A Stitch in Time (1963)

"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.

A Stitch in Time is directed by Robert Asher and collectively written by Jack Davies, Norman Wisdom, Henry Blyth and Eddie Leslie. It stars Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman, Jeanette Sterke and Jerry Desmonde. Music is by Philip Green and cinematography by Jack Asher.Although not prime Wisdom, A Stitch in Time holds the secrets as to what made the diminutive star so popular. Obviously his style of slapstick and malarkey for laughs isn't for everyone, but Wisdom's career blossomed because the feel good factor in his movies was always so high. While there was nearly always a sweet thread in his movies, but where the harsh would cite schmaltz or sappiness, others rightly point to honest escapism, a chance to forget the world and its troubles for a brief moment in time.A Stitch in Time sees Wisdom as Norman Pitkin, the young assistant to Mr. Grimsdale (Chapman) at the town butchers. When Grimsdale is hospitalised Pitkin is determined to help wherever possible, which unfortunately means chaos will follow. This set-up allows Wisdom to indulge in a number of high spirited sequences involving motorised beds, teeth extractions, stretcher bearing, ambulance surfing, marching band chaos and even dressing up in drag. The "tender" sub-plot involves an orphan girl who after losing her parents in a plane crash, refuses to talk or smile, but Norman is on that case with the message being the innocence of unprejudiced kindness. That's that, really, all wrapped up in just under an hour and half of film.Harmless and innocent fun for those who want to escape their blues. 7.5/10

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

Once again, Norman Wisdom plays lovable klutz Norman Pitkin, raising Cain wherever he goes. In this case, he works for Mr. Grimsdale (Edward Chapman) in a meat store, when the place gets robbed. After a small snafu, Grimsdale gets sent to the hospital, and Pitkin accompanies him. In the hospital, Pitkin befriends orphan Lindy, but gets kicked out of the hospital.Anyway, the whole movie has Pitkin getting himself into a series of loony situations, all the while getting on everyone's nerves. He's the very manifestation of the triumph of the underdog, how he inadvertently trashes the snobbish rich people's mores. In this case, he has a drag race on Grimsdale's bed, and later has to dress up as a nurse after a sticky situation (which was probably inserted to appeal to teenage boys). The movie culminates in a musical performance unlike any that you've ever seen.All in all, it's something that you're sure to like. And some of those nurses were really hot!