I have to admit I only know a tiny bit about Mr. Wisdom, but have a huge appreciation for his talent. It's only through my (other) hobby as a collector of Broadway showmusic on CD that I've run across this performer . . . so far anyway.
"Where's Charley" (1948) was the stage career triumph of Ray Bolger and the first smash Broadway musical by the great Frank Loesser, adapted by George Abbott from the classic, oft-revived Brandon Thomas farce "Charley's Aunt." Unfortunately, when it came time to record the cast album, there was a musicians' strike in progress. A single of Bolger's hit song "Once in Love with Amy" (backed with the show's "Make a Miracle") exists, but to hear the rest of the score, performed with great zeal and in stereo, there's the 1958 London cast recording, starring Norman Wisdom.
I've also got "Walking Happy," a musical version of "Hobson's Choice," for which Wisdom was nominated for a Tony.
Very sad to hear that another great favourite of mine has passed away.
Norman was one of those artists that you either loved ....or, you didn't. Well - I loved him !
He is always guaranteed to make me smile and his movies can cheer me up when i'm down.
I have all of the movies he made for the Rank Organisation, and, this afternoon, we shall be watching "Man of the Moment".
My Dad first took me to see this when I was eight years old, and i've loved it ever since.
As well as being a very funny man, he had a very pleasant singing voice too, and usually managed to include a few songs in most of his films.
This is his most famous song...and his eventual signature tune - "Don't Laugh at Me, 'cos I'm a Fool" which he sang in his first film - "Trouble in Store".
Lucky old Norm! A really amazing & adventurous life, a lot of success, & fit & well right up to his 90's. I can still remember seeing A Stitch In Time & On The Beat at the cinema with some school friends. I shall toast you tonight Sir Norman!
The flat-capped alter ego of the late Sir Norman Wisdom could emerge for one final movie adventure this year, as plans are underway to release a previously un-seen film starring the comic actor.
Cosmic! Lost And Found, was created and filmed by Grant Littlechild in 1998, but funding is still needed to pay for post-production work. The film stars Sir Norman and astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, with an introduction by Michael Jackson and Blues Brothers director John Landis.
The movie sees Wisdom's character abducted by aliens and meeting robots and space maidens.
Mr Littlechild, who first began working on the project 14 years ago, said he wanted to mirror the sci-fi comedies he grew up with, and told Metro: "Who better to star in my own film than another childhood hero of mine, Norman Wisdom?"
He added: "I kept thinking how fantastic it would be to see Norman abducted by flying saucers. For me to shout 'Action' and Norman to yell back, 'Mr Grimsdale' was such an incredible experience."
Littlechild is currently looking for sponsors to help fund the post-production work that would allow the feature to be released in cinemas or on DVD. He says: "Since the sad loss of Norman, I passionately now want, more than ever, to see this film completed. He has got so many fans."
At a session of the European parliament an MEP from Normandy was holding forth about a problem particular to his region and boasted “Ce problème sera résolu par la sagesse Normande”. He was then astonished by the laughter coming from those listening to the English translation who had heard “This problem will be solved by Norman wisdom”.
Here's a funny man who should've got the full fsm tribute when he passed.
I can highly recommend this. A friend of mine recently caught her 2 daughters watching one of his films on TV and they loved it, so since she got them this box set theyve seen all the films several times.
Norman's movies had an appeal and his character, slapstick and clever, simple comedy has really stood the test of time.
This is the box set that contains his main 12 movies from his peak. 1953-1966 titles are: The Bulldog Breed, One Good Turn, The Early Bird, Press For Time, On The Beat, Man Of The Moment, A Stitch In Time, Just My Luck, The Square Peg, Follow A Star, Trouble In Store and Up In The World.
This was the orchestra sequence i was trying to find.
How they came up with the concept - and then worked backwards to make it happen. So you had sandwich board man in top hat n tails, stops to eat a sticky candy floss on steps of concert hall. The real conductor is late and norman's mouth is full of candyfloss so he cant speak. The stage manager grabs him and shoves him on the podium with his candy floss stick stuck to his hand.
I love how - when orchestra starts playing weird bursts of music as norman tries to get the candyfloss stick off his hand, some of the baffled audience start glancing at their programmes to see whats listed!!
Ah, yes. The cinema was packed to the rafters the night I first saw this all those years ago. Like everyone else I thought I was about to choke to death from laughing during that scene. Possibly the only time I saw an entire audience in uncontrollable collective convulsions. Classic.
Howard L(emmon) and mark ry have got thru the Carry ons, id like them to try these coz i think they are universal, in same way L and H were, timing, slapstick, ingenuity, etc.
Here's a funny man who should've got the full fsm tribute when he passed.
I can highly recommend this. A friend of mine recently caught her 2 daughters watching one of his films on TV and they loved it, so since she got them this box set theyve seen all the films several times.
Norman's movies had an appeal and his character, slapstick and clever, simple comedy has really stood the test of time.
This is the box set that contains his main 12 movies from his peak. 1953-1966 titles are: The Bulldog Breed, One Good Turn, The Early Bird, Press For Time, On The Beat, Man Of The Moment, A Stitch In Time, Just My Luck, The Square Peg, Follow A Star, Trouble In Store and Up In The World.
Hey, I'm a fan. I haven't seen the films in years but I love 'em. I always watched them on tv as a kid. Howling with laughter. And I love the above photo, yet another moment that debunks any misgivings on anyone's part possibly touched on the recent L&H biopic.
Among the fascinating facts about old Norm is the friendship he had with rock musician Rick Wakeman, that the tv classic comedy Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em was originally designed with him in mind (and when you see some of the stunt ridden finales you can tell), his small roles in Coronation Street and Last of the Summer Wine, and that sad but warm documentary some time ago where I think they showed him in a care home? Anyway you could really see the likeness in his daughter's face.
Norman Wisdom is pretty much unknown in America. About a half dozen of his films got some U.S. release, but nothing much outside of New York and L.A. In the 1960s, FOLLOW A STAR, THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN, and A STITCH IN TIME had releases in the States. These preceded Wisdom’s one big American film--THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY’S.
In the film, young “Billy Minsky” (Elliott Gould) is in danger of losing the National Winter Garden theater which houses his famous burlesque show. Then “Rachel Schpitendavel” (Britt Ekland) arrives on the scene. A young Pennsylvania Amish woman who has run away from her strict father in order to dance Bible scenes on the stage, she attracts the attention of the show's top banana, “Raymond Paine” (Jason Robards), and comic fall guy, “Chick Williams” (Norman Wisdom). Chick's interest is purely romantic, but the conniving Paine has an ulterior motive; he circulates the rumor that Rachel will do a special midnight show featuring the indecent dance of Mademoiselle Fifi, the French heroine of popular pornographic pamphlets.
Jason Robards and Norman Wisdom in THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY’S
Norman Wisdom in THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKYS
William Friedkin directed the 1968 film. Charles Strouse’s score was released on a United Artists LP and re-issued on CD by Kritzerland in 2009. The picture broke into the top 50 films of the year at the U.S. box office, with an $8.6 million gross.
I remember some years ago (it was either late 90s or early 2000s) he was doing a brief performance in the theatre I worked in at the time. That afternoon he asked a couple of us if we would go for a walk with him around the city centre. Everywhere we went he was mobbed by crowds in the street wanting to talk to him and get autographs. He was very nice and friendly with everyone. I'd never seen anything like the affection he was held by everyone any other time with anyone else. It's a great memory to have of him.
