Up in the World (1956)

Norman is a window cleaner who has to clean a manor house with hundreds of windows. He is distracted by the son of the house who persuades him to go into town. When some villains try and ... See full summary »

Director:

John Paddy Carstairs

Writers:

Jack Davies (screenplay), Henry Blyth (screenplay),

Stars:

Norman Wisdom, Maureen Swanson, Jerry Desmonde

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Norman Wisdom	...	Norman
Maureen Swanson	...	Jeannie Andrews
Jerry Desmonde	...	Maj. Willoughby
Michael Caridia	...	Sir Reginald
Colin Gordon	...	Fletcher Hethrington
Ambrosine Phillpotts	...	Lady Banderville
Michael Ward	...	Maurice
Jill Dixon	...	Sylvia
Edwin Styles	...	Conjuror
Hy Hazell	...	Yvonne
William Lucas	...	Mick Bellman
Lionel Jeffries	...	Wilson
Cyril Chamberlain	...	Harper
Michael Brennan	...	Prison Warder
Eddie Leslie	...	Max

Storyline

Norman is a window cleaner who has to clean a manor house with hundreds of windows. He is distracted by the son of the house who persuades him to go into town. When some villains try and kidnap the young heir Norman fights them off but the heir has banged his head and can't remember Norman's heroic stand.

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Plot Keywords:

window cleaner | manor house | hosepipe | clumsy | pig | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1957 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Esta perra vida

Filming Locations:

Heatherden Hall, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Up in the World"
By Norman Wisdom
Performed by Norman Wisdom (uncredited)

User Reviews

Formula Wisdom

The irrepressible Norman Wisdom goes "Up in the World" from poster hanger to window washer at a lavish estate, and the estate is lavish indeed as the film's exteriors were shot at the magnificent Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. Norman again tangles with his old nemesis, Jerry Desmonde as the estate manager, and finds a new foil in a spoiled young heir, Michael Caridia. Although Norman never falters, the film does. An extended soccer match wears on, and an involved kidnapping plot has few gags. However, the finale's Marx-Brothers-like mayhem leaves an elegant hall in shambles, as befitting the ever-bumbling Mr. Wisdom.

"Up in the World" is formula Norman, which is not all bad. Norman is fired over and over; he sings the title song, one of his own composing; and he falls for a young housemaid, who is in the mold of the young ladies Norman always falls for. Michael Ward, who played a fussy photographer in "Man of the Moment," amusingly returns as a fussy uncle here, and Lionel Jeffries pops up in a funny cameo. Mr. Wisdom never lets us down; whether dangling from a window, fooling around in a queue, or doing battle with Jerry Desmonde, his comic talents are pitch perfect. If only the movie had been worthy of him. However, lesser Wisdom is better than no Wisdom, and "Up in the World," while not a great classic, is acceptably entertaining.