The Early Bird (1965)

Director:

Robert Asher

Writers:

Jack Davies (screenplay) and
Norman Wisdom (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 April 1966 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Norman is the assistant helping to run a small, old fashioned dairy which is threatened by a larger...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Norman Wisdom: The Early Bird (International: English title)

Runtime:

UK:98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

The last film of Jerry Desmonde.

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!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bostock's Cup (1999) (TV)

Big Woman

I've watched one of these now, so I won't have to watch the others, which I understand are much the same.

I suppose there's a charm in these, but not enough for me. If you don't know Norman Wisdom, he's a small guy who plays something in the zone of Laurel Hardy and Charlie Chaplin with a hint of Jerry Lewis. The plot here is a small guy working for a small business who bests a big business (and its bosses). Some mild physical humor weighted toward falling down stairs.

There is something interesting here though. The story takes us past quite a few men. Every one of them has a woman who gives little kisses and coos. All the bosses of course have cuties who act coy and chirp on cue. A working man has a more relaxed bird. All are pretty (after the fashion of the time). All have their breasts punched up and displayed as fully as possible.

Except for one. The famous Mr Grimsdale, who is our comic hero's boss. At each crisis, Norman runs back to Mr. Grimsdale to repeatedly interrupt him in the embrace of his woman. The comic situation starts with her not being his wife — but none of these women are wives. What's comic here is her size. She must be 6 foot four. For many shots, she must be standing on a platform so that Norman's head is level with her breasts.

I wonder why this is considered funny? Its clearly engineered. She's large but not bossy. She has no physical advantage. She's goods to be cuddled just like the other girlies we see. And its not a Margater Dumont deal. Her size alone is meant to be amusing.

A visit to another world. I suppose it is no more puzzling than asking why we laugh when someone falls down stairs.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.