The Early Bird (1965) User Reviews

Norman Catches The Worm!

[ShadeGrenade · 8/10 · 23 February 2009]

Mention the name Norman Wisdom to many and the chances are the first thing they think of is of him in that ill-fitting 'gump' suit, mugging frantically, falling over to the strangulated cry of 'Mr.Grimsdale!'. Comedy film fans may make the sign of the cross at his name, but the fact is he was the No.1 British box office star for well over a decade.

There is nothing pretentious about him or his films. You do not need to be 'in' on the joke because there is nothing to be in on. Now it is very different - unfunny material can make millions for its creators as long as it is perceived to be 'cutting-edge'. Norman's brand of knockout comedy was old hat even in his hey-day, owing a debt to silent era comics such as Chaplin and Keaton. But he soon put on his own stamp on the genre, finding out what worked for him and what did not.

His regular 'stooges' were Edward Chapman as his boss, the aforementioned 'Mr.Grimsdale', and long-faced Jerry Desmonde as the pompous authority figure whose side Norman becomes a thorn in.

'The Early Bird' was the last time all three appeared together. It came along at a time when British film comedy was becoming less and less family oriented ( look at 1966's 'Doctor In Clover' and compare it with the earlier Dirk Bogarde ones ). Norman tried to move with the times by going into colour, and then parted company with his producer Hugh Stewart, who went on to make three pictures with Morecambe and Wise.

Norman once more is 'Pitkin', this time a milkman for Grimsdale's Dairies, a small-town firm under threat from the much-bigger 'Consolidated Dairies'. When he finds broken bottles on his round, it amounts to a declaration of war.

Consolidated Dairies's top milkman is 'Austin' ( Brian Pringle ), and when they confront one another in a deserted street it is like 'High Noon' all over again. "Little men like you do not stand a chance!", sneers Austin, before landing a nasty-looking punch to Pitkin's jaw. But when the 'little man' is Norman, he is in with more than just a chance.

Right, that's the premise established. What about the slapstick? Well, Norman is dragged through Desmonde's garden on an out of control lawnmower, disguises himself as a vicar to gatecrash Desmonde's game of golf with 'The Colonel' ( John Le Mesurier ), eats doped apples intended for his horse Nellie ( a sequence more disturbing than all 75 minutes of Roger Corman's 'The Trip' ), falls downstairs goodness knows how many times, and manages to nearly demolish Consolidated Dairies's H.Q. No wonder Norman was offered the role of 'Frank Spencer' before Michael Crawford.

Corny? Yes. But there's nothing wrong with corn. Despite the many fun moments, Norman's popularity was in rapid decline. His next picture - 'Press For Time' - combined the knockabout stuff with a half-hearted attempt at political satire, and his 1969 offering 'What's Good For The Goose' saw him shedding the cloth-cap ( along with everything else ) by jumping into bed with Sally Geeson of 'Bless This House'.

Whether you like 'The Early Bird' depends on whether you like Norman, and to many he is simply is not funny. But he gave a lot of pleasure to an awful of people - including the entire population of Albania - and I suspect his cheap and cheerful movies will still be gracing Saturday afternoons long after the 'cutting-edge' stuff has been forgotten.

Oh. You was at Dunkirk, weren't you Mr Grimsdale? I wonder what would have happened if you'd given up then.

[hitchcockthelegend · 8/10 · 9 October 2010]

The Early Bird is directed by Robert Asher and stars Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman, Jerry Desmonde & Paddie O'Neil. Grimsdale's Dairy, an old fashioned company who still deliver milk by horse and cart, are under threat of closure by the modern conglomerate that is Consolidated Dairies. But milkman Norman Pitkin (Wisdom) will not take it lying down; chaos ensues.

Norman Wisdom was an acquired taste, he was very much in the vein of Jerry Lewis from across the pond. His comedy staple was pratfalling and playing a lovable but hapless guy who constantly causes mayhem where ever he goes. Much like Lewis, the debates have always raged about if the comedy on offer was borderline genius or just standard buffoonery. The answer to which is naturally up to the individual observer to decide. What isn't up for debate is that Wisdom's film's, mostly, are perfect family fare that are agreeably watchable at any time of year.

