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The Square Peg (1958)

| Comedy , War | 19 December 1958 (Ireland)
The Square Peg Poster
A British road repairman gets into a feud with the Army, gets drafted and is mistakenly parachuted into Nazi occupied France where his physical resemblance to the local German commandant triggers a hilarious chain reaction.

Director:

John Paddy Carstairs

Writers:

Jack Davies (original screenplay), Henry Blyth (original screenplay) | 2 more credits »

Stars:

Norman Wisdom, Honor Blackman, Edward Chapman | See full cast & crew »
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Photos

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A Stitch in Time (1963)
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An accident in the butcher's shop leads Norman and Mr Grimsdale to the hospital where, after causing the normal amount of chaos, Norman finds Lindy, a little girl who hasn't spoken or ... See full summary »

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The Early Bird (1965)
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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 »

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On the Beat (1962)
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Norman wants to be a policeman like his father was, but he fails the height test (amongst others). One day he gets out his father's old uniform and "walks the beat". This leads to a level ... See full summary »

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Trouble in Store (1953)
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Norman is working in the stock room of a large London department store, but he has ambition (doesn't he always !!), he wants to be a window dresser making up the public displays. Whilst ... See full summary »

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Follow a Star (1959)
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Norman Truscott is a store worker who dreams of stardom. Vernon Carew is a singer who's star is fading. Vernon manages to get a recording of Norman singing and passes it off as himself.

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The Bulldog Breed (1960)
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When he is crossed in love, grocers assistant Norman Puckle joins the Navy, where he is recruited to man the first British rocket.

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Stars: Norman Wisdom, Ian Hunter, David Lodge
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Man of the Moment (1955)
Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.5/10 X  

Civil Servant Norman becomes the favourite of the rulers of a South Seas island that the British have an interest in.

Director: John Paddy Carstairs
Stars: Norman Wisdom, Lana Morris, Belinda Lee
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Up in the World (1956)
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    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

A friendly window cleaner works at an English country estate where he saves the owner's son from kidnappers.

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Stars: Norman Wisdom, Maureen Swanson, Jerry Desmonde
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One Good Turn (1955)
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Norman is the oldest orphan at Greenwood Children's Home and now acts as their caretaker. All the orphans are very happy and well cared for. The adventures start when a nasty property ... See full summary »

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Just My Luck (1957)
Comedy
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Norman works in a jewellers workshop and fantasises (in the nicest way) about meeting the window dresser across the road from his workshop. He wants to buy her a diamond pendant but ... See full summary »

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Press for Time (1966)
Comedy
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The British P.M.'s grandson, Norman, becomes a reporter for a provincial newspaper where he causes hilarious chaos.

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Stars: Norman Wisdom, Derek Bond, Angela Browne
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The Ghost Train (1941)
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High jinks and chills ensue when a group of people become stranded at an isolated station and a legendary phantom train approaches.

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Norman Wisdom ... Norman Pitkin / General Schreiber
Honor Blackman ... Lesley Cartland
Edward Chapman ... Mr. Grimsdale
Campbell Singer Campbell Singer ... Sergeant Loder
Hattie Jacques ... Gretchen
Brian Worth Brian Worth ... Henri Le Blanc
Terence Alexander ... Captain Wharton
John Warwick John Warwick ... Colonel Layton
Arnold Bell Arnold Bell ... General Hunt
André Maranne André Maranne ... Jean-Claude (as Andre Maranne)
Victor Beaumont ... Jogenkraut
Frank Williams ... Captain Ford
Eddie Leslie Eddie Leslie ... Medical Officer
Richard Marner ... German Officer
John G. Heller ... German Officer at Gatepost
See full cast »
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Storyline

Norman and Mr Grimsdale are council workmen mending the road outside an Army base when they come into conflict with the military. Shortly afterwards, they get drafted and fall into the clutches of the Sergeant they have just bested. They are sent to France to repair roads in front of the Allied advance but get captured. Norman takes advantage of a useful similarity to impersonate General Schreiber and manages to return a hero. Written by Steve Crook <steve@brainstorm.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

drill sergeant | tunneling | execution by firing squad | conscription | personal feud | See All (38) »

Taglines:

The news the enemy dreaded - Wisdom's joined the army.

Genres:

Comedy | War

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German | French

Release Date:

19 December 1958 (Ireland) See more »

Also Known As:

The Square Peg See more »

Filming Locations:

Village Road, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Rank Organisation See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening credits: All characters and events in this film are fictitious. Any similarity to actual events or persons living or dead is purely coincidental. See more »

Goofs

At c.20 minutes Pitkin's spade suddenly reappears as he leaves the army base. See more »

Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: The Second World War saw many remarkable adventures on sea, on land and in the air. Strangest of all perhaps, was the story of Norman Pitkin, indomitable fighter, rugged individualist and faithful employee of the St. Godric's Borough Council. See more »

Connections

Featured in Norman Wisdom: His Story (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

The Square Peg
by Michael Carr and Philip Green
See more »

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User Reviews

 
THE SQUARE PEG (John Paddy Carstairs, 1958) ***
25 August 2006 | by Bunuel1976 – See all my reviews

This service comedy (another favorite situation with star comedians) - part army-base shenanigans and part dangerous mission - ranks as possibly the best Norman Wisdom vehicle there is, with a consistent string of often hilarious gags and the star - turning up again in drag and also appearing in a dual role (including one as a Nazi General) - in top form.

Supporting him are Edward Chapman (virtually rising to sidekick status here, he and Wisdom make an engaging comic pair), Honor Blackman (perhaps the most substantial of the star's leading ladies) and Hattie Jacques (as a German opera star).
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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