The Films Of Norman Wisdom
Posted: February 1st, 2008, 3:05 pm
In American terms i suppose that Norman Wisdom's only known film is The Night They Raided Minskys with Jason Robards and Britt Ekland, but he was as big a star in Albania of all places as he was in the UK. this is an injustice because at his pk he was a giant in British film comedy and worthy of a bigger audience. people rightly talk of Keaton and Llyod for their great stunt work, but if they ever watch a Wisdom film they'll see stunts that are almost the equal of those two great men. he was also in British cinamatic terms the closest i've seen to Chaplin.
Norman was often beaten by his father as a child, but through that he learned how to fall properly.
one of the best things that ever happened to him was when he joined the army. before that he was living rough on the streets.
his first big break was in the film Trouble In Store with Lana Morris, a regular leading lady and sang what was to become his theme song Don't Laugh At Me Coes I'm A Fool
other classics followed like Man Of the Moment, The Bulldog Breed and Follow The Star and Just My Luck.
he played a character Norman Pitkin several times to Edward Chapman's Mr Grimsdale in The Square Peg with Honor Blackman, On The Beat, A Stitch In Time and as a milkman in The Early Bird. i can still hear him now shouting 'Mr. Grimsdale!'
though his movie pk was over in the mid 60s he still continued to be popular for the rest of his life. he at 92 is living in a home entertaining the other residants, even though i think is mind has gone
he was in amazing shape even in old age. he could jump and fall of a piano when he was in his 80s. the last think i saw him in was in the sit com Last Of The Summer Wine, playing a brilliant piano player who couldn't perform in front of an audience
Norman was often beaten by his father as a child, but through that he learned how to fall properly.
one of the best things that ever happened to him was when he joined the army. before that he was living rough on the streets.
his first big break was in the film Trouble In Store with Lana Morris, a regular leading lady and sang what was to become his theme song Don't Laugh At Me Coes I'm A Fool
other classics followed like Man Of the Moment, The Bulldog Breed and Follow The Star and Just My Luck.
he played a character Norman Pitkin several times to Edward Chapman's Mr Grimsdale in The Square Peg with Honor Blackman, On The Beat, A Stitch In Time and as a milkman in The Early Bird. i can still hear him now shouting 'Mr. Grimsdale!'
though his movie pk was over in the mid 60s he still continued to be popular for the rest of his life. he at 92 is living in a home entertaining the other residants, even though i think is mind has gone
he was in amazing shape even in old age. he could jump and fall of a piano when he was in his 80s. the last think i saw him in was in the sit com Last Of The Summer Wine, playing a brilliant piano player who couldn't perform in front of an audience