The Early Bird

From The Goon Show Depository

The Early Bird
The Early Bird.jpg
Directed byRobert Asher
Written byJack Davies
Norman Wisdom
Produced byHugh Stewart
StarringNorman Wisdom
Edward Chapman
Jerry Desmonde
John Le Mesurier
CinematographyJack Asher
Edited byGerry Hambling
Music byRon Goodwin
Production
company
Distributed byRank Film Distributors
Release date
  • 30 November 1965 (1965-11-30) (London)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Early Bird is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom. It also features Edward Chapman, Bryan Pringle, Richard Vernon, John Le Mesurier and Jerry Desmonde. It was the first Norman Wisdom film to be shot in colour. The title is taken from the expression "the early bird catches the worm".

Synopsis

Wisdom's character works for Grimsdale's Dairy as a milkman, in competition with Consolidated Dairies, an ever-growing rival company under the management of Walter Hunter (played by Jerry Desmonde).

Much of the humour centres on classic slapstick comedy, with Norman encountering various comedic escapades. These include being dragged around Mr Hunter's garden by an errant lawnmower and using the fire brigade's high pressure hosepipes to blast firemen off their ladders, after being called to a suspected fire at Consolidated Dairies' HQ.

Cast

Reception

The film was one of the 15 most popular movies at the British box office in 1966.[1] TV Guide wrote, "most of the humor is slapstick, predictable, and only vaguely amusing";[2] while Allmovie called the film a "lively British satire".[3]

References

  1. ^ "Most popular star for third time." Times [London, England] 31 Dec. 1966: 5. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
  2. ^ "The Early Bird Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  3. ^ "The Early Bird (1965) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 2014-06-10.

External links