A Stitch in Time (film): Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
|name          = A Stitch in Time
|name          = A Stitch in Time
|image          = "A_Stitch_in_Time".jpg
|image          = A Stitch in Time (film).jpg
|caption        = original UK 1-sheet poster
|caption        = original UK quad poster
|director      = [[Robert Asher (director)|Robert Asher]]
|director      = [[w:Robert Asher (director)|Robert Asher]]
|producer      = [[Hugh Stewart (film editor)|Hugh Stewart]]<br>[[Earl St. John]]
|producer      = [[w:Hugh Stewart (film editor)|Hugh Stewart]]<br>[[w:Earl St. John|Earl St. John]]
|writer        = [[Jack Davies (screenwriter)|Jack Davies]]<br>Norman Wisdom<br>Henry Blyth<br>[[Eddie Leslie]]
|writer        = [[w:Jack Davies (screenwriter)|Jack Davies]]<br>Norman Wisdom<br>Henry Blyth<br>[[w:Eddie Leslie|Eddie Leslie]]
|starring      = [[Norman Wisdom]]<br>[[Edward Chapman (actor)|Edward Chapman]]<br>[[Jeanette Sterke]]<br>[[Jerry Desmonde]]
|starring      = [[Norman Wisdom]]<br>[[w:Edward Chapman (actor)|Edward Chapman]]<br>[[w:Jeanette Sterke|Jeanette Sterke]]<br>[[w:Jerry Desmonde|Jerry Desmonde]]
|music          = [[Philip Green (composer)|Philip Green]]
|music          = [[w:Philip Green (composer)|Philip Green]]
|cinematography = [[Jack Asher]]
|cinematography = [[w:Jack Asher|Jack Asher]]
|editing        = [[Gerry Hambling]]
|editing        = [[w:Gerry Hambling|Gerry Hambling]]
|studio        = [[Rank Organisation]]
|studio        = [[w:Rank Organisation|Rank Organisation]]
|distributor    = [[J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors]]
|distributor    = [[w:J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors|J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors]]
|released      = {{Film date|df=yes|1963}}
|released      = {{Film date|df=yes|1963}}
|country        = United Kingdom  
|country        = United Kingdom  
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==Plot==
==Plot==
Norman Pitkin is an apprentice to Mr Grimsdale, an old fashioned butcher. When the shop is raided by a young thug (Johnny Briggs), Mr Grimsdale (at Norman's suggestion), puts his gold watch in his mouth for safe-keeping. This results in Mr Grimsdale accidentally swallowing the watch and being sent to hospital. Whilst visiting Mr Grimsdale, Norman (in his usual way) inadvertently causes chaos all over the hospital. He meets a girl called Lindy who hasn't spoken since her parents died in an aeroplane accident. Banned from the hospital, Norman is unable to visit Lindy so he and Mr Grimsdale join the [[St John Ambulance Brigade]] which gives him the opportunity to visit her. The usual pandemonium ensues. In the end Lindy visits him at a charity ball where the St John Ambulance Brigade Band are performing. The ball descends into the inevitable shambles, caused entirely by Norman. However, Norman redeems himself (and the reputation of the Brigade) who's ambulance drove of all by itself, when he addresses those attending the ball and everyone donates money for the charity.  The next day Norman dreamed he's back in hospital .
Norman Pitkin is an apprentice to Mr Grimsdale, an old-fashioned butcher. When the shop is raided by a young thug (Johnny Briggs), Mr Grimsdale (at Norman's suggestion), puts his gold watch in his mouth for safe-keeping. This results in Mr Grimsdale accidentally swallowing the watch and being sent to hospital. Whilst visiting Mr Grimsdale, Norman (in his usual way) inadvertently causes chaos all over the hospital. He meets a girl called Lindy who hasn't spoken since her parents died in an aeroplane accident. Banned from the hospital, Norman is unable to visit Lindy so he and Mr Grimsdale join the [[w:St John Ambulance Brigade|St John Ambulance Brigade]] which gives him the opportunity to visit her. Usual pandemonium ensues. In the end Lindy visits him at a charity ball where the St John Ambulance Brigade Band are performing. The ball descends into the inevitable shambles, caused entirely by Norman. However, Norman redeems himself (and the reputation of the Brigade) whose ambulance drove off all by itself, when he addresses those attending the ball and everyone donates money for the charity.  The next day Norman dreamed he's back in hospital .


