THOUGHTS
*****************
Although its another decent film its probably one of my least favourites,there are still alot of funny scenes,when Norman loses his trousers on the train because of a wasp!,and the battle at the end to save the orphanage. Rating 7/10 A STITCH IN TIME!
********************
A black and white film which starts with Norman Pitkin and Mr Grimsdale working as butchers, Mr Grimsdale is proud of his gold watch and chain he was awarding for good hygiene and good quality meats,so proud in fact that when a burglar raids the shop (played by none other than a very young Johnny Briggs from Coronation Street!!!) he hides the watch in his mouth, as a shot is fired into the air Mr Grimsdale swallows his watch.
An ambulance is called and his watch is removed!.Intrigued by the way of Mr Grimsdales recovery they decide to try and find out about
becoming surgeons.As Mr Grimsdale is still in his hospital bed Norman decides to take charge but accidentally joins a group in the study of dentistry!,as the practical comes and a visitor who may be handing over a huge donation is his patient,big trouble occurs!.
Because he tries to pretend he knows what he is doing, but also trying to copy another dentist he pulls one of the very important patients front teeth out!,trying to escape he ends up hiding in the childrens ward, where he befriends a young girl who hasn`t spoke for months after a car crash killed her parents.
As Mr Grimsdale has given his precious gold watch to Norman to put in the safe at the shop,he lets the little girl keep it till he next sees her to cheer her up,but he gets banned from the hospital!.He ahs also promised to see he again and has to use desperate measures to get into the hospital,in the end Norman proves that rather than being a rather awful person which most of the hospital staff think, except one, he is in fact just clumsy and his heart his heart is in the right place!
MY THOUGHTS
***************** Another classic film with a happy ending!.Plenty of funny moments like his ideas of trying to get in the hospital,and at the charity ball at the end.Not one of my favourites but still very good and with a very good message! Rating 7.5/10
JUST MY LUCK
***************** In this black and white film Norman is a jewellers assistant,he is bessotted with a window dresser across the street,before he has even met he plans on buying he a necklace which on his wages will take 114 years to save up for!!!.
So he decides to go for it and steals his and his very strict moms holiday fund money (£1) and places it on an accumulator of 6 horses,he puts himself through all the emotions of a gambler,the highs and the lows, and even has a sickie off work to go to the race course!
MY THOUGHTS
*****************
I really like this film. I suppose because I have a little flutter myself now and then!, but also I think because no matter how good a person can be they always have their bad things/habits,and think this is the message in this film.
Rating 8/10
TROUBLE IN STORE
********************** Normans ambition is too be a window dresser,he has been employed for a long time in the stock room,it is a big department store,which pretty much sells everything,when the new chief calls him too his office, he thinks its for promotion ,but he hasn`t actually met the new chief, so when waiting for him he uses his office at his own convenience he gets the sack!
However when on the way out he carries the heavy bags of a supposedly excellent customer and receives compliments for it,he gets reinstated.
When a girl he fancies ignores him (again! poor Norman), he tries to prove worthy of her by single handidly taking on a gang who are trying to raid the store on a big sale day.
Initially everyone thinks he is mad but he slowly brings them round with his actions and results as much as anything else!.
MY THOUGHTS
***************** This probably my 2nd favourite film of the 12,mainly because you can feel for him in some of the situations (Yes I know its only a film!!!), its just like no matter how hard he tries he always seems to fail,but this film I think is dedicated to people who get their just rewards for taking what is dished out to them on the chin, and not giving up.Lots of funny scenes like when he tries to dress a window,only for a crowd to stop and watch, then an experienced window dresser tries to take his patch! Rating 9/10.
UP IN THE WORLD
******************** Norman tries to hold down a steady job but cant, so he applies once again at the agency for another job!.
He gets a job as a window cleaner for Lady Banderville,a very wealthy lady with very spoilt son named Reginald.
Norman quickly gets hampered by his pranks and when he can gives as good as he gets.
Reginald although normally gets his own way with everyone,doesn`t always with Norman and seems to respect that, they become friends.