The Early Bird is Wisdom's first feature film in colour, the title is derived from the saying "the early bird catches the worm". It sees Wisdom re-teamed with Chapman, Asher & Desmonde who all feature prominently in Wisdom's big screen output. As it is, The Early Bird is one of the most fondly remembered film's that Wisdom did. And rightly so because it contains some comedy gold moments to enjoy. Opening with a delightful 10 minute sequence that contains no dialogue, the film then pitches Wisdom into a number of truly great comedy scenes. A rampaging petrol lawnmower, a golf match interruption, Norman leading his horse up the stairs to bed; and the pièce de résistance that is the finale as a fire is believed to have broken out at the towering Consolidated Dairies building. All acted with comedic gusto by Wisdom and the cast thrust into the ensuing chaos. Lest we forget, also, the moral at the core of the writing too, this may be comedy unbound but it's also a sharp observation on the changing of the times and the sad disappearance of the little businesses. While the painted sets showcase a talent that's sometimes forgotten in this day and age of CGI enhancement.

A delightful comedy from a delightful and much respected entertainer. The kind of which is now impossible to replace. 8/10

Battle of the Milkmen

[chris_gaskin123 · 7/10 · 4 April 2006]

The Early Bird is the one where Norman Wisdom plays a Milkman. I found this quite funny.

Wisdom works for the Grimsdale Dairy, a small family run concern. He uses a horse and cart as his float. A large modern dairy then opens up and its milkmen start taking the same round as Grimsdale's and this threatens the future of the small business. Plenty of chaos before the two bosses come to an agreement at the end, reprieving Wisdom's horse in the process.

The Early Bird certainly has its moments and I've never seen this sort of thing happen with the milkman who comes round where I live (yet!). One part I thought which was a little too daft is where the horse sleeps in Wisdom's bed.

Joining Wisdom in the cast are Edward Chapman as Mr Grimsdale, Dad's Army star John Le Measurer and Frank Thornton (Are You Being Served?, Last Of the Summer Wine).

Have a good laugh with The Early Bird.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

Mr Grimsdale !!!!!

[Davo123 · 27 May 2002]

'The Early Bird' just has to be THE Norman Wisdom film. From the marvellous opening sequence, to the finale, there is not a single dull moment. Of all of his films, this has to be his most popular.

Norman plays a milkman for a local town dairy, his boss is the laid-back Mr. Grimsdale, superbly played by Edward Chapman. However, a large corporate dairy starts to muscle in on their patch, and Norman is soon pitted against a sneaky and unscrupulous Austin (Bryan Pringle). The laughs are soon flowing thick and fast as war develops.

In many ways this film symbolises the changing times of the '60s when the pace of life speeded up, aptly summarised by the quote 'You can't impede the wheels of progress' from the film. As always, Norman manages to save the day, and dispense his particular brand of common sense. In this film, though, his victory is more by default than judgement.

The film contains many classic moments, the sick horse, the apples, the 'shootout', the golf, the fire, and many more.

Finally, I have often wondered if Benny Hill got his inspiration for 'Ernie' from this film?

Definitely **** out of *****

not the best but still the greatest

[jakedoughy · 7/10 · 9 October 2005]

now, everyone has their own opinion on movies and the comment above is fair if that is what he thinks, but, to me, this movie is still a great piece of work by the legendary, sir Norman wisdom. i admit, not my fav out of 13 films of his i've seen but its still good firm piece of British comedy which i, being British, am proud of. so, if you have enjoyed other classic movies of his such as one good turn, just my luck, up in the world,girl on the boat, the bulldog breed, follow a star and many, many others,then i suggest you give this a go and judge for yourself. "mr.grimsdale!" classic. i can honestly say, hand on hart, that sir Norman wisdom is a true legend and will always be a favourite actor of mine for the rest of my life.

"....where's the fire...?...."

