Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

Norman Wisdom film

(30 Posts)
Cumbrianmale56 Sat 18-Jan-25 14:24:17

It's rare these are shown now, but when I was a boy, Norman Wisdom's films were often shown on the television. I used to think his mixture of slapstick, sight gags and corny jokes were hilarious and he was massively popular for decades. Always liked how he played misfits who somehow got one over authority figures and bullies. Also Norman Wisdom did his own stunts that made the films better.

Grandmabatty Sat 18-Jan-25 14:42:10

The films are shown on Talking Pictures from time to time. I never liked his style of humour and still don't. Just as well we're all different

Barleyfields Sat 18-Jan-25 14:43:31

I’m sorry but I never could stand him, nor could my parents. He definitely wasn’t popular in our house.

Babs03 Sat 18-Jan-25 14:47:18

I wasn't overly fond of his films but have watched some, he was a bit too slapstick for me, I imagine Michael Crawford based a lot of his slapstick humour in 'some mothers do ave 'em' on him as well as doing his own stunts as well.

Babs03 Sat 18-Jan-25 14:48:03

sorry said 'as well' twice when is not necessary, pedants corner for me!!

Mamie Sat 18-Jan-25 14:54:17

Made me think of one of my favourite EU translation stories when "il faut profiter de la sagesse normande" was correctly translated as "we must all learn from Norman wisdom". Apparently there was surprise when the British all started laughing. My neighbours here in Normandy enjoy the story too.
(I could never stand Norman Wisdom though. 😂)

welbeck Sat 18-Jan-25 15:08:02

Babs03

I wasn't overly fond of his films but have watched some, he was a bit too slapstick for me, I imagine Michael Crawford based a lot of his slapstick humour in 'some mothers do ave 'em' on him as well as doing his own stunts as well.

Norman Wisdom was the first choice for the part but he turned it down.
So your observation is apposite.

Elegran Sat 18-Jan-25 15:24:38

I never liked Norman Wisdom's "comedy". He always seemed to me to be doing what used to be called "playing to the gallery" with his conscious exploitation of the role of a put-upon little man who can't get anything right but who thinks he is cutely appealing so he hams up his disasters to get maximum sympathy. Cringeworthy.

Kate1949 Sat 18-Jan-25 15:38:12

There was something about him I didn't like. I'm not sure why. Still, he liked himself a lot I think. When he was on Desert Island Discs, five of his eight record choices where his own!

Oreo Sat 18-Jan-25 18:33:34

Kate1949

There was something about him I didn't like. I'm not sure why. Still, he liked himself a lot I think. When he was on Desert Island Discs, five of his eight record choices where his own!

That’s so funny😂

Oreo Sat 18-Jan-25 18:35:58

I didn’t like him either.
I once read that he was much loved in, I think Bulgaria? One of those former Communist countries anyway, Roumania?

Deedaa Sat 18-Jan-25 18:40:57

When I was a child my mother and I went to all his films. He did appear in some serious plays when he was much older. I remember him being very good in one set in a hospital.

Granmarderby10 Sat 18-Jan-25 18:52:21

I watched a thing about Norman Wisdom this morning. I have seen it before but I appreciate him now more than I did when I was a kid in the 60s.
All modern comedy films are so “ironic and knowing” and I find it refreshing to watch the old stuff, sometimes.
Some of these stars of the screen certainly packed a lot into their lives didn’t”t they!

WhiteSwan63 Sat 18-Jan-25 19:09:52

I used to love watching the film where he worked for a dairy I can’t remember the name of the film. Haven’t seen it for years.
It’s probably too outdated humour to put on tv now.

NotAGran55 Sat 18-Jan-25 19:14:06

I used to like Norman Wisdom because my dad took me to see a couple of his films when I was a little girl.

Fast forward to my teens, they were making a new film in Windsor bus station, opposite the Castle, where I caught the bus home after school. He was just standing around nearby.
I cheekily approached him, told him my dad was a fan, somehow told him that I was going to do a 21 mile sponsored walk for charity and he gave me half a crown!

On reflection years later I often wondered if the summer school dress and boater had anything to do with it. We attracted a long of attention from American tourists there who even asked to photograph us on occasions 🤔

GrannyGravy13 Sat 18-Jan-25 19:53:03

Oreo

I didn’t like him either.
I once read that he was much loved in, I think Bulgaria? One of those former Communist countries anyway, Roumania?

I think it’s Albania.

Sadgrandma Sat 18-Jan-25 20:02:58

I remember seeing a documentary about him towards the end of his life when he clearly had dementia and was in a nursing home. He spent all his time ‘entertaining’ the other residents, whether they wanted it or not! It was very sad

Esmay Sat 18-Jan-25 21:07:38

Norman Wisdom had a horrible impoverished childhood -a situation made worse by his cruel abusive father -so I admire his determination to succeed .
I don't know why , but I never found his antics funny .
I'm a big fan of Charlie Chaplin .

Hellogirl1 Sat 18-Jan-25 21:31:52

I never found Norman Wisdom remotely funny, although my husband thought he was great. What I did like was the fact that he was a very good straight actor in a couple of TV plays.

Louella12 Sat 18-Jan-25 21:49:40

I think I found him funny when I was a child.

One of his films was shot in the town where we lived. My Grandma was very excited and took us all to the cinema

Suffice it to say it wasn't a huge success because there was a scene where a naked Norman ran into the sea. Back view. My poor Grandma was shocked and we never mentioned Norman again.

BlueBelle Sat 18-Jan-25 22:41:58

I couldn’t ever watch Norman Wisdom I didn’t find him remotely funny his stage presence left me cold however I did once see him in a straight play and thought he was much better as a serious actor Can’t remember what the film was though

Albania loved him…. I wonder why ?

Lovetopaint037 Sun 19-Jan-25 02:42:56

I went with my grandmother’s staff outing to the Palladium to see him. He knelt down and sang Don’t laugh at me Cause I’m a Fool. That was played a lot on the radio so he was liked by a lot of people. Really liked him and occasionally saw a film of his. Always made me laugh.

Sarnia Sun 19-Jan-25 08:11:40

Oreo

I didn’t like him either.
I once read that he was much loved in, I think Bulgaria? One of those former Communist countries anyway, Roumania?

Albania.

Cumbrianmale56 Sun 19-Jan-25 11:12:07

Norman Wisdom had a rotten, impoverished childhood and decided to join the army when he was 14 as it was the only way out. He spent 12 years in the army and it was here where he learned how to enterain soldiers during the war and developed his comic style. I always thought he was excellent at slapstick style humour and was a bit like a British Jerry Lewis, Trouble In Store is very like the Lewis comedy Who's Minding The Store.

Guesswhat Sun 19-Jan-25 16:38:44

WhiteSwan63

I used to love watching the film where he worked for a dairy I can’t remember the name of the film. Haven’t seen it for years.
It’s probably too outdated humour to put on tv now.

The Early Bird?