Wonderland (TV Series) The Secret Life of Norman Wisdom Aged 92¾ (2008) User Reviews

A Rags-to-Riches Tale of a Great Entertainer

[l_rawjalaurence · 7/10 · 14 June 2014]

Norman Wisdom might not be everyone's comic cup of tea (I personally found several of his old black-and-white comedies exceptionally irritating), but you have to admire the sheer guts of the man. Born into abject poverty, and spending much of his childhood living rough, rejected by his family and seldom knowing where his next crust of bread was coming from, Wisdom joined the Army as a 15-year-old and never looked back. He discovered a unique talent for making people laugh; and after having appeared on a variety bill with Vera Lynn, his comic career was made. What I like about the man is his intelligence; although the character he portrayed on screen often appeared gormless, Wisdom was a highly intelligent man who knew how to manage his career. His private life was turbulent, to say the least; his second wife left him for another man, and he was given custody of his two children. Combining work and parenthood as capably as he could, he not only continued his career, but sustained a good relationship with his children (his son Nick had a fledgling county cricket career at Sussex). In latter years Wisdom gained critical plaudits as a straight actor, proving beyond doubt his capabilities as a performer. This documentary not only celebrates his career, but represents him as an intensely likable yet dedicated person. Definitely worth a look.