[Brucey_D · 7/10 · 9 December 2018]

Milkman Pitkin (Wisdom) and his employer, Mr Grimsdale (Chapman), pit their small, archaic dairy against a conglomerate, hell bent on taking their business by fair means or foul.

This film is largely innocent and boisterous fun, slapstick and so forth. Even in its day it was hardly considered cutting edge, so it may be of limited appeal to folk who know not of Norman Wisdom and his earlier outings. This is the first Norman Wisdom film in colour and the last to feature regulars Wisdom, Chapman and Desmonde together.

Wisdom we expect to fall about, but others didn't have it easy either; Desmonde passed away two years after this film was made and was in his late fifties (and possibly in poor health) during shooting; he must have been game though; he variously gets sprayed with foam, falls out of a building, drenched with a fire hose, dragged by a runaway lawnmower and hangs from a tree, all whilst doing his trademark 'outraged patrician type' act. Good stuff. Supporting roles from John Le Mesurier, Richard Vernon, Frank Thornton, Peter Jeffrey, and Brian Pringle (as Machiavellian milkman Austin) are well done. Honourable mention goes to Nellie the horse too.

Some of the scenes in this film are quite memorable; the horse tranquilliser's effects on Pitkin and Grimsdale are a nod to the upcoming era of psychedelia.

Yes this is mostly hackneyed, old fashioned, and so forth, but that was really the point; open up a Norman Wisdom film and inside you will find mostly harmless fun, occasionally with a little pathos thrown in. This is a pretty fair example of a Norman Wisdom film; simply being in colour means it is more likely to get watched by some modern audiences.

Excellent !

[cgbartlett · 10/10 · 7 April 2007]

I would thoroughly disagree with any negative review for this film ! A Technicolour '60's masterpiece of the British film comedy genre. Just lighten up and suspend your cynicism (a must for most of Norman Wisdom's films), and enjoy the "Crackerjack" style slapstick. Jerry Desmonde is just perfect as the hard nosed multinational windbag boss, Bryan Pringle is the ultimate uber-villain Milkman, and the scenes with the drug-filled Apple are mind-alteringly wonderful. If only for the golfing scenes with the sublime John Le Mesurier, and obvious matte shots of the dairy, this an innocent treasure. C'mon you hard bitten folks, this is Perfect Sunday afternoon fayre to watch in your armchair as you let your Sunday dinner go down !

Still quite amusing but dated

[glenn-aylett · 7/10 · 2 January 2021]

No one can say The Early Bird is Monty Python or Norman Wisdom is Peter Sellers and this film does look cheap and dated now, with the Consolidated Dairies building looking totally faked, but the film isn't without merit as Norman Wisdom is on form as a milkman who causes chaos wherever he goes.

The plot is classic Norman Wisdom playing the little guy standing up to a bigger opponent, in this case a milkman for a small dairy that Consolidated Dairies want to force out of business. Scenes such as the destruction of the dairy's headquarters, Wisdom eating an apple containing horse tranquilisers and hallucinating, and the scene with the motorised lawn mower are classic and timeless slapstick that owe quite a lot to Jerry Lewis. Also The Early Bird was Wisdom's first colour film and sadly his last major success.

Not one of Wisdom's best films, but a one that can always raise a laugh and has a great ending, even if it's cheaply made.

What a fantastic Comedy film

[paul-johnson107 · 9/10 · 21 January 2006]

This is a great film, one of the very best Norman Wisdom films, the opening 10 minutes fantastic, how he makes a scene with no speech so funny, it takes a lot of work to make a scene like that funny if there is no speech but he does it so naturally, the falling down the stairs with the cup of tea and still having a full cup at the bottom, marvellous truly marvellous. Norman Wisdom is fantastic at physical comedy, the way he falls about, and still does it now in his 90's, thats a real comedy genius. He is one of my favourite comedy actors, i love him and think that he is truly a comedy great. The whole collection of Wisdoms films are brilliant but this one for me because of the fantastic clown mime sequence at the beginning of the film comes top.

