A Stitch in Time

This film really does highlight Norman Wisdom at his best and features all the elements that made him such a fantastic screen clown.

Ably supported by Jerry Desmonde and Edward Chapman the film manages to feature all of the humour and the sentiment that make Wisdom's films so special. This one is particular shows him at his best because the sentiment is kept in check and there's none of the silly business of Norman playing multiple roles that perhaps bogged down his later outings.

Although it feels like a combination of sketches at times (Norman as a ST John's ambulance member, Norman as a nurse) they are brilliant ones, and there is enough of a plot to hold them all together. The scenes with Lindy are especially well written and it is perhaps this element that makes 'A Stitch in Time' my favourite of Norman's films.

The only sickness one could associate with A Stitch in Time would be laughter pains. I've not watched this film for a long time, but it is even funnier then I remember. When a robbery goes wrong in the Butcher's shop Mr Grimsdale lands up in Hospital, while Norman ends up causing mayhem throughout the hospital.

This glorious slapstick comedy had me in tears and fits of laughter, the sheer quality in writing, production, and of course performance transcends time, a film the whole family can enjoy, regardless of age. The wonderfully moving scene where Norman visits the sick girl, to the scream out loud funny scene where Norman dresses up as a Nurse, his performance is sensationally funny, that walk!

A joy from start to finish. 9/10

"A Stitch in Time" is one of the later movies by British comedy actor Norman Wisdom. I think it is one of his better films. In this one, he had some touching scenes on a serious side, but these relate to the humor he brings in a hospital setting.

Norman Wisdom was a star of British cinema in the mid-20th century. He had a little bit of Jerry Lewis, some Red Skelton and come Lou Costello. But his character had much more and was his own. Three things distinguish Wisdom – his perpetual smile and happy attitude, his exceedingly high energy level, and his physical abilities.

In this film, Wisdom plays his familiar character, Norman Pitkin. Many other comedians used hospital settings in movie plots, and one can expect the same types of hilarious situations in this one. A hospital gurney race is one of the funniest I've ever seen. This film has some slapstick comedy to rival the best of early American comedy teams. And the musical ending is special.

Even if the story is pretty standard and some parts get a little sentimental, A Stitch in Time is still a charming and funny slapstick comedy. A Stitch in Time is very well made, with nice cinematography and the film overall looks beautiful. The music by Phillip Green is beautiful as well, while there are some nice and funny touches in the screenplay. Not only that the set pieces are efficiently done and just add to the fun, with the slapstick very well timed. The pacing is just fine, the direction is good and the length I had no problem with either. And the acting is little to gripe about; Norman Wisdom is very winning in the title role, very innocent and likable, while Edward Chapman and Jerry Desmonde almost come close to stealing the film and Jeanette Sterke is really beautiful. Overall, classic slapstick comedy, that is very nice to watch while being funny as well. 8/10 Bethany Cox

A Stitch in Time is directed by Robert Asher and collectively written by Jack Davies, Norman Wisdom, Henry Blyth and Eddie Leslie. It stars Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman, Jeanette Sterke and Jerry Desmonde. Music is by Philip Green and cinematography by Jack Asher.

Although not prime Wisdom, A Stitch in Time holds the secrets as to what made the diminutive star so popular. Obviously his style of slapstick and malarkey for laughs isn't for everyone, but Wisdom's career blossomed because the feel good factor in his movies was always so high. While there was nearly always a sweet thread in his movies, where the harsh critics would cite schmaltz or sappiness, others rightly point to the honest escapism factor, a chance to forget the world and its troubles for a brief moment in time.

A Stitch in Time sees Wisdom as Norman Pitkin, the young assistant to Mr. Grimsdale (Chapman) at the town butchers. When Grimsdale is hospitalised, Pitkin is determined to help wherever possible, which unfortunately means chaos will follow. This set-up allows Wisdom to indulge in a number of high spirited sequences involving motorised beds, teeth extractions, stretcher bearing, ambulance surfing, marching band chaos and even dressing up in drag. The "tender" sub-plot involves an orphan girl who after losing her parents in a plane crash, refuses to talk or smile, but Norman is on that case with the message being the innocence of unprejudiced kindness. That's that, really, all wrapped up in just under an hour and half of film.

Harmless and innocent fun for those who want to escape their blues. 7.5/10