The Early Bird (1965)

Norman is the assistant helping to run a small, old fashioned dairy which is threatened by a larger, modern organisation. Norman does his best to save the dairy (and his horse) and the ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Asher

Writers:

Jack Davies (screenplay), Norman Wisdom (screenplay),

Stars:

Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman, Jerry Desmonde

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Norman Wisdom	...	Norman Pitkin
Edward Chapman	...	Mr. Grimsdale
Jerry Desmonde	...	Mr. Hunter
Paddie O'Neil	...	Gladwys Hoskins
Bryan Pringle	...	Austin
Richard Vernon	...	Sir Roger Wedgewood
John Le Mesurier	...	Colonel Foster (golf partner)
Peter Jeffrey	...	Fire Chief
Penny Morrell	...	Miss Curry
Marjie Lawrence	...	Woman in Negligee
Frank Thornton	...	Drunken Doctor
Dandy Nichols	...	Woman Flooded by Milk
Harry Locke	...	Commissionaire
Michael Bilton	...	Nervous Man
Imogen Hassall	...	Sir Roger's Secretary

Storyline

Norman is the assistant helping to run a small, old fashioned dairy which is threatened by a larger, modern organisation. Norman does his best to save the dairy (and his horse) and the usual chaos ensues.

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Plot Keywords:

three word title | independent film | actor shares first name with character

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Taglines:

His LATEST and FUNNIEST and FIRST TIME in COLOUR

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 April 1966 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Die große Flasche

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film of Jerry Desmonde.

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Quotes

Mr. Grimsdale: Besides, we're beaten Pitkin. Consolidated's too big.
Norman Pitkin: Oh. You was at Dunkirk, weren't you Mr Grimsdale? I wonder what would have happened if you'd given up then.
Mr. Grimsdale: You're right Pitkin. We'll fight them, to the last half pint of milk!

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Connections

Referenced in Bostock's Cup (1999)

User Reviews

Very basic physical comedy that feels forced – miles from Wisdom's best

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.