Good stuff

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 16 August 2021]

One of Wisdom's later comedies - you can tell that because it's in colour - but also one of his most energetic and vibrant. Sure, the opening sequence pushes it a little bit, but we soon move into a decent underdog story with plenty of conflict and chaos unfolding. The slapstick is purely destructive here and brought to mind the highs of Laurel & Hardy and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Wisdom's on form, working hard with a good cast, and the addition of the horse doesn't hinder either. Good stuff.

Don't be put off if you don't like this one.

[ggeffers · 5/10 · 12 July 2016]

Some of the reviews here are from people who, having been told this is Norman's best film, might not watch any others. I'd not exactly say I don't like this, but I'd place it near the bottom of the list. Perhaps only Press for Time is worse.

There's a certain style of comedy and pathos that's missing here, and strangely the colour does not help. The opening scenes are reminiscent of Morecambe and Wise, in their Breakfast sketch. Overall, there's a lack of sharpness to the comedy, so oddly the Norman Wisdom films from ten years earlier don't look so old fashioned as the ones made in the 1960's.

Trouble in Store, Stitch in Time, Bulldog Breed, at least give those a try if The Early Bird was not your cup of tea, because those three are more representative of Norman Wisdom's comedy - not just silly slapstick, but true heart.

His best, real funny stuff, big up the Wisdom!

[fertiliser · 10/10 · 16 September 2004]

At first I thought this film was in black and white, you have to turn the colour up quite a lot to see it. Yes it's Norman falling down a lot but it's done in a way that makes you think 'ouch', which when it happens in real life is usually funny, unless it's you that's falling down of course. Jerry Desmonde is excellent as the exasperated Dairy boss who has to endure Norman destroying everything from his green house and car to his entire Dairy, all by accident of course. If you like slap-stick you'll like this, even if you don't you probably will.

Doesn't quite hit the mark!

[xris-89911 · 6/10 · 28 February 2022]

My Dad took me to see this in early 1966. As a 9 year old a trip to the cinema was a great treat and Norman Wisdom back then was still fairly funny for a lot of people but he was past his best. Being in colour really livened up the story and 98 minutes of slapstick and mayhem was enjoyed by a half full cinema. In the 1990s The Early Bird turned up on tv and out nostalgic interest I sat down to watch it again. Oh dear, sometimes childhood cinematic memories are best left in their own vaults. The first fifteen minutes of the movie is ' waking up ' and this goes on and on and on to the point of annoyance. Then we start the story. Little man vs the corporation, a usual Wisdom film plot. There are some funny scenes of mayhem, ie: the lawnmower and fire brigade, but overall it certainly wasn't exactly the film I enjoyed in the sixties as a child. I guess as it was Wisdom's second to last film a new breed of comedian was taking over from the television world, and the celluloid funny men of the fifties and early sixties were on the way out. He did make a couple of good films but quite few of them were playing for over sympathy and heavy on sugary emotion. An average Wisdom film, he has made worst, but I have soft spot for him because when he's on form, he's a pretty funny guy.

Confused purpose and weak script saved by energetic acting

[philkronenberg · 2/10 · 7 June 2017]

Not the worst of Wisdom but generally malicious and cruel and in need of some good jokes. The garish colour also highlights this 'comedian's' advancing age. The opening routine is innocent and funny but you ultimately end up hating Wisdom and feeling sympathy for Jery Desmonde, presumably the producer's had the opposite intention.

A classic - never forgotten

[spotter-9 · 15 September 2000]

My parents took me and my brother to see this at the "pictures". (I was 8 and my brother was 5 in 1965) I DO remember that this film made me laugh till I almost burst at the seams! :-) I've never forgotten the image of Norman, the horse, and "Mr. Grimsdale!?" I've tried to get this film at video stores without success. Shame. It's a classic!