After many threats on the outside to kidnap Sir Reginald a plan almost works,unfotunately because Sir Reginald has very persuasively got Norman to see a magician in London,the kidnappers take someone else.
Realising Sir Reginald and Norman are missing Lady Banderville puts 2 and 2 together and makes 5!
The crooks manage to trace where Sir Reginald and Norman are and take them somewhere quiet, unfotunately Norman doesn`t want to go quietly and fights back but Reginald gets a bang on the head and loses his memory.At that moment the police arrive and Norman is accused of kidnap.
It takes an escape from prison and a party to prove his innocence!.
MY THOUGHTS
***************** In black and white.This is without doubt my favourite and I think its because I am common as muck just like Norman is in this film, and just the way he stands up to the upper class people and is himself,now I am not saying there is anything wrong with the upper class,but its the ones that look down on people I dont like,and this is what this film encorporates.Again many funny moments in this film, the football match, the fair are just 2 of the funny scenes.Rating 9.5/10
ON THE BEAT
*************** Norman wants to be a policeman just like his father was, but he is only employed to wash the cars at Scotland yard.Despite being only 5ft tall he keeps applying to aspire his dream only to be knocked back,he even tries to apply wearing stilts! but unsurprisingly gets found out.
After getting the sack from washing the cars for soaking the Chief,he is called to do a special job after having an uncanny resemblance to a crook running a womens hairdressers.
Julio Napolotono (played by Norman Wisdom also) is an italian type gangster who specialises in the running of organised robberies through his salon.
When Norman has his chance he does get so excited he almost messes it up but not quite!
MY THOUGHTS
***************** This is another classic in black and white,some very funny scenes including fighting himself at the end,and when he unofficially referees a football match on the street,and repeatedly blowing his whistles sent 200 other policeman on a wild goose chase! Rating 8/10
MAN OF THE MOMENT
*************************
Norman is an acting chief filing clerk who is madly in love with a film star Sonia Karole.
As the chief filing clerk is away on sick leave,Norman is invited to top level conference in Geneva.
Dropping a bowl on one of the diplomats head wounding him,the others have no choice but to recruit Norman to be a replacement,or risk being out voted.
As his true love (Sonia Karole) is a bystander he tries to impress her by accidentally rescuing a small pacific island to the annoyance of the other countries diplomats,who want a piece of it!.
Through not really knowing whats going on he gets famous throughout the world appearing on T.V shows,getting honours,until he is the victim of a nasty plot to kill him so as he is the hindrance to the island,unfortunately the bait is his film star love,he manages to escape it by being cut off on the phone!,and in finding out what his love is like roughly rips all 107 of his picture collection he has of her!
MY THOUGHTS
***************** One of the first of his films I saw so I have probably seen this one the most.This is also in black and white which suits it really.This film is almost like the person who is way out of his depth but goes along for the ride!. He makes the most simplest of things funny,like having a passport photograph taken!. Rating 8/10
THE SQUARE PEG
********************* Norman Pitkin is a very proud road mender for St Godricks Borough Council,unfortunately it is the Second World War and he is not taking any crap from the army!.
As he is causing destruction and getting in the way Norman and most of his colleagues at St Godricks are called up,after some much needed training Norman and Mr Grimsdale are sent on their first mission,unfortunately they end up going to their destination by air.
Not realising they are excavating behing enemy lines and whilst Noman is at the shop Mr Grimsdale gets captured.
Norman who looks like General Schreiber (played by himself) is mistaken by the French spy Henri Le Blanc,a fellow female officer whom Norman is after! recognises him and saves him from certain death.
When this pretty officer gets captured too Norman takes it in to his own hands and single handedly takes on General Schreiber and his fellow countrymen.
MY THOUGHTS
*****************
Also a black and white film this probably has my funniest scene in this film when he is digging up the road and barking out instructions to a new platoon on the march, the officer in charge cant see him until they have been dismissed for tea!. This another film again where the little guys take on the big boys. Rating 9/10 FOLLOW A STAR
*******************
The last of the black and white films. Norman spends his days steam pressing clothes,at night he spends time with his girlfriend who is in a wheelchair,he is a a really shy guy severely lacking in confidence.
