"Director: John Paddy Carstairs"

• Bulldog Breed, The / One Good Turn | DVD | (12/05/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  In 1960, Norman Wisdom was left all at sea in The Bulldog Breed. He had already made a farce of the army in The Square Peg (1958), so what better than to join the navy? Back in the real world, the Russians had kick-started the space race putting Sputnik into orbit, so Norman rapidly finds himself selected to be the first Brit in space. Playing to type, the result is excellent physical comedy and copious tomfoolery at the expense of the upper ranks. With support from John Le Mesurier and Edward Chapman (the legendary "Mr Grimsdale") and uncredited appearances from Oliver Reed and Michael Caine, this is a notable British comedy, with an unusually direct reference to the risqué Carry On movies. For his second starring role Norman Wisdom played the oldest orphan of Greenwood Children's Home in 1954's One Good Turn. Not only does he have to find the money to buy one of the orphans a model car, but after a visit to Brighton he discovers Greenwood is due to be closed down by the home's own unscrupulous chairman, a property developer with plans to build a factory on the site. Also starring Thora Hird, One Good Turn was surely a film with a personal resonance for Wisdom who was himself brought-up in an orphanage after his mother died and his father was unable to raise him. As would become a tradition, he contributes a song, "Please Opportunity", and the movie, though produced by Rank, now sits easily in that classic Ealing era where the ordinary man took on the big guys and won. The innocent knockabout humour remains appealing. --Gary S Dalkin

• The Saint In London | DVD | (27/02/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The Robin Hood Of Modern CrimeThat was how The Saint was often promoted to entice readers, and it's a theme that his creator Leslie Charteris returns to a number of times in his books and stories. It was the publication of The Saint In New York in 1935 that made Charteris an international name. The film rights were sold even before publication and - despite some problem with the American censors over its violent content - became a hit picture for RKO in 1938. Charteris wanted Ronald Colman, Cary Grant or Douglas Fairbanks Jr for the role of Simon Templar. Instead, after Louis Hayward premiered the character, the much-respected George Sanders took on the role in four of the films, with Hugh Sinclair taking the lead in The Saint's Vacation and The Saint Meets The Tiger.The Saint In London:The Saint, newly back in London, is tipped by a friend in the Secret Service to a mystery involving one Bruno Lang, seemingly a Society card-sharp, but really involved in a plot to print and pass a million pounds worth of foreign currency.

• Made In Heaven | DVD | (30/04/2018) from £6.95   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Charming romantic comedy made in 1952 by Rank Studios and starring David Tomlinson, Petula Clark and A.E. Matthews. The Topham family live a blissfully happy life together in the lovely market town of Dunmow in deepest Essex. Recently married Basil Topham (David Tomlinson and his beautiful wife Julie (Petula Clark) are patiently waiting for their house to be built by local builders. Until then, they are forced to live with Basil s parents and eccentric grandfather (A.E Matthews). Basil and Julie have been entered into the Dunmow Flitch, a competition for the happiest married couple and all seems idyllic with our newly-weds. That is until a beautiful maid Marta (Sonja Zieman) arrives from Hungary to run the Topham family home and inadvertently throws everything into chaos!!

• The Saint - Vol. 4 - Golden Journey / Romantic Matron / Man Who Was Lucky / Invisible Millionaire | DVD | (16/07/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Roger Moore is Simon Templar better know as The Saint. The Saint out-swindles the swindlers for the good of the little guy: he's handsome charming suave and sophisticated. Episodes include: Episode 11 - 'The Golden Journey' Episode 12 - 'The Romantic Matron' Episode 13 - 'The Man Who Was Lucky' Episode 14 - 'The Invisible Millionaire

• Jumping for joy | DVD | (27/06/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  It's a dog's life in this hilarious British comedy! When Willie Joy (comedy legend Frankie Howerd) is fired from his job at the greyhound stadium he takes pity on a fellow victim and adopts an injured greyhound called Lindy Lou who would otherwise be destroyed. Teaming up with amiable con-man 'Captain' Montague (Stanley Holloway - The Lavender Hill Mob The Titfield Thunderbolt) Willie decides to train Lindy to compete for the prestigious Golden Bowl trophy. But it's not just the other dogs she has to beat - there are crooked bookies and race-track spivs to deal with too!

• One Good Turn | DVD | (12/11/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Reunited with many of the team behind Trouble in Store (1953), his smash hit of the previous year, for his second starring role Norman Wisdom played the oldest orphan of Greenwood Children's Home. Having being raised in the home Norman has stayed on as odd-job man, a role which ideally suits his man-child persona. Not only does he have to find the money to buy one of the orphans a model car, but after a visit to Brighton he discovers Greenwood is due to be closed down by the home's own unscrupulous chairman, a property developer with plans to build a factory on the site. Also starring Thora Hird, One Good Turn was surely a film with a personal resonance for Wisdom who was himself brought-up in an orphanage after his mother died and his father was unable to raise him. As would become a tradition, he contributes a song, "Please Opportunity", and the movie, though produced by Rank, now sits easily in that classic Ealing era where the ordinary man took on the big guys and won. The innocent knockabout humour remains appealing and it is simply impossible not to like Norman Wisdom. The film's success led directly to the aptly named Man of the Moment (1955). --Gary S Dalkin

• Man Of The Moment | DVD | (12/11/2001) from £8.13   |  Saving you £1.86 (22.88%)   |  RRP £9.99

