The Square Peg (1958) User Reviews

A tale of two Pitkin's

[Spondonman · 7/10 · 13 January 2008]

I've always liked Norman Wisdom's films - to a point - in every one there was something anarchic to laugh at but unfortunately something maudlin to squirm at too. This was the 6th of Wisdom's 12 "Norman" comedy films, and imho one of his best although I suspect every fan who has seen them all has their own favourites. However from experience there seem to be more perverse people who have seen every film and who hate the lot.

Norman Pitkin as St. Godric's Council employee is digging up the road outside an Army camp during the War, takes the Mick of the soldiers once too often and he and his boss Mr. Grimsdale find themselves conscripted. The slapstick war between Pitkin and Sergeant Campbell Singer continues into his training, until Pitkin and Grimsdale end up in France and the second part of the story begins. Favourite bits: Pitkin ferociously bayoneting the dummies; his bravado pre-parachuting; the General Schreiber double scenes with Hattie Brunnhilde Jacques; marching out of step with his captors. Apart from one mawkish bit in the French café with Honor Blackman there was no romantic musical interlude – although he had a fine singing voice it's still a definite plus! Cheaply made but well disguised, and with a great cast of British stalwarts also on display - missed Jerry Desmonde though!

It's a pleasant time-filler and maybe one of his more accessible films to a non-fan or non-kid which is perhaps one reason why it's probably shown on TV more often than his other black & white's.

THE SQUARE PEG (John Paddy Carstairs, 1958) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 25 August 2006]

This service comedy (another favorite situation with star comedians) - part army-base shenanigans and part dangerous mission - ranks as possibly the best Norman Wisdom vehicle there is, with a consistent string of often hilarious gags and the star - turning up again in drag and also appearing in a dual role (including one as a Nazi General) - in top form.

Supporting him are Edward Chapman (virtually rising to sidekick status here, he and Wisdom make an engaging comic pair), Honor Blackman (perhaps the most substantial of the star's leading ladies) and Hattie Jacques (as a German opera star).

The Lovable Mr. Wisdom Plays the Delightful Mr. Pitkin

[dglink · 7/10 · 20 August 2012]

Just outside the Sefton Hotel in Douglas, Isle of Man, a bronze statue of Sir Norman Wisdom greets patrons to the bar inside that is dedicated to his memory. Although Wisdom is largely unknown in the U.S., the diminutive actor-comedian made a popular series of films in the 1950's and 1960's that featured his on-screen persona, Norman Pitkin. An amusing entry, "The Square Peg," dates from the middle of that period. Norman plays Norman, who is doing road repair to keep Britain's arteries moving during World War II. Both Norman and his boss, Mr. Grimsdale, played by Edward Chapman, run afoul of the local military and find themselves inducted into the army.

The logic is not strong, but the humor is. Private Norman falls for a uniformed Honor Blackman and finds himself behind enemy lines in France, where he encounters a look-alike German general. Do not ask why or how, just suspend disbelief and follow the flow. As his doppelganger, General Schreiber, Wisdom scales the comic heights with the hilarious seduction of a somewhat over-ripe opera singer. The film makes no sense, but serves as a springboard for sight gags that involve a road sign and military salutes and for comedic situations with a plane full of parachutists that highlight the talents of Mr. Wisdom. Although Chapman has his moments, Blackman and the rest of the cast have little to do. Evidently a low-budget programmer, "The Square Peg" is a serviceable and entertaining introduction to an instantly lovable comic.

Not his best but still Wisdom in his glory years – has the same weaknesses and strengths as all his stuff

[bob the moo · 16 May 2002]

When Council employees make live hard for the soldiers on a local military base, the army drafts them to treat them badly. However Mr Grimsdale and Pitkin accidentally get on the wrong truck and are parachuted behind enemy lines. When Mr Grimsdale is captured by the Nazi's the resistance decide to use Pitkin's uncanny resemblance to Nazi General Schreiber to effect a rescue.

In stead of Norman Wisdom's usual plot of `working class lad showing up the rich', we have `working class lad showing up the military and the Nazis'. Here the plot allows several funny set ups before eventually falling back on the old `lookalike' chestnut. However it's still quite funny – it's not Wisdom's best, but it has it's moments and happily there is very little of his usual `dreaming of unattainable girl' stuff that he usually does.

The cast is better than usual. Wisdom still has his innocent `salt of the earth' thing going on and is funny and charming. Chapman fits well with him as Grimsdale, although the two have had better films together. A very young Honor Blackman (her voice hasn't changed a bit!) is good if fleeting and even Hattie Jacques turns up. The army officers are filled out with familiar faces and everyone tries hard.

