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I've always liked Norman Wisdom's films - to a point - in every one there was something anarchic to laugh at but unfortunately something maudlin to squirm at too. This was the 6th of Wisdom's 12 "Norman" comedy films, and imho one of his best although I suspect every fan who has seen them all has their own favourites. However from experience there seem to be more perverse people who have seen every film and who hate the lot.

Norman Pitkin as St. Godric's Council employee is digging up the road outside an Army camp during the War, takes the Mick of the soldiers once too often and he and his boss Mr. Grimsdale find themselves conscripted. The slapstick war between Pitkin and Sergeant Campbell Singer continues into his training, until Pitkin and Grimsdale end up in France and the second part of the story begins. Favourite bits: Pitkin ferociously bayoneting the dummies; his bravado pre-parachuting; the General Schreiber double scenes with Hattie Brunnhilde Jacques; marching out of step with his captors. Apart from one mawkish bit in the French café with Honor Blackman there was no romantic musical interlude – although he had a fine singing voice it's still a definite plus! Cheaply made but well disguised, and with a great cast of British stalwarts also on display - missed Jerry Desmonde though!

It's a pleasant time-filler and maybe one of his more accessible films to a non-fan or non-kid which is perhaps one reason why it's probably shown on TV more often than his other black & white's.

This service comedy (another favorite situation with star comedians) - part army-base shenanigans and part dangerous mission - ranks as possibly the best Norman Wisdom vehicle there is, with a consistent string of often hilarious gags and the star - turning up again in drag and also appearing in a dual role (including one as a Nazi General) - in top form.

Supporting him are Edward Chapman (virtually rising to sidekick status here, he and Wisdom make an engaging comic pair), Honor Blackman (perhaps the most substantial of the star's leading ladies) and Hattie Jacques (as a German opera star).

Just outside the Sefton Hotel in Douglas, Isle of Man, a bronze statue of Sir Norman Wisdom greets patrons to the bar inside that is dedicated to his memory. Although Wisdom is largely unknown in the U.S., the diminutive actor-comedian made a popular series of films in the 1950's and 1960's that featured his on-screen persona, Norman Pitkin. An amusing entry, "The Square Peg," dates from the middle of that period. Norman plays Norman, who is doing road repair to keep Britain's arteries moving during World War II. Both Norman and his boss, Mr. Grimsdale, played by Edward Chapman, run afoul of the local military and find themselves inducted into the army.

The logic is not strong, but the humor is. Private Norman falls for a uniformed Honor Blackman and finds himself behind enemy lines in France, where he encounters a look-alike German general. Do not ask why or how, just suspend disbelief and follow the flow. As his doppelganger, General Schreiber, Wisdom scales the comic heights with the hilarious seduction of a somewhat over-ripe opera singer. The film makes no sense, but serves as a springboard for sight gags that involve a road sign and military salutes and for comedic situations with a plane full of parachutists that highlight the talents of Mr. Wisdom. Although Chapman has his moments, Blackman and the rest of the cast have little to do. Evidently a low-budget programmer, "The Square Peg" is a serviceable and entertaining introduction to an instantly lovable comic.

When Council employees make live hard for the soldiers on a local military base, the army drafts them to treat them badly. However Mr Grimsdale and Pitkin accidentally get on the wrong truck and are parachuted behind enemy lines. When Mr Grimsdale is captured by the Nazi's the resistance decide to use Pitkin's uncanny resemblance to Nazi General Schreiber to effect a rescue.

In stead of Norman Wisdom's usual plot of `working class lad showing up the rich', we have `working class lad showing up the military and the Nazis'. Here the plot allows several funny set ups before eventually falling back on the old `lookalike' chestnut. However it's still quite funny – it's not Wisdom's best, but it has it's moments and happily there is very little of his usual `dreaming of unattainable girl' stuff that he usually does.

The cast is better than usual. Wisdom still has his innocent `salt of the earth' thing going on and is funny and charming. Chapman fits well with him as Grimsdale, although the two have had better films together. A very young Honor Blackman (her voice hasn't changed a bit!) is good if fleeting and even Hattie Jacques turns up. The army officers are filled out with familiar faces and everyone tries hard.

Overall this isn't Wisdom's best – but the working class Council worker triumphs over the Germans and upperclasses as a whole – who can't get some enjoyment out of that?!

Another good comedy film from Norman Wisdom, the roadworks scenes outside the camp were good with the marching scene hilarious.

Norman gets sent to occupied France where he doubles for a Nazi General with the obvious mishaps and goings on.

Herbert Chapman does his first in partnership with Norman, and he fits the bill.

Look for early roles for Honor Blackman (recently deceased at 94, Hattie Jacques, Frank Williams, Richard Marner playing a German general (he played a German Colonel in 'Allo 'Allo). Victor Maddern and Oliver Reed.

