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The irrepressible Norman Wisdom goes "Up in the World" from poster hanger to window washer at a lavish estate, and the estate is lavish indeed as the film's exteriors were shot at the magnificent Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. Norman again tangles with his old nemesis, Jerry Desmonde as the estate manager, and finds a new foil in a spoiled young heir, Michael Caridia. Although Norman never falters, the film does. An extended soccer match wears on, and an involved kidnapping plot has few gags. However, the finale's Marx-Brothers-like mayhem leaves an elegant hall in shambles, as befitting the ever-bumbling Mr. Wisdom.

"Up in the World" is formula Norman, which is not all bad. Norman is fired over and over; he sings the title song, one of his own composing; and he falls for a young housemaid, who is in the mold of the young ladies Norman always falls for. Michael Ward, who played a fussy photographer in "Man of the Moment," amusingly returns as a fussy uncle here, and Lionel Jeffries pops up in a funny cameo. Mr. Wisdom never lets us down; whether dangling from a window, fooling around in a queue, or doing battle with Jerry Desmonde, his comic talents are pitch perfect. If only the movie had been worthy of him. However, lesser Wisdom is better than no Wisdom, and "Up in the World," while not a great classic, is acceptably entertaining.

Aug 21

Certainly as good as any of the Norman Wisdom films, maybe the best one, i do like the Early Bird a lot too.

Jerry Desmonde is here too, always great in the Norman Wisdom films.

Some really funny moments.

9 out of 10.

This is another "fish out of water" Norman Wisdom comedy, where he plays a window cleaner at a lavish, huge country estate. He is the new target of the mischievous child Sir Reginald and generally causes havoc with the other people. There is a sub plot about kidnapping Sir Reginald, something that his family always seems frightened about. Norman eventually agrees to take Sir Reggie to London to a nightclub to see a magician. Norman even wreaks havoc there. Norman Wisdom is a good physical comedian and he plays this role rather well. In this film he is the star, with his pratfalls and sight gags. There is a love interest but thats very secondary to Norman's mishaps. If you like Norman Wisdom, slapstick comedy, British comedy or just plain silliness, you should watch this as well as other Norman Wisdom comedies. It doesn't hurt to laugh.

I am a huge fan of Norman Wisdom but not I have to say of his singing, though to be fair his voice is reasonable. The problem I have is that I don't like musicals, or films that have music injected into them.

Norman Wisdom became very popular in Britain and many of his films, insisted on featuring his singing as well as his comedic talents. As far as I am concerned if that was the case, that could have been easily accommodated. By simply having Norman Wisdom sing the songs over the films credits, at the beginning and end of the film. Leaving the entire film to be free from musical numbers, and simply being a comic film. Which is why I've marked this film down, from the usual high rating that I'd normally give one of his films.

I heartily recommend this film to anyone with a funny bone that needs tickling, you don't have to even know who Norman Wisdom is to laugh your socks off. This is a riotous madcap adventure where Norman's character has to contend not only with a precocious spoilt brat Sir Reginald (Michael Caridia) but also have to work under his Nemesis Major Willoughby (Jerry Desmond).

This title might just as well apply to Norman as the film, with him coming from an homeless street orphan, up into a film star.

But the title actually refers to going up a ladder, as a window cleaner, in this film Norman becomes an unlikely hero, eventually. And he gets the girl, formula Norman, but at least its a bit funny and got a good moral story.

The girl he got was Maureen Swanson, an an actor from Glasgow who also made her way "Up in the world", a few years later she gave up acting when she married into the nobility, she had 6 children and a good life, passing away in 2011 aged 78, she survived Norman by a year. Jerry Desmonde was in with Norman again, and look out for Brit film character stars Lionel Jeffries and Cyril Chamberlain and future Carry On star Bernard Bresslaw in an early role.

Obviously with Ladders involved, Norman gets up to a few stunts on them, maybe Jackie Chan got his inspiration from him, unless both got it from Laurel and Hardy or Buster Keaton? Anyway its got a good few funny moments. Worth watching just for them.