The Early Bird

The Early Bird - 1965 | 98 mins | Comedy | B&W

The Production Team

Director: Robert Asher.
Producer: Hugh Stewart.
Script: Henry Blyth, Jack Davies, Eddie Leslie and Norman Wisdom.
Cinematography: Jack Asher.
Editing: Gerry Hambling.
Art Direction: William C. Andrews.
Costume Design: Emma Selby-Walker.
Makeup Department: Biddy Chrystal and Bob Lawrance.
Sound Department: Len Shilton, C.C. Stevens and Les Wiggins.
Original Music: Ron Goodwin.

The Cast

Norman Wisdom - Norman Pitkin
Edward Chapman - Mr. Grimsdale
Bryan Pringle - Austin
Jerry Desmonde - Mr Hunter
Paddie O'Neil - Gladwys Hoskins
Richard Vernon - Sir Roger Wedgewood
John Le Mesurier - Colonel Foster

Plot Synopsis

Norman Wisdom’s first colour film is a predictable comedy concerning the rivalry between two milk delivery firms. Most of the humour is typical Wisdom slapstick fare and only vaguely amusing.

Pitkin (Norman Wisdom), a milkman working for a small dairy owned by Mr. Grimsadle (Edward Chapman); an old-fashioned business that delivers their milk via horse and cart and is in danger of being consumed by a modern milk marketing company. When a devious milkman employed by their competitors, Austin, begins moving in on Pitkin’s patch and smashing his bottles, Pitkin takes it upon himself to pay a visit to the director of the rival firm. Pitkin enters the home of Hunter (Jerry Desmonde) and creates havoc throughout the garden before demolishing the owners valuable Rolls Royce. The conflict escalates after Austin poisons Pitkin’s horse, and our ham-fisted hero attempts joining Hunter in a game of golf whilst disguised as a vicar. Eventually Mr. Grimsdale is drained by the struggle and attempts to merge with his rival - but Norman is on hand to create chaos.