The Early Bird

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 14 November 2022]

This is a fun vehicle for Norman Wisdom that starts out quite amiably. He works for his boss "Grimsdale" (Edward Chapman) delivering the milk from his horse-drawn float early each morning. One day, though, he discovers all their empties broken and a new supplier "Consolidated Dairies" taking over his patch. Thwarted at every turn by their supercilious general manager "Hunter" (Jerry Desmonde) and his peak-capped henchman "Austin" (Bryan Pringle) it falls to poor old "Pitkin" to save the day, the business and his job! The beginning works well with a sort of gunfight at OK corral scenario between the two milkmen that clears the street quicker than a thunderstorm. Thereafter, though, the joke wears a bit thin and the story resorts a little too much to slapstick - especially on the golf course - for my liking before descending a little too quickly into the preposterous where it loses much of it's charm and the horse starts to steal all the scenes! It's also a bit on the long side. Perhaps some more ruthless use of the razor blade in the cutting room could have tightened it up bit and kept the pace a bit better concentrated? Wisdom did have great comedy timing and a very expressive face, though, there are giggle moments here for us to enjoy and even a semblance of the Dunkirk spirit! I could just have done with a bit more of that!

Best Comedy Movie ever seen by me

[pravin-mail · 10/10 · 17 August 2019]

This movie i watched at the age of 8, i still remember it after 25 years by name because nothing made me laugh so hard.

The Early Star

[michaelarmer · 10/10 · 22 May 2020]

This is the best film by Norman, his battle against the giant dairy, the opening 10 mins of silent comedy (but in colour and did have sound, but no one spoke) was brilliant, physical comedy at its best.

Both Edward Chapman and Jerry Desmonde were supporting well, with a good performance by Bryan Pringle as Austin his rival milkman, it also features John Le Mesurier and David Lodge. This was Jerry Desmonde's last film, sadly he committed suicide less than two years later, aged 58, he was depressed after his wife died the previous year. It was also Herbert Chapman's last film, but he lasted a bit longer, doing a good bit of TV work until retiring in 1972, he passed away in 1977 aged 75.

This film is how physical comedy should be performed, it is rarely tried like this these days, the young ones tried but did not get near.

THE EARLY BIRD (Robert Asher, 1965) **

[Bunuel1976 · 4/10 · 25 August 2006]

Norman Wisdom's first film in color is, alas, one of his lesser vehicles; this time around, he's a milkman with Edward Chapman's modest firm (he is its only employer and even lives with his boss!) which is being run out of business by a big corporation that has, as its manager, the ubiquitous (and, by now, quite aged) Jerry Desmonde. Despite some good moments - an amusing but protracted opening gag involving Norman's elaborate waking methods, the star's Western-style showdown with a competitor, the utilization of his milk-bottles as weapons in a domestic squabble and Norman's demolition of Desmonde's garden - the film bogs down soon enough with a recurrent subplot about Chapman's tentative romance with his chubby middle-aged landlady (which is constantly interrupted by Norman bursting into their room) and the star's sentimental attachment to an old cart-horse (and whom the competition even contrive to poison in order to get them out of the way!). Besides, two extended set-pieces - one with Norman dressed as a priest disrupting Desmonde's golf game with John Le Mesurier, and his stint as a fireman (targeting Desmonde's entire office block) and featuring a young Peter Jeffrey as the fire chief - tend to fall flat on their faces rather than provide the intended hilarity!

Early version of first blood

[mem-55418 · 9/10 · 23 January 2021]

Ok not exactly but it has the general theme. Placid guy pushed too far rains down terror and retribution. Probably similar collateral damage in both films. Dont cross norman pitkin or john rambo. Actually they could do a modern update of all the Wisdom films and call them Pitkin: the early bird and Pitkin:The bulldog breed etc. America has Stallone and we had Norman.

Too much here, too little there make a so-so comedy

[SimonJack · 5/10 · 13 November 2016]

"The Early Bird" has a lot of slapstick. Slapstick is very funny. But it's humor is just as with any funny line of dialog or joke. Once told or seen, it's very funny. Twice seen may get a chuckle. But three times and the punch is gone. So, the opening scenario that one person found very funny, quickly became monotonous to me. The wake-up routine was novel and somewhat funny, But Norman Pitkin (played by Norman Wisdom) and Mr. Grimsdale (Edward Chapman) go through the identical mishaps (PJs caught on the banister knob, etc.) one after the other. After the third one I came to expect it so this pattern quickly lost its humor.