  After an uncredited cameo alongside a gallery of comedy stars in As Long As They're Happy (1955), Norman Wisdom's third hit was the appropriately titled Man of the Moment. Indeed, by 1955 Wisdom was firmly established as Britain's favourite movie comedian, his shy, helpful and good-natured "gump" character forever unintentionally causing catastrophe in the great tradition of Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp". However, while Chaplin ventured into politics in Modern Times (1936) for satirical purposes, when Norman's minor civil servant here accidentally becomes the UK delegate at a conference in Geneva the emphasis is on farce and pratfalls. The plot sees Norman sticking up for the rights of the fictional kingdom of Tawaki against less-than-honest government interests, while his new-found status brings the attention of the ladies, including the return of his Trouble in Store (1953) costar Lana Morris. Continuing his collaboration with veteran director John Paddy Carstairs, the film is a polished laughter machine that continues to entertain. The following year cinema audiences continued to see Norman go Up In the World, while fans of that other British comedy institution, the Carry On series, will be pleased to spot Charles Hawtrey in a supporting role. --Gary S Dalkin

• The Square Peg | DVD | (05/11/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  The Square Peg marks a slight departure for Norman Wisdom, being his first comedy to be set, however recently, in the past. He plays one of a pair of council workmen, who while repairing the road outside an army base come to illustrate the oxymoronic nature of the phrase "military intelligence". Finding themselves drafted, the workmen are sent to repair the roads ahead of the Allied advance through war-torn Europe by the sergeant they previously embarrassed. Norman finds himself behind the German lines, joins-up with French Resistance, gets captured then sets out to rescue British prisoners from a German military HQ by impersonating General Schreiber. Of course Wisdom plays Schreiber too, offering the sort of comedy stereotyping which Basil Fawlty in best "Don't mention the war" mode would appreciate. The Square Peg is the film which introduced Norman Wisdom's famous catch-phrase, "Mr. Grimsdale!" for whenever disaster struck. The long suffering Mr Grimsdale is played by Edward Chapman, who would reprise the role in Wisdom's A Stitch in Time (1963) and The Early Bird (1965), as well as playing Mr Philpots in The Bulldog Breed (1960). Hattie Jacques gets to sing a remarkable duet with Wisdom, and a pre-Goldfinger (1964) Honor Blackman provides the love interest.--Gary S. Dalkin

• Norman Wisdom - Man of the Moment | DVD | (21/10/2009) from £6.00   |  Saving you £-1.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  NORMAN WISDOM'S IMMENSE POPULARITY STEMS FROM HIS HILARIOUS PORTRAYAL OF THE LITTLE GUY WHO ALWAYS SEEMS TO WIN OUT IN THE END. THE CLOTH-CAPPED BUMBLER IS ONE OF THE GREAT CREATIONS OF BRITISH COMEDY.

• Up In The World | DVD | (12/11/2001) from £14.98   |  Saving you £-4.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  In 1956 the title of his latest film, Up in the World accurately described Norman Wisdom's career. This was the great British comedian's fourth hit in as many years, this time finding himself employed as window cleaner to Lady Banderville (Ambrosine Phillpotts). Apart from having hundreds of windows to polish, things would be going fine for Norman if it weren't for the endless practical jokes played by Lady Banderville's son, Sir Reginald (Michael Caridia). However, when the irritating Regie is kidnapped, Norman has the chance to prove himself a hero, and it just might impress Jeannie Andrews too, his beautiful co-star Maureen Swanson, then making a name for herself in A Town Like Alice and The Spanish Gardener (both 1956). By now Norman Wisdom was set on a winning formula, working with much the same team as on his three previous smashes, including Jerry Desmonde as Major Willoughby, who had starred in both Trouble in Store (1953) and Man of the Moment (1955). Later, in Carry On Regardless (1961) Desmonde would make a single appearance with another British comedy institution, and interestingly Ambrosine Phillpotts would be there in the same film. Norman meanwhile, would go on to his good fortune in Just My Luck (1957). --Gary S. Dalkin

• Trouble In Store | DVD | (15/10/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Perhaps surprisingly, the British comedy legend Norman Wisdom has made just 20 films, from his debut in Date With a Dream (1948) to the thriller Double-X (1992). From 1948 on he had his own TV series, Wit and Wisdom, but 1953 was the real turning point. Not only was his son Nicholas born, but he became an instant movie star with the release of Trouble in Store. Playing a character called Norman he brought his familiar stage and television personality to the big screen as a young man with the ambition to become a window dresser in a major department store. Ever loveable victim of his own clumsiness, all Norman's efforts to improve himself result in chaos. That is, until he meets Sally (Lana Morris), the girl of his dreams. Then things turn disastrous. Co-starring Margaret Rutherford, Trouble in Store introduced Wisdom's self-penned song which would become his theme, "Don't laugh at Me ('Cause I'm a Fool)". The film became a massive box-office hit and won Wisdom a BAFTA Award. Very much of its time, yet still highly entertaining, this video release provides the opportunity to nostalgically revisit and reassess one of Britain's greatest stars. Wisdom's follow-up was another substantial hit, One Good Turn (1954). --Gary S. Dalkin

• One Good Turn | DVD | (03/09/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Norman is an orphan who has stayed on at the orphanage to do odd jobs and ends up doing a lot more. Kind as ever he promises to buy one of the orphans a model car - the only problem now is where to find the cash? Proving his versatility (by being equally bad at every profession) Norman's attemps to earn the money range from a traumatic stint as a sandwichbroad man to a disastrous effort in the boxing ring. Leaving chaos in his wake Norman tackles the world armed with nothing more