Norman, O Leiteiro Bagunceiro

Norman Pitkin works in a small, very basic dairy for Mr Grimsdale. Their quiet, horse-drawn existence is threatened by the expansion of a huge modern dairy (Consolidated Dairies) with a fleet of milkmen, some of whom are muscling in on Grimsdale's patch by breaking their bottles.. Norman sets out to ensure his dairy's survival – hilarity and much chaos ensues.

I love Norman Wisdom but this is nowhere near his best. Here the plot is actually quite good but it's only used well once or twice. Instead we have several set piece scenes which were clearly thought up before the actual plot because they are almost crowbarred into the film. For example – the whole golf scene is very thinly inserted and things like the lawnmower scene and the fire fighting scene bear little relation to the story itself.

This wouldn't be a major problem if it was very funny, however, like the scenes themselves, the comedy feels a bit forced and not natural in the way Wisdom's best routines are. The whole golf scene is forced and the lawnmower scene will have you asking why he didn't just let go of the thing. There still is plenty to enjoy – my favourite being a cowboy pastiche – but overall it is really just Pitkin falling down as much as possible with the plot forgotten.

Wisdom looks old and well fed – a strange comment perhaps, but it offsets his usual image as a working class hero. Being in full colour doesn't help but he isn't the character he was 10 years ago. Chapman is OK but his extra material and love interest make him less enjoyable as a comedy character. Desmonde is the upper class fool as always but here the comedy almost demeans his talents. The upside of the film is that there is no wasted time for Wisdom to chase a pretty young ankle – we have no love interest.

Overall this is enjoyable for die-hard fans and children. The reliance on physical humour is to the detriment of the plot and regularly feels forced and unfunny. It is sill amusing and I had a few laughs but this is many miles from Wisdom at his peak.

As a child I grew up with the movies of Norman Wisdom constantly showing on the TV. I watched them avidly. Sadly, as I grew older and more cynical, their flaws became noticeable. The unattainable girl, the sledgehammer pathos, which at times threatens to sink his movies, all these faults and more, became sadly apparent to my more cynical eyes (perhaps that says more about me as a person, then it does about Sir Norman's films).

Yet despite all this, I still have a soft spot for old Norman (and it's not the Grimpon Mire!) and have fond memories of this, possibly his best movie. While there is still pathos (regarding his horse) it's thankfully present in very small doses. Even better, there is no love interest (or rather, no unrequited love interest). Instead we are given a very nice plot about a small, out-of-date diary, threatened by a huge, modern conglomerate, almost Ealing-like in its structure.

The highlight is the opening twenty minutes or so, a near silent sequence where Norman and the ever-present Mr Grimsdale, struggle to get up while still half asleep. Some of the falls look very painful to me, but it remains a very well executed set piece.

Adding to the fun is a very memorable score by Ron Grainer, which you can't help humming after listening to it!

The only downside to this movie is a redundant golfing sequence, in which Sir Norman causes chaos dressed as a vicar! It quickly wears out it's welcome and seems to me to be a bit out-of place, feeling like something added at the last moment to pad out the film.

This is a fun vehicle for Norman Wisdom that starts out quite amiably. He works for his boss "Grimsdale" (Edward Chapman) delivering the milk from his horse-drawn float early each morning. One day, though, he discovers all their empties broken and a new supplier "Consolidated Dairies" taking over his patch. Thwarted at every turn by their supercilious general manager "Hunter" (Jerry Desmonde) and his peak-capped henchman "Austin" (Bryan Pringle) it falls to poor old "Pitkin" to save the day, the business and his job! The beginning works well with a sort of gunfight at OK corral scenario between the two milkmen that clears the street quicker than a thunderstorm. Thereafter, though, the joke wears a bit thin and the story resorts a little too much to slapstick - especially on the golf course - for my liking before descending a little too quickly into the preposterous where it loses much of it's charm and the horse starts to steal all the scenes! It's also a bit on the long side. Perhaps some more ruthless use of the razor blade in the cutting room could have tightened it up bit and kept the pace a bit better concentrated? Wisdom did have great comedy timing and a very expressive face, though, there are giggle moments here for us to enjoy and even a semblance of the Dunkirk spirit! I could just have done with a bit more of that!

now, everyone has their own opinion on movies and the comment above is fair if that is what he thinks, but, to me, this movie is still a great piece of work by the legendary, sir Norman wisdom. i admit, not my fav out of 13 films of his i've seen but its still good firm piece of British comedy which i, being British, am proud of. so, if you have enjoyed other classic movies of his such as one good turn, just my luck, up in the world,girl on the boat, the bulldog breed, follow a star and many, many others,then i suggest you give this a go and judge for yourself. "mr.grimsdale!" classic. i can honestly say, hand on hart, that sir Norman wisdom is a true legend and will always be a favourite actor of mine for the rest of my life.

My parents took me and my brother to see this at the "pictures". (I was 8 and my brother was 5 in 1965) I DO remember that this film made me laugh till I almost burst at the seams! :-) I've never forgotten the image of Norman, the horse, and "Mr. Grimsdale!?" I've tried to get this film at video stores without success. Shame. It's a classic!