All Norman Wisdom Films tend to follow a simple formula. Loveable Norman has a simple life, usually overlooked by a father figure (Mr Grimsdale) who takes care of him. An antagonist enters the frame and usually angers Wisdom. Much revenge type comedy ensues. Throw in a little child or children who needs help and a unfeasibly attractive woman for Norman to fall in love with. So once this formula has been established it's very unusual to expect anything else. Not that The Square peg does a great deal different but it looses the child element and offers up instead, Wisdom in two roles. The first is his standard 'Pitkin' role and the second is the evil Nazi general. Sure he camps up the Nazi and plays it for all the laughs possible but this film is nothing more than comic brilliance. The scene between Wisdom in his two characters and Hattie Jaques as a Teutonic opera singer is staggeringly funny.

Although we don't roar with laughter now , there are some 'classic¬ scenes:- 1. changing step when arrested and the others copy and lose step - quite clever. 2. best of all - the performance of the German lieder with the exaggerated German " Dein ist mein Hertz " - some professional singers roll about at that ! What a fantastic wide mouth. 3. During the scene with Hattie Jacques there is a fine touch of sexual innuendo for brief seconds. 4. No sentimental songs to interrupt the action. 5. His infatuation with Honor Blackman is not over done or carried though to the point of implausibility. So, although this is not his best film, it has one or two memorable, even "classic" moments. Worth watching - if only every 5 years !

Following up on the zaniness of "Up in the World", Norman Wisdom returned as witless Norman Pitkin in "The Square Peg". In this case, he joins the army in WWII and gets dropped into Nazi-occupied France, where he's a dead ringer for a Nazi general.

I will say that I didn't find this one quite as funny as the previous movie, but the scenes where he's in the general's headquarters are just a hoot - you could turn the sound off and it would still be great. This is one movie that you're sure to love. Also starring is Honor Blackman (that's right: Pussy Galore!) and Edward Chapman.

And to think that I'd never even heard of Norman Wisdom until yesterday when I watched "Up in the World"!

Although this isn't my favourite Norman Wisdom film it has all the qualities that make his work so popular and has several laugh out loud moments.

Norman shines in his everyman role of Pitkin and is well supported by Edward Chapman as the infamous Mr Grimsdale.The pairs comedic timing is perfect and the film moves along at a fast pace moving from one set piece to showcase Normans talent to the next.

Although this film gets a little bogged down by it's plot it is a great piece of classic comedy that is just as funny now as it was upon release.

Without a shadow of a doubt this is my favourite of Norman's films , hilarious from start to finish, featuring two of the funniest sequences of his films.

The scene where Pitkin interferes with the Army march is laugh out loud funny, but the crowning glory comes where Hattie Jacques plays the Opera singer, and Norman's two characters sing with her, it is a side splitting scene.

Wisdom is great, Jacques also, just wonderful.

Considering it's 1958 they skillfully got the two Normans on screen at the same time, it looks really good.

It looks amazing, great sets and costumes, it is a fantastic production.

Love it, 9/10.

I realise that not everyone likes Norman Wisdom comedies. I feel he wasn't properly exploited for cinema regarding his potential. The man was very talented but his films could have been better. "The Square Peg" is his greatest film by far and a classic. Wisely, there are no irritating songs and no heavy doses of sentimentality. Just some great comedy, very good acting, a solid plot, a fine supporting cast and decent music which suits the film. There are many highlights here. The scene where Norman interferes with the training of the army recruits is hilarious! He plays a convincing Nazi officer and successfully spoofs this character. It wouldn't be quite the same without Edward Chapman as the one and only Mr. Grimsdale. He and Norman Wisdom work very well together. One of the things I really admire about the comedian, is that he was great at being a physical performer. He could carry out his own stunts and his timing at this was impeccable. Even those people who aren't devoted fans should still watch "The Square Peg" and have a good laugh.

THE SQUARE PEG is a Norman Wisdom vehicle that sees him once more playing the part of Norman Pitkin, employee of gruff Yorkshireman Mr Grimsdale (Edward Chapman). The film is set during WW2 and sees the hapless pair become involved with a local army base, eventually finding themselves in occupied France of all places.

This is the first Norman Wisdom film I've watched. I was inspired to watch it after getting into the CARRY ON films made during the same era. Like those, it has dated quite a lot since it first came out, with the comic hijinks feeling very genteel in the modern era of gross-out comedy. Although I found few laugh-out-loud moments, much of the film is gently amusing.

Wisdom and Chapman share an excellent rapport and their scenes together are obvious highlights within the movie, although an elaborate, late-on sequence involving Pitkin, his doppelganger and a German opera singer (the delightful Hattie Jacques) marks the film's highlight. Until then there's plenty of mugging, slapstick and jokes at the expense of stiff-upper-lipped army superiors (including BERGERAC's Terence Alexander). Honor Blackman shows up as a memorably feisty female agent. I didn't find it quite as funny as I'd hoped, but I'm inspired to check out more of Wisdom's work.

What a hilarious romp! Caught my interest right away!