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Man of the Moment

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Man of the Moment - 1955 | 85 mins | Comedy | B&W

The Production Team

Director: John Paddy Carstairs.
Producer: Hugh Stewart.
Script: John Paddy Carstairs and Vernon Sylvaine. (story by Maurice Cowan)
Cinematography: Jack E. Cox.
Editing: John Shirley.
Art Direction: Cedric Dawe.
Costume Design: Joan Ellacott.
Makeup Department: Geoffrey Rodway.
Sound Department: John Dennis, Archie Ludski and Gordon K. McCallum.
Original Music: Philip Green.

The Cast

Norman Wisdom - Norman
Lana Morris - Penny
Belinda Lee - Sonia
Jerry Desmonde - Jackson
Karel Stepanek - Lom

Plot Synopsis

Chaotic British comedy starring Norman Wisdom is his typical sympathetic loser role, Man of the Moment proves to be one of his better films with an improved sense of balance between plot and slapstick.

A humble Foreign Office filing clerk Norman (Norman Wisdom), ends up sitting in for an injured delegate at a Geneva conference. When he uses his power of veto to assist the small Pacific island of Tawaki, he is threatened by foreign powers. After he stalls the entire United Nations with his support for the Tawaki islanders, he suddenly finds himself an assassination target for foreign agents. Norman is sacked from his job at the F.O. but after learning the island's queen refuses to take part in any sort of negotiations unless ‘The honourable Sir Norman’ is involved in proceedings, Norman is soon reinstated, and furthermore bestowed with an honorary knighthood. Not wishing to lose favour with Norman and the people of Tawaki, soon countless nations are also presenting Norman with decorations and honours. The film closes with Norman and F.O. minister Jackson (Jerry Desmonde) visiting the Pacific isles to seal an agreement – with unexpected display taking place.