One Good Turn

Following on from the major success of his first film, Trouble in Store, which turned a variety performer into a top comic movie star, Norman Wisdom’s second film followed a slightly different path in ‘One Good Turn.’ In this outing Norman plays a staff member living and working at Greenwood orphanage where he’s as much a friend to the 22 children, with his colleague Iris, (Joan Rice), as they are care givers. When a local property developer looks to close Greenwood down, Norman does his best to thwart the redevelopment plans, whilst trying to make the kids as happy as possible, invariably this leads to a series of comical events, which you tend to find in all Norman Wisdom films.

Although the engineering of Norman’s second feature is very similar to his other ventures, the cast doesn’t contain any of the regulars from his other Rank films. The screenplay also feels a lot more unpredictable and somewhat bitter sweet. There are scenes in the movie where you think it’s going to go one way, but actually ends up going somewhat in a more realistic direction. There’s also a sentimentality to Norman’s character that doesn’t exist in his other films, portraying a somewhat softer and less eccentric persona. There is a remarkable music hall scene, which could possibly be just about the best take in any Norman Wisdom movie. It has to be one of my favourite comedy sequences full stop. In some ways ‘One Good Turn’ has a jumbled plot, which is kind of bizarre for a film with straightforward story, yet somehow they manage to pull the disjointed takes together into a vaguely coherent order that makes some sense. This enormous flaw makes the film hugely disappointing, it definitely under-delivers for sure. Norman Wisdom turns in a typically dedicated performance with a creative ending, whilst that one incredible sequence, (which I won’t spoil), turns an underwhelming and incoherent film into a very watchable comedy of its time. Norman’s next film, ‘Man of the Moment,’ was as equally underwhelming production, although the accolades returned a couple of years later with Up in the World.

5/10 – Calum Robert