Overall this isn't Wisdom's best – but the working class Council worker triumphs over the Germans and upperclasses as a whole – who can't get some enjoyment out of that?!

The Misfit

[michaelarmer · 6/10 · 21 May 2020]

Another ok film from Norman Wisdom, the roadworks scenes outside the camp were good with the marching scene hilarious.

Norman gets sent to occupied France where he doubles for a Nazi General with the obvious mishaps and goings on.

Herbert Chapman does his first in partnership with Norman, and he fits the bill. Look for early roles for Honor Blackman (recently deceased at 94, Hattie Jacques, Frank Williams, Richard Marner playing a German general (he played a German General in 'Allo 'Allo). Victor Maddern and Oliver Reed.

Make that 7.5!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 6 March 2018]

Copyright 1958 by J. Arthur Rank Film Productions, Limited. U.S. release through Lopert Pictures. No New York opening. U.K. release through Rank Film Distributors: 4 January 1959. Australian release through British Empire Films: July/November 1961. 7,996 feet. 89 minutes.

COMMENT: A feast for Norman Wisdom fans - though Honor Blackman's admirers are liable to feel a bit cheated, as she has little to do, alas, and is even somewhat colorless (despite a lift from Jack's Cox's lighting photography which is noticeably less flat when she is around). The script is a bit more ingenious than the usual slight but slapstick Wisdom vehicle and allows our star to be a bit more adventurous and exciting than his usual callow self.

Actually, Wisdom has two roles, one comedy, one straight, but he plays the comedy part straighter than his norm, and the straighter part with more than a touch of satire. It all jibes rather well. A script with more bite allows the support players more opportunities too. Edward Chapman, Campbell Singer and Hattie Jacques are particularly personable. Some unintentional humor, however, is provided by Brian Worth who is here forced to adopt a French accent.

Wisdom's double role scenes are neatly timed (the special effects are okay too).

Carstairs is not one of my favorite directors. His timing and pacing always seem too heavy-handed and over-emphatic. Although his direction does show more dash and flair here, the timing in general still has a blunt edge and is not as smooth and snappy as audiences have a right to expect. All the same, the film looks good, thanks to solid production values.

Once we get away from the atrocious title tune, the film improves dramatically - or rather comically - with Wisdom and Chapman as a pair of cheekily omniscient, self-important bureaucrats attempting to impose their bloated authoritarianism on the army. The military brass get their revenge by drafting the two. Norman is smitten by a pretty parachutist, then he and Ed are inadvertently dropped into German-occupied France. And this is where the fun really starts

Norman Wisdom's Best Film. Nuff said.

[Goataid · 9/10 · 25 October 2002]

All Norman Wisdom Films tend to follow a simple formula. Loveable Norman has a simple life, usually overlooked by a father figure (Mr Grimsdale) who takes care of him. An antagonist enters the frame and usually angers Wisdom. Much revenge type comedy ensues. Throw in a little child or children who needs help and a unfeasibly attractive woman for Norman to fall in love with. So once this formula has been established it's very unusual to expect anything else. Not that The Square peg does a great deal different but it looses the child element and offers up instead, Wisdom in two roles. The first is his standard 'Pitkin' role and the second is the evil Nazi general. Sure he camps up the Nazi and plays it for all the laughs possible but this film is nothing more than comic brilliance. The scene between Wisdom in his two characters and Hattie Jaques as a Teutonic opera singer is staggeringly funny.

Buckets of blood?

[AndreiPavlov · 10/10 · 11 October 2006]

No, rather buckets of healthy giggles! Mr Norman Wisdom could shine in various flicks as "Pitkin". Be it spiced with a gangster topic, a war topic, a hospital one, etc. Here we have a classic with the war theme. Norman Pitkin was and still is a king of the genre. In "The Square Peg" he has a few hilarious scenes: passing the medical commission, the syringe matter, a rifle attack, singing with the opera madam, the mirror match vs. the Nazi general, and so on. Quite a lot to remember, actually.

Such comedies are fading away in today's hectic cybernetic world but to me they are the best of the best, because they remain childish and amusing in a very pleasant way.

To give it the highest mark would be very subjective, but here it goes anyway: 10 out of 10 - long live the king on the screen! Thanks for attention.

