Truly Dreadful Film

This is How Movies Should Be Made

A Masterpiece!

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

"A Stitch in Time" is one of the later movies by British comedy actor Norman Wisdom. I think it is one of his better films. In this one, he had some touching scenes on a serious side, but these relate to the humor he brings in a hospital setting. Norman Wisdom was a star of British cinema in the mid-20th century. He had a little bit of Jerry Lewis, some Red Skelton and come Lou Costello. But his character had much more and was his own. Three things distinguish Wisdom – his perpetual smile and happy attitude, his exceedingly high energy level, and his physical abilities. In this film, Wisdom plays his familiar character, Norman Pitkin. Many other comedians used hospital settings in movie plots, and one can expect the same types of hilarious situations in this one. A hospital gurney race is one of the funniest I've ever seen. This film has some slapstick comedy to rival the best of early American comedy teams. And the musical ending is special.

Even if the story is pretty standard and some parts get a little sentimental, A Stitch in Time is still a charming and funny slapstick comedy. A Stitch in Time is very well made, with nice cinematography and the film overall looks beautiful. The music by Phillip Green is beautiful as well, while there are some nice and funny touches in the screenplay. Not only that the set pieces are efficiently done and just add to the fun, with the slapstick very well timed. The pacing is just fine, the direction is good and the length I had no problem with either. And the acting is little to gripe about; Norman Wisdom is very winning in the title role, very innocent and likable, while Edward Chapman and Jerry Desmonde almost come close to stealing the film and Jeanette Sterke is really beautiful. Overall, classic slapstick comedy, that is very nice to watch while being funny as well. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Very funny and surprisingly well made film. Norman Wisdom does not put a foot wrong, well he does but he's supposed to! What is particularly gratifying here is that whilst Wisdom is his brilliant self, everybody else puts in excellent and thoughtful performances. There is none of the 'prima donna' stuff we tend to get in the 'Carry On' films of the period and everybody is mainly interested in making themselves look good. Peter Jones, for instance puts in a magnificent performance as a St Johns Ambulance Brigade leader in a little scene that becomes central to the whole film. From the very beginning in the butcher's shop the slapstick is immaculate and typified by the hospital trolley race, Wisdom's tone is some magical mix of the male desire to prove himself and wanting to be a little boy again.

I love this film, it's a great piece of British film history, i've been watching this (and many other Norman Wisdoms films) on video since i was young, and yet, they still have there appeal to me like they did all those years ago, and i think they'll stay that way!In this film Norman Wisddom plays Norman Pitkin who works in a local butchers with the infamous Mr. Grimsdale, when they get overcome by a robber (i am unsure if he succeeds with the robbery or not, the last time i watched this film was in August!) anyway, Mr Grimsdale decides to hide his pocket watch in his mouth for safe keeping, but ends up swallowing it, so Norman calls the Ambulance to comes to help Mr. Grimsdale, with hilarious results (even the simplest things like putting him on a stretcher seem hard for Norman!)When Mr Grimsdale is put in care, Norman gets barred from the Hospital because of a chase on electronic beds down the hospitals halls!!!While hiding from the Hospital he finds this Little girl called Lindy whose parents were killed in ac plane crash, leaving her shocked and unable to speak, Norman immediately falls in love with her but being banned, he can't ever see her again, but knowing Norman he finds a way!He decides to join the St. Johns Ambulance Bridage because they were to appear on Television, the perfect chance to get Lindy to see Norman, but Lindy is not allowed to watch TV as the show is on too late but Lindy escapes from the Hospital and makes her way to the location of Norman.In the end they finally meet, but Norman thinks he's in the bad books because the person who owns the hospital, comes to thank Norman for his work (which i didn't mention) but Norman thinking he is mad, runs off outside and gets hit by a car, leaving him in hospital with Mr Grimsdale!Overall i really enjoyed this film, one of Normans Best8/10