What's Good for the Goose

I remember this film being made as a little boy, so it always holds a place in my affection. I remember being surprised they took two days to film a scene that only lasted seconds in the final edit. i met Norman Wisdom and Sally Geeson on set and I still remember offering him a sweet and then signing his autograph.

All the family attended the premiere and I enjoyed it including the memorable theme tune. I don't suppose it will hold any interest to anybody anymore apart from the odd Norman Wisdom devotee in Albani (where I believe he was big!) and I can't say I've seen it in thirty years. From what I've read it wasn't regarded as a particularly good film by the critics. But, I would like to see it one more time if only to bring back the memories of that little boy I was in 1969.

WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE is an unwieldy little comedy effort, shot in Southport of all places, and starring Norman Wisdom in a very different role to those earlier in his career. Although this is a comedy, there's no slapstick from the rubbery star here; instead, he plays a rather sad individual, a guy who's having a mid-life crisis and subsequently falls in love with the teenage Sally Geeson.

There were a lot of May to December films coming out around these years but WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE is one of the oddest. It's not really what you could call an entertaining movie, as it just sort of floats along aimlessly for a very long time. What it does provide is an eye-popping time capsule of late '60s fashions and attitudes, with the 'free love' movement in particular explored in depth.

Wisdom remains a likable character throughout and Geeson isn't bad either in an early role. The film was put out by Tigon, a company who typically specialised in cutting-edge horror fare, and written and directed by none other than Menahem Golan years before he founded Cannon.

This film is a great period piece but with a midlife crisis theme still relevant today. Released in 1969, in the period when the new 'permissive society' became relevant and news worthy, an assistant bank manager makes a fool of him self at a banker's conference in Southport as he falls in love with a teenage girl hitch hiker. It has aged much better then the traditional Norman Wisdom gimp movie, although it still has many of the Norman hallmarks - he takes credit for the script and is associate producer. There are parts which can make me cringe but only because, as a bloke in his fifties, I see painful reflections of my own behaviour. Sally Geeson is, as ever, a delightful presence. She quit acting much too soon! Not a truly great picture but sympathetic and, with a great supporting cast of British stalwarts and some good laughs, vastly better than many reviewers would have you believe.

Hopefully I can get the attention of another fan of the film, although looking at all the negative reviews of it I somehow doubt it possible. Anyway, here goes. Is it me or is the bedroom scene with Sally G cut when compared to the version Channel 5 shown, late at night, sadly over 20 years ago????? As a teenager I remember being shocked by her going topless in bed with old Norman but that segment isn't on the DVD or any of the vids. If someone can clarify this I'd be most grateful!(surprised nobody else has noticed this). I do like the film and I am a big fan of Norman (Seen him Live twice), but I think the reason it works for me is that I don't expect him to be Pitkin.I really do see him as a different character here, unlike most of his other more popular films. Reading between the lines, most of the 'reviewers'(Who slate the film) seem to want him to be like his stereo-typical clumsy little fool.Wasn't he allowed to break out of that millstone for just one film?????????? Where the film probably winds people up is when Norman slips in little bits of Pitkin into the Mr Bartlett character; this is confusing some disappointed fans who expect the rest of the usual package and get a Peter Stringfellow mix.

Ok not the best film made by Norman Wisdom, but it's one of those movies that you watch late Sunday evening before returning to work!

Just a plain and simple film that sums up the entire 60's era, the clothes, the music, and the dialog!! Norman plays the hum drum banker (yes I spelt that correctly!) who plays away from home while on a business trip with noneother than Sally Geeson, a young trendy! The comedy is weak, the script poor, but this film is harmless fun, nostalgic, and a low budget British film with good locations. At least give it a chance, available as video, hunt it on ebay!