The plot for this film wasn't that good. The subplot of Mr. Grimsdale trying to romance his landlady is an unnecessary distraction. The milk delivery competition is a series of time-consuming scenes with little or no humor. The film seems to be a collection of vignettes tided together around the milk delivery business and competition. Norman goes in disguise, his milk wagon floods a woman's flat, he has shenanigans on the golf course, and his horse gets sick. It loses many laughs with this broken thread of a plot. After the third "Mr. Grimsdale!" that line of dialog was humorless. Yet it repeated a number of times more.

It's an OK film at best, mostly for Wisdom's versatility and antics and for funny and good roles by Bryan Pringle as Austin and John Le Mesurier as Colonel Foster. All of the reviewers who think this is a great film or one of Norman Wisdom's best are from the early years of the turn of the 21st century. I have seen several of his films, and agree with a couple later reviewers who think this definitely is not one of his best.

One reviewer noted that it's too bad for such praise with few contrary views because that may discourage first time viewers of a Wisdom film from watching any more. They would miss some real gems. Among them are "A Stitch in Time," "The Square Peg," "The Bulldog Breed," and "On the Beat."

Sir Norman's best movie?

[david-697 · 8 May 2004]

As a child I grew up with the movies of Norman Wisdom constantly showing on the TV. I watched them avidly. Sadly, as I grew older and more cynical, their flaws became noticeable. The unattainable girl, the sledgehammer pathos, which at times threatens to sink his movies, all these faults and more, became sadly apparent to my more cynical eyes (perhaps that says more about me as a person, then it does about Sir Norman's films).

Yet despite all this, I still have a soft spot for old Norman (and it's not the Grimpon Mire!) and have fond memories of this, possibly his best movie. While there is still pathos (regarding his horse) it's thankfully present in very small doses. Even better, there is no love interest (or rather, no unrequited love interest). Instead we are given a very nice plot about a small, out-of-date diary, threatened by a huge, modern conglomerate, almost Ealing-like in its structure.

The highlight is the opening twenty minutes or so, a near silent sequence where Norman and the ever-present Mr Grimsdale, struggle to get up while still half asleep. Some of the falls look very painful to me, but it remains a very well executed set piece.

Adding to the fun is a very memorable score by Ron Grainer, which you can't help humming after listening to it!

The only downside to this movie is a redundant golfing sequence, in which Sir Norman causes chaos dressed as a vicar! It quickly wears out it's welcome and seems to me to be a bit out-of place, feeling like something added at the last moment to pad out the film.

...almost catches the worm.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 12 March 2022]

Milkman Norman Pitkin takes on a large conglomerate company in a well meaning comedy of David and Gol

Bonkers opening sequences, expect slapstick throughout, but there are some genuinely funny scenes throughout.

Appalling

[tonygillan · 1/10 · 21 August 2003]

Think of all that had gone on before this film in comedy. Laurel & Hardy, The Goons, even Beyond The Fringe. Yet Norman Wisdom was still churning out this rubbish.

In case you haven't seen it, what you have missed is Norman Wisdom falling over a lot, being thick, looking forlorn, trying to be lovable and saying 'Mr. Grimsdale' repeatedly.

Possibly Wisdom's best film. Imagine what the rest of them are like.

Very very contrived so-called comedy

[scottdou · 1/10 · 6 April 2021]

Some movies are so stupid they're funny. This rubbish is just stupid. Norman Wisdom makes George Formby look like a genius (which in fact he was). Compare this failure to British movies and TV which are actually funny like the Man in the White Suit or the Lavender Hill Mob or the Carry On movies or Benny Hill or On the Buses or Keeping Up Appearances or as I said George Formby films and dozens of others. There is no comparison as this movie is at the bottom of the heap. Ugh!