The Square Peg

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.

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"!

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.

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).

What a hilarious romp! Caught my interest right away!