JohnHowardReid Copyright 1958 by J. Arthur Rank Film Productions, Limited. U.S. release through Lopert Pictures. No New York opening. U.K. release through Rank Film Distributors: 4 January 1959. Australian release through British Empire Films: July/November 1961. 7,996 feet. 89 minutes.COMMENT: A feast for Norman Wisdom fans - though Honor Blackman's admirers are liable to feel a bit cheated, as she has little to do, alas, and is even somewhat colorless (despite a lift from Jack's Cox's lighting photography which is noticeably less flat when she is around). The script is a bit more ingenious than the usual slight but slapstick Wisdom vehicle and allows our star to be a bit more adventurous and exciting than his usual callow self. Actually, Wisdom has two roles, one comedy, one straight, but he plays the comedy part straighter than his norm, and the straighter part with more than a touch of satire. It all jibes rather well. A script with more bite allows the support players more opportunities too. Edward Chapman, Campbell Singer and Hattie Jacques are particularly personable. Some unintentional humor, however, is provided by Brian Worth who is here forced to adopt a French accent.Wisdom's double role scenes are neatly timed (the special effects are okay too). Carstairs is not one of my favorite directors. His timing and pacing always seem too heavy-handed and over-emphatic. Although his direction does show more dash and flair here, the timing in general still has a blunt edge and is not as smooth and snappy as audiences have a right to expect. All the same, the film looks good, thanks to solid production values.Once we get away from the atrocious title tune, the film improves dramatically - or rather comically - with Wisdom and Chapman as a pair of cheekily omniscient, self-important bureaucrats attempting to impose their bloated authoritarianism on the army. The military brass get their revenge by drafting the two. Norman is smitten by a pretty parachutist, then he and Ed are inadvertently dropped into German-occupied France. And this is where the fun really starts

alexanderdavies-99382 I realise that not everyone likes Norman Wisdom comedies. I feel he wasn't properly exploited for cinema regarding his potential. The man was very talented but his films could have been better. "The Square Peg" is his greatest film by far and a classic. Wisely, there are no irritating songs and no heavy doses of sentimentality. Just some great comedy, very good acting, a solid plot, a fine supporting cast and decent music which suits the film. There are many highlights here. The scene where Norman interferes with the training of the army recruits is hilarious! He plays a convincing Nazi officer and successfully spoofs this character. It wouldn't be quite the same without Edward Chapman as the one and only Mr. Grimsdale. He and Norman Wisdom work very well together. One of the things I really admire about the comedian, is that he was great at being a physical performer. He could carry out his own stunts and his timing at this was impeccable. Even those people who aren't devoted fans should still watch "The Square Peg" and have a good laugh.

Aaron Hassard this film is great, i loved it so much, laughs, good story, it follows the life of simple man Norman Pitkin working as a road mender when he and his boss shall we say Mr Grimsdale are tricked to join the army during WWII!!!During there time in the Army they are put in various training regimes (with hilarious results, standard for a Norman Wisdom film)Then Pitkin and Mr Grimsdale are sent on a mission, but get on the wrong truck and are sent to France where the German leader (also played by Norman would you believe!) has kidnapped many innocent people and have them locked away securely!After impersonation the German leader and freeing the prisoners, he breaks into the Germans House, by digging a hole under the wall, and covering with leaves to avoid any trouble, Norman gets captured (while his partners escape) and is put to gun point, lucking the German leader tells Norman to take two steps forward because his walls had just been whitewashed and just by luck, Norman falls through the hole he dug earlier and escapes.For his bravery, Norman was offered the highest award available, becoming the mayor!All in all i really enjoyed this film and recommend to it to anyone!

BritishFilms1 Norman Wisdom has to be one of the best British comedians of the 20th Century. For fifty years he has continued to entertain the British public with his films, TV appearances and one-man shows.Between 1953 and 1966 Wisdom worked with the J. Arthur Rank Organisation and there, starred in some of the best loved British film comedies of all time, including The Square Peg.The plot for the film is that council worker Norman and his boss Mr Grimsdale come into conflict with the local military. They are then drafted into the army themselves and sent to Nazi-occupied France where Widsom manages to foil the plans of German general.If you like Wisdom's comedy or just want a little entertainment, then watch this film, you won't be disapointed. The scene with Wisdom in his dual role as Norman and the General and German opera singer Hattie Jacques is side-splittingly funny.