One or two "classic " moments especially the German song

[arthur-kay · 5/10 · 14 March 2006]

Although we don't roar with laughter now , there are some 'classic¬ scenes:- 1. changing step when arrested and the others copy and lose step - quite clever. 2. best of all - the performance of the German lieder with the exaggerated German " Dein ist mein Hertz " - some professional singers roll about at that ! What a fantastic wide mouth. 3. During the scene with Hattie Jacques there is a fine touch of sexual innuendo for brief seconds. 4. No sentimental songs to interrupt the action. 5. His infatuation with Honor Blackman is not over done or carried though to the point of implausibility. So, although this is not his best film, it has one or two memorable, even "classic" moments. Worth watching - if only every 5 years !

words of Wisdom

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 24 August 2006]

Following up on the zaniness of "Up in the World", Norman Wisdom returned as witless Norman Pitkin in "The Square Peg". In this case, he joins the army in WWII and gets dropped into Nazi-occupied France, where he's a dead ringer for a Nazi general.

I will say that I didn't find this one quite as funny as the previous movie, but the scenes where he's in the general's headquarters are just a hoot - you could turn the sound off and it would still be great. This is one movie that you're sure to love. Also starring is Honor Blackman (that's right: Pussy Galore!) and Edward Chapman.

And to think that I'd never even heard of Norman Wisdom until yesterday when I watched "Up in the World"!

Pitkin goes to war

[studioAT · 5/10 · 12 August 2010]

Although this isn't my favourite Norman Wisdom film it has all the qualities that make his work so popular and has several laugh out loud moments.

Norman shines in his everyman role of Pitkin and is well supported by Edward Chapman as the infamous Mr Grimsdale.The pairs comedic timing is perfect and the film moves along at a fast pace moving from one set piece to showcase Normans talent to the next.

Although this film gets a little bogged down by it's plot it is a great piece of classic comedy that is just as funny now as it was upon release.

My joint favourite of the Norman Wisdom series

[Hassard1994 · 5 November 2007]

this film is great, i loved it so much, laughs, good story, it follows the life of simple man Norman Pitkin working as a road mender when he and his boss shall we say Mr Grimsdale are tricked to join the army during WWII!!!

During there time in the Army they are put in various training regimes (with hilarious results, standard for a Norman Wisdom film)

Then Pitkin and Mr Grimsdale are sent on a mission, but get on the wrong truck and are sent to France where the German leader (also played by Norman would you believe!) has kidnapped many innocent people and have them locked away securely!

After impersonation the German leader and freeing the prisoners, he breaks into the Germans House, by digging a hole under the wall, and covering with leaves to avoid any trouble, Norman gets captured (while his partners escape) and is put to gun point, lucking the German leader tells Norman to take two steps forward because his walls had just been whitewashed and just by luck, Norman falls through the hole he dug earlier and escapes.

For his bravery, Norman was offered the highest award available, becoming the mayor!

All in all i really enjoyed this film and recommend to it to anyone!

The best of hia films, hilarious.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 7 May 2020]

Without a shadow of a doubt this is my favourite of Norman's films , hilarious from start to finish, featuring two of the funniest sequences of his films.

The scene where Pitkin interferes with the Army march is laugh out loud funny, but the crowning glory comes where Hattie Jacques plays the Opera singer, and Norman's two characters sing with her, it is a side splitting scene.

Wisdom is great, Jacques also, just wonderful.

Considering it's 1958 they skillfully got the two Normans on screen at the same time, it looks really good.

It looks amazing, great sets and costumes, it is a fantastic production.

Love it, 9/10.

By far Norman Wisdom's best film!

[alexanderdavies-99382 · 10/10 · 16 July 2017]

I realise that not everyone likes Norman Wisdom comedies. I feel he wasn't properly exploited for cinema regarding his potential. The man was very talented but his films could have been better. "The Square Peg" is his greatest film by far and a classic. Wisely, there are no irritating songs and no heavy doses of sentimentality. Just some great comedy, very good acting, a solid plot, a fine supporting cast and decent music which suits the film. There are many highlights here. The scene where Norman interferes with the training of the army recruits is hilarious! He plays a convincing Nazi officer and successfully spoofs this character. It wouldn't be quite the same without Edward Chapman as the one and only Mr. Grimsdale. He and Norman Wisdom work very well together. One of the things I really admire about the comedian, is that he was great at being a physical performer. He could carry out his own stunts and his timing at this was impeccable. Even those people who aren't devoted fans should still watch "The Square Peg" and have a good laugh.

Dated but amusing

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 15 December 2011]

THE SQUARE PEG is a Norman Wisdom vehicle that sees him once more playing the part of Norman Pitkin, employee of gruff Yorkshireman Mr Grimsdale (Edward Chapman). The film is set during WW2 and sees the hapless pair become involved with a local army base, eventually finding themselves in occupied France of all places.

