There Was a Crooked Man

Out of the 20 films the great Sir Norman has made this is the only one I have yet to see- but why? All film books say it is one of his best, and yet it has never been screened on TV or released on video/DVD. Come on, whoever can make it possible, show this film, or make it available for all die-hard Sir Norman fans so we can experience more of this amazing mans talents. Sir Norman is a national treasure to be cherished for all time and, having met him 6 times I can honestly say what a lovely, down to earth person he is, and I am sure he would want this one missing film of his to be available to his legion of devoted fans, so come on, someone, put right this glaring oversight.

You might have thought that every single film Norman Wisdom ever made had been on TV at least twenty times in the past five years. But this - his personal favourite - has been unseen on British television for over half a century (although it is thankfully now available on YouTube and DVD).

Chafing at the restrictions imposed by Rank, Wisdom made two independent productions (the second being a version of Wodehouses's 'The Girl on the Boat') described by Robert Murphy as "refreshingly unusual" released through United Artists for a company that promptly went bust (the former having already been swiftly withdrawn from cinemas following protests from the Americans at the way they were caricatured in it); leaving them in a rights limbo that has kept both off television for a generation while his Rank productions are on all the time.

Based on James Bridie's 1949 play 'The Golden Legend of Shults', directed largely on location at Darwen in Lancashire serving as mill town Sleeth-on-Sea by theatre director Stuart Burge; further enhanced by terrific photography by Arthur Ibbetson fresh from 'The League of Gentlemen' and slick editing by future James Bond director James Hunt it all builds to a memorably explosive conclusion.

An excellent supporting cast (with venal authority embodied by Andrew Cruickshank rather than Jerry Desmonde) includes blonde bad girl Jean Clarke, little seen thereafter, and - in only her second film - an appealing young brunette named Susannah York, much seen thereafter.

Seeing a film which has been unseen in decades and to all intents and purposes "lost" is a real privilege. Although you're viewing something by today's standards and eyes. It almost needs two scores: with those factors included and discounted. I'd heard about this film 10 years ago. It was shown in Darwen, where it was filmed. The print being owned by a private collector. It was frustrating it wasn't given a DVD release. Periodically I checked online for any word on the film and that remained the case until 2017. When my search result revealed it was being released. Fantastic news! I don't know what the obstacle was. Whether it was rights issues or the owner didn't want to sell or even if the release was his print. But that's history now. Overall I'd give this an 8. The plot meanders a bit in the middle and watching it with any logical scrutiny is perhaps not the best idea (it's a 1960 Norman Wisdom comedy!) But it is very enjoyable and Norman gives an excellent performance. Many people stress in this film he tried to move away from his famous "gump" character. He does and it makes a welcome change. And shows he had greater range. That said he's not so hugely different to not appeal to those who like the Gump. The ending is quite something. I'm slightly sad that over the past decades, this film hasn't been known or seen widely, as with his other films. Although this is the future- today we see less and less repeats of the greats on the main national broadcasters. Such as Laurel and Hardy. Overall, thoroughly recommend.

What a surprise to find this film available from Network on Air via Amazon. Norman plays a much calmer role than his usual Gimp character, and so shows a completely different side to his acting. and I must say what a wonderful script for this film as it was a joy from start to finish with some real twist and turns, Wisdom still had the chance to do some of his slap stick which he seemed to do the stunts himself. Picture quality of the new DVD was a mostly very good and was in full widescreen, although I would also love to see this released on Blu-ray as it must be one of Normans greatest achievements, I worked with the great man on a charity film "Cosmic Brain suckers" and had the chance to spend many hours chatting to him over the shoot, I found him to be a most charming man with immense talent but also for his ability to play many musical instruments and through one of his later TV performances in Going Gently about a man dying of cancer. a great and powerful performance in a strait acting role. Thanks so much Network for releasing this great film so we can all enjoy it after not being seen for more than 50 years.

I have been a Norman Wisdom film since my pre teen days, when they showed them every tuesday night on TV. I couldnt get enough of his films, so funny, such a great snapshot of england in the 50's. As with all great artists, he made the occasional questionable film, notably "the girl on the boat", and fans are divided by "Whats good for the goose", but he made a lot of other great films, too many list here. I thought I had seen them all, til i learned about this film a few years ago, and how it was only shown for a few days, then pulled, as the film company didnt have the rights to the film. What a frustration, a film by one of my all time comic heroes, was there in the vaults and it couldnt be seen. I since learned it had been shown on TV twice in the 60's, so chances are I had actually seen it at the time, but i would only been about five and wouldnt remember it.

And then the unbeleivable happened, they were going to release it on DVD. Oh happy day!!!

Here comes the serious bit, it was supposed to be digitally restored, but the it still looked like an old print, even though technically the prints wouldnt have been shown that much, so most of the original copies should have been pristine.

Down to the film itself, Norman doesnt play his usual "gump", but he doesnt play it straight either. What you get is Norman trying to move onto to something better, and develop his gump character, but it wasnt the crowd pleaser, and it didnt sell well at the time. Was this the reason why it was originally pulled? The sleeve note seem to indicate this, but why has it gone unseen for 50 years? My two cents goes with the original copyright holder passing on, and that meant it could be shown again. Maybe we will never know, but at least its out there.

Down to the nitty gritty, was it worth the wait? The film has an odd story line, and takes some beleiving, but there are funny moments, and its worth watching, but time hasnt done it any favours, and maybe people nit pick about things more nowadays, something that brings to light the films shortcomings. Now dont get me wrong, i will be watching this again, and again and again and again. Its a long lost film that i should have seen a million times since the early 70's, and i think it will get better each time i see it.

Imagine there was a long lost episode of star trek, and it met a mixed reaction, you would be grateful to have a chance to watch, and you would watch it again and again...this is like this.

This would make great material for "Talking Pictures" TV, but its not as good as his best things like "man of the moment" , "trouble in store" or "on the beat", but better than the one with the lady on the boat.

Recommended for fans...........other people will watch it once, and then probably erase it from their set top box.

Me? I will watch it again and again.

I would have given five out five if the picture quality was pristine 35mm, but it was worth the 50 year wait in any form :)