Production Year: 1953 - Comedy - Director: John Paddy Carstairs - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Maureen Swanson, Norman Wisdom, Margaret Rutherford, Moira Lister, Derek Bond, Jerry Desmonde, Lana Morris more
A cracking pair of comic capers: TROUBLE IN STORE (1953): This is the first film in Norman Wisdom's incredibly successful slapstick series. He works in the stock room of a... more
Playing a character called Norman, he brought his familiar stage and television personality to the big screen as a young man with the ambition to become a window dre...
Playing a character called Norman, he brought his familiar stage and television personality to the big screen as a young man with the ambition to become a window dre...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon...
realising his dream is not as easy as he first envisioned... Up In The World: Norman's up and away on the ladder of success when he takes on a new job as window cl...
who always seems to win out in the end. The cloth-capped bumbler is one of the great creations of British comedy.TROUBLE IN STORENorman has an aim in life - to become a window dresser in a magnificent department store where he works. However, events conspire against him, despite all his efforts. Wisdom's first starring role won him a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer.UP IN THE WORLDNorman applies for a job as Lady Banderville's window cleaner. Norman starts his work but is hampered by the pranks of Sir Reggie, her foolhardy son.
Production Year: 1956 - Comedy - Director: Joshua Logan - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Betty Field, Hope Lange, Eileen Heckart, Arthur O'Connell, Casey Adams, Hans Conried, Robert Bray
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
A review by MariaDelmare on Trouble In Store / Up In The World (DVD) April 13th, 2007
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Outstanding
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Unmemorable
How does it compare to similar films?
Outstanding
Advantages:
Wonderful comedy !
Disadvantages:
None !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Welcome
Welcome indeed to my very first Ciao review...
I have read some of your reviews to see how it is done. I hope I won't disappoint you.
I decided to begin with a DVD containing two wonderful films, starring the inimicable Norman Wisdom.
The first film is entitled Trouble In Store. It is the first film Norman ever made. The second is entitled Up In The World.
A litle wisdom on Wisdom
Norman Wisdom was born in 1915. Sadly he lead an unhappy childhood. His father was violent and abusive and his mother abandoned the family in 1924. Subsequently, Norman and his brother were placed in care. Aged 13, Norman found his first job down a mine. Aged 14, he joined the army. In between he was also a waiter and an errand boy It was in the army that Norman began to entertain. He learned to dance and play a number of musical instruments. He left the army in 1946, aged 31. He was now a professional entertainer and worked in many variety clubs. His trademark comedic character was well received in the West End and it wasn't long before he starred in his first film: Trouble In Store. In 1995 he received an OBE. In 2000, a Knighthood. Norman was certainly a true knight of comedy.
My thoughts
I adore Norman Wisdom. I have almost every film he ever made, and never tire of watching them. My husband and I regularly play one of his movies on a Sunday night, with a large bowl of popcorn to hand. We both have our favourites however, and end up arguing about which DVD to choose. It's an amicable row though. If you have never seen Norman Wisdom, then you are missing a very funny man. I insist you watch at least one of his comedies. Please?Trouble In Store
Produced in 1953. The film is 82 minutes long and is in black and white. It was directed by John Paddy Carstairs.
The story
Norman Pitkin* (Norman Wisdom) works in the stockroom of a large department store in the West End. He dreams of becoming a window dresser and longs for the attention of pretty shop girl Sally (Lana Morris). Sadly, his hopes seem somewhat crushed by his persistant foolishness, and he simply ends up infuriating his boss Mr Freeman (Jerry Desmonde). Matters aren't helped by the presence of Gerald (Derek Bond), Norman's devious rival, and unwholesome cad.
Will the bumbling hero get the job and the girl? What do you think? Watch the comedy and find out.
*Pitkin was the name regularly used by Norman Wisdom's character in films.
My thoughts
This is a wonderfuly funny film. Norman Wisdom's talents are superbly comical of course, as he begs for the viewer's sympathies and makes those silly noises, whilst behaving like a total prat. But I have to point out that casting Jerry Desmonde as the straight man*, and enlisting the lovely Margaret Rutherford as the gracious, but thieving Miss Bacon, does add to the laughs. Infact, I would go so far as to say that Rutherford might have stolen Wisdom's glory if she had been given a bigger part.