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 51: Line 49:


==Filming==
==Filming==
The film was shot almost entirely at [[Pinewood Studios]] in [[Buckinghamshire]].  Location filming was kept to a minimum.
The film was shot almost entirely at [[w:Pinewood Studios|Pinewood Studios]] in [[w:Buckinghamshire|Buckinghamshire]].  Location filming was kept to a minimum.


==Release==
==Release==
Line 59: Line 57:


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
*The  ''[[Radio Times]]'' gave the film two out of five stars: "this was (Wisdom's) final film in black and white and also his last big starring success at the box office, for he belonged to a more innocent age. The script sticks closely to the winning Wisdom formula as he knots his cap in confused shyness in his attempts to declare his love for a pretty nurse. Stalwart stooges Edward Chapman (Mr Grimsdale, of course) and Jerry Desmonde prove once more that straight men can often be much funnier than the comics".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/ht9jt/a-stitch-in-time |title=A Stitch in Time &#124; Film review and movie reviews |publisher=Radio Times |date=8 April 2013|accessdate=10 June 2014}}</ref>
*The  ''[[w:Radio Times|Radio Times]]'' gave the film two out of five stars: "this was (Wisdom's) final film in black and white and also his last big starring success at the box office, for he belonged to a more innocent age. The script sticks closely to the winning Wisdom formula as he knots his cap in confused shyness in his attempts to declare his love for a pretty nurse. Stalwart stooges Edward Chapman (Mr Grimsdale, of course) and Jerry Desmonde prove once more that straight men can often be much funnier than the comics".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/ht9jt/a-stitch-in-time |title=A Stitch in Time &#124; Film review and movie reviews |publisher=Radio Times |date=8 April 2013|accessdate=10 June 2014}}</ref>
*[[Sky Movies]] gave the film three out of five stars, noting the film "has just enough inspired tomfoolery - a madcap race on casualty trolleys down the corridors of a hospital; a hectic ride for a bandaged Norman on top of an ambulance; Norman messing up a St John's Ambulance Brigade concert - to ensure a decent quota of laughs. In his silly stunts, he is forever the naughty boy having the time of his life doing what he shouldn't".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skymovies.sky.com/a-stitch-in-time/review |title=A Stitch in Time - Sky Movies HD |publisher=Skymovies.sky.com |date=16 February 2006|accessdate=10 June 2014}}</ref>
*[[w:Sky Movies|Sky Movies]] gave the film three out of five stars, noting the film "has just enough inspired tomfoolery - a madcap race on casualty trolleys down the corridors of a hospital; a hectic ride for a bandaged Norman on top of an ambulance; Norman messing up a St John's Ambulance Brigade concert - to ensure a decent quota of laughs. In his silly stunts, he is forever the naughty boy having the time of his life doing what he shouldn't".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skymovies.sky.com/a-stitch-in-time/review |title=A Stitch in Time - Sky Movies HD |publisher=Skymovies.sky.com |date=16 February 2006|accessdate=10 June 2014}}</ref>
*''[[TV Guide]]'' gave the film three out of five stars, and noted, "a charming and sentimental piece of characterization from Wisdom."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/a-stitch-in-time/review/118917 |title=A Stitch In Time Review |publisher=Movies.tvguide.com |date= |accessdate=10 June 2014}}</ref>
*''[[w:TV Guide|TV Guide]]'' gave the film three out of five stars, and noted, "a charming and sentimental piece of characterization from Wisdom."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/a-stitch-in-time/review/118917 |title=A Stitch In Time Review |publisher=Movies.tvguide.com |date= |accessdate=10 June 2014}}</ref>