Miss Dobson (played by Hattie Jacques out of many Carry on films) is giving him singing lessons and learning him out to speak nicer.
When confident Norman is a very good singer especially when his girlfriend is there with him.
A singer who is passed his sell by date called Vernon Carew befriends Norman and invites him to his house to live and to give him lessons,but his intentions are false as he is really after his voice as it is better than his own.
Eventually the penny drops when Vernon Carew sings at the London Palladium and the recording of Normans singing is put on pause!!. MY THOUGHTS
*****************
This was the 1st film of Norman Wisdoms I saw when I was very young,there is a scene when he sees a pyschiatrist to cure the phobia of not being able to sing without his girlfriend where he has to act like an 18 month old and then a 5 year old which are very funny. Rating 8/10 THE EARLY BIRD
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In colour Norman is a milkman for Grimsdales Dairy, it is an old fashioned firm which uses a horse called Nellie to pull the cart.
Normans milk round is being threatened by Consolidated Dairies,a big firm who dont like small niggling firms getting in the way.
Consolidated efforts to put Grimsdales out of business include breaking their bottles, poisoning the horse with apples! (Nasty so and so`s) and smashing up the cart.
After receiving an offer for the round because they still wont give up, Mr Grimsdale and Norman go to meet with Mr Hunter of Consolidated dairies to discuss business,however it doesnt get that far and after being rejected Norman gets his own back without meaning too! MY THOUGHTS
*****************
This film is probably is most popular, everyone who mentions Norman Wisdom to me knows this one,especially the scene when the horse Nellie is poorly,so Norman phones a doctor to get advice! then takes the horse upstairs to bed!!! classic!!!!.This has to be up there as one of my favourites. Rating 9/10. PRESS FOR TIME
*******************
This is the other colour film, In this film Norman plays 3 different characters,his suffragette mother and his grandfather who is the prime minister.
Norman is uneducated he has had many jobs,banker,accountant,stockbroker are just a few.
He is a newspaper seller in Westminister,worried about his reputation the prime minister calls a meeting with his grandson,Norman is nearly 2 hours late. After a very brief meeting he is found a job 200 miles away in Tinmouth as a reporter for the local newspaper.
Norman has no previous experience again and finds it very tough,he has a few drinks before the council meeting and starts a HUGE feud between the Labour and Conservative members.
As he has done so much damage he gets demoted to covering advertisement for the holiday town, and ends up organising a beauty contest which turns out more like a circus! MY THOUGHTS
*****************
This is a quality film I feel a bit sorry for him in this one as he is very lonely! Arrgghhhh!!!!! But there is a scene in this where he gets a bike caught up in a chandelier!!!! Awesome.Rating 8.5/10 FINAL THOUGHTS AND EXTRAS
************************************
Each film has different chapters so if you are halfway through one of them and you have to nip out for whatever reason,all is not lost you can just watch where you were at,every film has around 10 chapters.
Every film that you put in your DVD player you have a choice of menus PLAY = to see the film SCENE SELECTION = As I just explained the different chapters of the film.EXTRAS = In this you can get a quick review of the film before watching it,and also access subtitles if you wish.
In 4 of the films The Early Bird, A Stitch in Time, Trouble in Store and On the Beat audio commentary is also available!
I brought these almost a year ago and for the box set it cost me £50 which for me as I am a massive fan of his is worth every penny.I have seen them lately on ebay for around £40,each film is around 90 minutes long so if you look at the value, you get 18 hours for £40 plus its in a nice to keep gift set which can be yours forever,and who knows might be worth a few quid years down the line.
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by (33%):
by (67%):
11.08.2006 13:15
love NW.
15.07.2006 06:37
Good review, I watch NW whenever hes onTV -I love the silly humour suits me:-)) Wasnt the bulldog episode the one where he dresses up in the ole fashioned scuba diving gear? Absolutely priceless whatever one it was:-)
10.07.2006 13:59
another superb review and another E from me. x