Some of the more memorable scenes include Norman chasing after a bus on roller skates, and setting himself on fire during the company dinner. My favourite moment of all is when Norman meets Mr Freeman for the first time, and not realising who he is, tries to get him to steal cigars and liquor from his own office! I'm smiling just thinking about it.
As a bonus, we also get to see Joan Sims of the Carry On team in this. Need I say more.
This is a hilarious romp, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*Desmonde subsequently played the straight man in several more Wisdom comedies.
Up In The World
Produced in 1958. The film is 87 minutes long and is in black and white. It was directed by John Paddy Carstairs.
The Story
Norman Pitkin is once again hapless. This time he is a window cleaner, who goes to work for the very rich Lady Banderville (Ambrosine Phillpotts) at her country manor. As usual he manages to get himself into a number of pickles, and is assisted in this by Lady Banderville's young son, Sir reggie (Michael Caridia), who loves playing pranks on him. Jerry Desmonde is present here as one of Sir Reggie's guardians. He plays Major Willoughby, and makes yet another great contribution as the token straight man. As the funny plot unfolds, we find that Lady Banderville's spoilt brat forces our Norman to take him to see a magician, with very unfortunate consequences for the poor window cleaner.
How will it all end this time? Take a look for yourselves.
My thoughts
Another hilarious movie, with Norman's usual gormless charm and talents. This is my favourite of the two comedies, as Wisdom's character is pitted against snobs. It's a scream. There is a scene in this film, that has me in tears of laughter every time. Just watch out for the moments that involve Norman interrupting a meeting and you'll know what I mean. His friendship with Sylvia the maid (Jill dixon) has rather sentimental undertones, and adds a little touch of seriousness to the picture, but not too much, so it won't interfere with the giggles.
A second wholehearted recommendation that you just have to see!
The DVD
The disc offers a commentary by Norman Wisdom, but sadly only in audio format.
A worthwhile listen if you are interested in his views on the two films featured here.
It has Dolby Digital Mono sound and is only viewable in English. There are no subtitles.
I purchased my copy for £12.99 at Amazon, but you may find it cheaper elsewhere.
A final thought
It might be easy to dismiss these great comedies if you are unfamiliar with Norman Wisdom's comedy genius, especially as they are in black and white. Perhaps if I were to compare his mishaps to those usually associated with Inspector Clouseau, you may be tempted to watch. Unless of course you don't know who Clouseau is either. In which case you are missing out twice!
I hope you enjoyed reading the review and found it informative enough.
More Reviews
Wisdom is very clever Review ofTrouble In Store / Up In The World (DVD)by
Maximus-Qualitus
Advantages: Ageless comedy Disadvantages: None
Norman Wisdom Trouble in Store and Up in the World.
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Tro uble in Store (1953)
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Not one of his best movies but still a good laugh.
Norman is working behind the scenes in the stock room of a large dept store. He has ambitions to be a window dresser. However whilst trying to 'move up in the world', he falls in love with one of the shop girls.
One evening they ... ...to foil the robbers.
Norman gives us a song along the way and I really do wish he wouldn't sing.
There are some jokes pushed at the class system in 'those days' but they don't ring true today.
This movie is not as funny as some of his others. But it is still highly watchable and has all his trade mark twitches and shouting. Runtime: 85 min
Up in the world (1955)
**************************
One of his funniest films.
He is a window cleaner who ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Plot: In 'Trouble In Store' Norman wants to be a window dresser for a large department store. When he eventually gets the job he succeeds in foiling a robbery. 'Up In The World' finds Norman on the ladder to success when he accepts a new job as a window cleaner to wealthy Lady Banderville. But he's about to take many knocks on the way up.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): ITV DVD; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date: 12/05/2003
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: 37115 03583
Barcode: 5037115035837
DVD Description
A cracking pair of comic capers: TROUBLE IN STORE (1953): This is the first film in Norman Wisdom's incredibly successful slapstick series. He works in the stock room of a department store but has an ambitious dream to dress the windows but there are endless obstacles in his way. His performance won him the Best Newcomer prize at the BAFTA Awards! UP IN THE WORLD (1956): Norman gets a window cleaning job for Lady Banderville but her son Sir Reggie keeps causing chaos for Norman.
Languages
Main Language: English
Hearing Impaired Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Audio Commentary By Sir Norman Wisdom
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
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Listed on Ciao since : 30/03/2005
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