This is the first Norman Wisdom film I've watched. I was inspired to watch it after getting into the CARRY ON films made during the same era. Like those, it has dated quite a lot since it first came out, with the comic hijinks feeling very genteel in the modern era of gross-out comedy. Although I found few laugh-out-loud moments, much of the film is gently amusing.

Wisdom and Chapman share an excellent rapport and their scenes together are obvious highlights within the movie, although an elaborate, late-on sequence involving Pitkin, his doppelganger and a German opera singer (the delightful Hattie Jacques) marks the film's highlight. Until then there's plenty of mugging, slapstick and jokes at the expense of stiff-upper-lipped army superiors (including BERGERAC's Terence Alexander). Honor Blackman shows up as a memorably feisty female agent. I didn't find it quite as funny as I'd hoped, but I'm inspired to check out more of Wisdom's work.

The Square Peg

[oneaprilstar-57887 · 8/10 · 1 January 2021]

What a hilarious romp! Caught my interest right away!

Well known British comedian stars in this unfunny British variation on 60s American TV POW spoof

[Turfseer · 2/10 · 18 March 2021]

The star of The Square Peg was Norman Wisdom, whom I had never heard of before. Apparently he was a very well-known British comedian who worked primarily in TV after making a number of feature length films. Surprisingly, he had a big following in Communist ruled Albania, where the government saw him as a beloved underdog, always challenging the capitalist system.

Here Wisdom plays his usual character, Norman Pitkin, a roadmender for the St. Godric's Borough Council. His boss Mr. Grimsdale (Edward Chapman) is the Borough engineer, a devoted bureaucrat whom Pitkin swears allegiance to as I guess some sort of mentor. The duo is assigned to do some road repair work on an Army base during World War II. Pitkin is the comic foil out on the base and Grimsdale is more of the straight man inside the office. The comedy is supposed to revolve around the duo's machinations as they attempt to circumvent army regulations while on the job. Much of it turns out to be slapstick of a low order.

The break into the Second Act occurs when much to Pitkin's and Grimsdale's chagrin, they are drafted into the Army and are forced to follow rules which they despise. They end up getting on the wrong lorry (truck) and promptly find themselves parachuting out of a plane into France. There's a scene where the bumbling Pitkin holds on to Grimsdale's shoes after losing his own parachute. Not funny at all!

The second half of the film involves the hapless duo's capture by German soldiers. Pitkin is a dead ringer for the commanding Nazi officer and manages to save Grimsdale, a British female spy and members of the French resistance by impersonating the Nazi officer in a heavily guarded chateau. You could liken the whole scenario as a British variation on the American 60s TV series, Hogan's Heroes, where the Germans are depicted as bumbling idiots.

Pitkin is captured at the last minute right before helping the rest of the crew to escape. The only interesting or clever moment in the entire film is how he escapes the firing squad at the last second-it seems that he's able to fall through a hole covering (which Pitkin had covered with leaves earlier) and escapes through a tunnel that leads out of the walled compound.

Amazingly this juvenile claptrap saved Wisdom's film company, the Rank Organisation from bankruptcy. I didn't laugh once during this exercise in debauched historical revisionism and urge all inveterate filmgoers to avoid this one like the plague.

Double helping of Wisdom

[rogerblake-281-718819 · 9/10 · 29 August 2012]

On one level The Square Peg is just a typical Norman Wisdom knock about comedy but dig a little deeper and its quite a clever satire on small town politics.Norman plays a cocky little road mender who makes himself a thorough nuisance outside an army camp with his stop go sign.He's been told by his boss Mr Grimsdale,played by the great Edward Chapman,"Pitkin,the war's going to be won on the home front keeping the arteries of the nation open" The exasperated military see it differently and call up the entire town hall staff (His Worship the Mayor will hear about this) There is a hilarious scene with Campbell Singer as an exasperated sergeant teaching Pitkin bayonet practice."Come on Pitkin buckets of blood" Forget about Pitkin's infatuation with Honor Blackman who plays a secret agent we will cut to the quick with Pitkin and Mr Grimsdale coming out of the pub,jumping into the wrong lorry which is full of paratroopers,and finding themselves landing in France where they start digging up the french roads causing more chaos.Pitkin goes into town to buy milk where it is discovered he is a dead ringer for the local German commandant.The French resistance persuade him to dig his way into the castle and release all the prisoners.The commandant is General Schreiber,a thoroughly nasty piece of work who has a weakness for a large female opera singer played by Hattie Jacques and enjoys singing duets with her. I can give no higher praise than to say that Danny Kaye in his prime could not have been funnier.The scene where Pitkin,disguised as the general duets with Miss Jacques is sublimely funny. Pitkin of course gets caught,is put up against a wall to be shot,then falls down the hole he dug to get into the castle,makes his escape,cue happy ending.The last scene sees him as the new Mayor with Mr Grimsdale as his obsequious minion. Yes the plot is absolutely ridiculous but there are so many funny scenes along the way who cares? Norman Wisdom of course became a knighted national treasure who ended his acting career making welcome guest appearances in the long running TV series Last of the Summer Wine.

