What's Good for the Goose

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.

Sod yer Jodorowsky's or David Lynch's – is this not the strangest movie ever made? Actually, the Jerry Lewis comedy Slapstick of Another Kind probably takes that honour – but this comes close.

From purveyor of violent kitsch Menahem Golan, this sees mild-mannered banker Timothy Bartlett (Wisdom, in his final film) getting turned on by the flower power generation, including a scrumptious Sally Geeson, down at the 'Screaming Apple' Discotheque and having it off with them to a grooveadelic soundtrack by The Pretty Things.

Unlike the reactionary Carry Ons there's not a euphemism in sight: here it's all, "Do you want to have sex?", though at the same time this utterly encapsulates the British reality of sex in a Rita and Sue kinda way: however day-glo the trousers, or far-out the argot, the end result still spells a good-old bunk-up with giggling and Y-fronts in a Southport hotel room.

Fascinating in all sorts of ways; and ultimately, surprisingly smart and touching, too.

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.

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.

I remember when I first saw this movie, back in 1969, I didn't like it because I was "old school" Norman Wisdom. I still am, I prefer his silly lovable fool character in his older movies. However having seen this all over again, first time in 35 years, it was pretty entertaining, not overly funny but enough to pass 100 minutes or so. Norman plays it almost straight, there are a few touches of his silliness, but not overly slapstick. Sally Geeson, I was in love with her then, and she still has spark. Pity she retired from acting after Carry On Girls (1972), to become a school teacher, lucky kids! It does manage to give a great feel for the sixties, very psychedelic, and great music by the Pretty Things, Norman even sings the title song himself. Sally looks great in the "skinny dipping" scene, but I could've done with seeing one of my fav comedians (Wisdom)naked! Anyway, worth a few laughs, especially Norman's battle of wits with Desk Clerk, David Lodge.