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s British films]]
[[Category:1960s British films]]
[[Category:British medical comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 22:23, 7 February 2023

A Stitch in Time
A Stitch in Time (film).jpg
original UK quad poster
Directed byRobert Asher
Written byJack Davies
Norman Wisdom
Henry Blyth
Eddie Leslie
Produced byHugh Stewart
Earl St. John
StarringNorman Wisdom
Edward Chapman
Jeanette Sterke
Jerry Desmonde
CinematographyJack Asher
Edited byGerry Hambling
Music byPhilip Green
Production
company
Distributed byJ. Arthur Rank Film Distributors
Release date
  • 1963 (1963)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

A Stitch in Time is a 1963 Norman Wisdom comedy film set in a children's hospital. It was directed by Robert Asher and edited by Gerry Hambling. The cast includes Edward Chapman, Jeanette Sterke, Jerry Desmonde, Jill Melford, Glyn Houston, Vera Day, Patsy Rowlands, Peter Jones, Ernest Clark, Hazel Hughes, Lucy Appleby and Frank Williams. The film also features an early role for Johnny Briggs.[1]

Plot

Norman Pitkin is an apprentice to Mr Grimsdale, an old-fashioned butcher. When the shop is raided by a young thug (Johnny Briggs), Mr Grimsdale (at Norman's suggestion), puts his gold watch in his mouth for safe-keeping. This results in Mr Grimsdale accidentally swallowing the watch and being sent to hospital. Whilst visiting Mr Grimsdale, Norman (in his usual way) inadvertently causes chaos all over the hospital. He meets a girl called Lindy who hasn't spoken since her parents died in an aeroplane accident. Banned from the hospital, Norman is unable to visit Lindy so he and Mr Grimsdale join the St John Ambulance Brigade which gives him the opportunity to visit her. Usual pandemonium ensues. In the end Lindy visits him at a charity ball where the St John Ambulance Brigade Band are performing. The ball descends into the inevitable shambles, caused entirely by Norman. However, Norman redeems himself (and the reputation of the Brigade) whose ambulance drove off all by itself, when he addresses those attending the ball and everyone donates money for the charity. The next day Norman dreamed he's back in hospital .

Cast

Filming

The film was shot almost entirely at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. Location filming was kept to a minimum.

Release

A Stitch in Time represents Wisdom's most commercially successful title.[2] It was among the ten most popular films of the year at the British box office in 1964.[3]

The film was rereleased in 1984 in Chennai India. The film was a smash hit and ran for many weeks at the old Alankar Theatre (now demolished).

Critical reception

  • The Radio Times gave the film two out of five stars: "this was (Wisdom's) final film in black and white and also his last big starring success at the box office, for he belonged to a more innocent age. The script sticks closely to the winning Wisdom formula as he knots his cap in confused shyness in his attempts to declare his love for a pretty nurse. Stalwart stooges Edward Chapman (Mr Grimsdale, of course) and Jerry Desmonde prove once more that straight men can often be much funnier than the comics".[4]
  • Sky Movies gave the film three out of five stars, noting the film "has just enough inspired tomfoolery - a madcap race on casualty trolleys down the corridors of a hospital; a hectic ride for a bandaged Norman on top of an ambulance; Norman messing up a St John's Ambulance Brigade concert - to ensure a decent quota of laughs. In his silly stunts, he is forever the naughty boy having the time of his life doing what he shouldn't".[5]
  • TV Guide gave the film three out of five stars, and noted, "a charming and sentimental piece of characterization from Wisdom."[6]

External links

References

  1. ^ "A Stitch in Time (1963) | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  2. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Wisdom, Norman (1915-2010) Biography". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  3. ^ "The Box Office Winners of 1964". Kinematograph Weekly. 17 Dec 1964. p. 8.
  4. ^ "A Stitch in Time | Film review and movie reviews". Radio Times. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  5. ^ "A Stitch in Time - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 16 February 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  6. ^ "A Stitch In Time Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 10 June 2014.