Norman Pitkin Every Man

[ygwerin1 · 8/10 · 11 March 2019]

I have always loved Norman Wisdom and enjoy all of his films, though a particular flaw I find is the insistence of shoe horning in what I feel are unrealistic elements. His singing voice is reasonable enough but, why the insistence of including any spurious opportunity for him to sing? The other daft element is the love interest for Norman, daft because they are invariably the best looking women in the film.

What makes this film stand out for me is the lack of either of those irritants, and we are left with a great Norman Wisdom film thoroughly enjoyable.

Edward Chapman is Mr Grimsdale the bumptious supercilious cantankerous and officious Borough Surveyor. Grimsdale and Pitkin are as much a double act in this film as they were in all the others. It starts with Pitkin as ever doing the work this time in the road, with Grimsdale as usual sitting on his backside giving the orders. It ends with the tables turned Pitkin has been elevated to the dizzy heights of local Mayor, and Grimsdale remains the same irritating character who is unlikely to be any different.

A particular delight is the scene with Hattie Jacques playing out of character as the German opera singer, her duets with Norman Wisdom in both of his roles are blissfully funny.

Honor Blackman is as ever divine and its obvious that Pitkin would fancy her character, though I must admit I was very pleased that no attempt was made to bring them together.

The wartime setting gives this film a great new scenario and settings for Pitkin and Grimsdale, with the army and Nazis serving as two different sets of adversaries. They are undoubtedly two of the least likely heroes imaginable, certainly not one's to imagine having to rely on in any emergency.

It's easy to say that this is a film that would only appeal to British audiences, and then only to those of a certain age. But while there is some truth in this assumption, his humour is quintessentially British, and he is more likely to be known this side of the pond. I still feel that it's simply a matter of having a funny bone, we all have a sense of humour, it's a matter of what tickles it.

Norman Pitkin is the every man, having to work for a wally, at odds with authority and the world. We can all relate to him, imagine the predicaments he finds himself in, and root for his survival and success.

Norman Pitkin Every Man

[alexpeychev · 8/10 · 8 March 2023]

I have always loved Norman Wisdom and enjoy all of his films, though a particular flaw I find is the insistence of shoe horning in what I feel are unrealistic elements. His singing voice is reasonable enough but, why the insistence of including any spurious opportunity for him to sing? The other daft element is the love interest for Norman, daft because they are invariably the best looking women in the film.

What makes this film stand out for me is the lack of either of those irritants, and we are left with a great Norman Wisdom film thoroughly enjoyable.

Edward Chapman is Mr Grimsdale the bumptious supercilious cantankerous and officious Borough Surveyor. Grimsdale and Pitkin are as much a double act in this film as they were in all the others. It starts with Pitkin as ever doing the work this time in the road, with Grimsdale as usual sitting on his backside giving the orders. It ends with the tables turned Pitkin has been elevated to the dizzy heights of local Mayor, and Grimsdale remains the same irritating character who is unlikely to be any different.

A particular delight is the scene with Hattie Jacques playing out of character as the German opera singer, her duets with Norman Wisdom in both of his roles are blissfully funny.

Honor Blackman is as ever divine and its obvious that Pitkin would fancy her character, though I must admit I was very pleased that no attempt was made to bring them together.

The wartime setting gives this film a great new scenario and settings for Pitkin and Grimsdale, with the army and Nazis serving as two different sets of adversaries. They are undoubtedly two of the least likely heroes imaginable, certainly not one's to imagine having to rely on in any emergency.

It's easy to say that this is a film that would only appeal to British audiences, and then only to those of a certain age. But while there is some truth in this assumption, his humour is quintessentially British, and he is more likely to be known this side of the pond. I still feel that it's simply a matter of having a funny bone, we all have a sense of humour, it's a matter of what tickles it.

Norman Pitkin is the every man, having to work for a wally, at odds with authority and the world. We can all relate to him, imagine the predicaments he finds himself in, and root for his survival and success.