"Actor: Desmond Morris"

• Trouble In Store / Up In The World | DVD | (12/05/2003) from £8.25   |  Saving you £6.00 (85.84%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Norman Wisdom became an instant movie star with the release of Trouble in Store in 1953. Playing a character called Norman, he brought his familiar stage and television personality to the big screen as a young man with the ambition to become a window dresser in a major department store. Ever lovable victim of his own clumsiness, all Norman's efforts to improve himself result in chaos. That is, until he meets Sally (Lana Morris), the girl of his dreams. Then things turn disastrous. Costarring Margaret Rutherford, Trouble in Store introduced Wisdom's self-penned song which would become his theme, "Don't laugh at Me ('cause I'm a Fool)". The film became a massive box-office hit and won Wisdom a BAFTA Award. Very much of its time, admittedly, it's still highly entertaining. In 1956 the title of his latest film, Up in the World accurately described Norman Wisdom's career. This was the great British comedian's fourth hit in as many years, this time finding himself employed as window cleaner to Lady Banderville (Ambrosine Phillpotts). Apart from having hundreds of windows to polish, things would be going fine for Norman if it weren't for the endless practical jokes played by Lady Banderville's son, Sir Reginald (Michael Caridia). However, when the irritating Reggie is kidnapped, Norman has the chance to prove himself a hero, and it just might impress his beautiful costar Maureen Swanson. By now Wisdom was set on a winning formula, working with much the same team as on his three previous smashes, including Jerry Desmonde as Major Willoughby, who had starred in both Trouble in Store (1953) and Man of the Moment (1955). --Gary S Dalkin

• Three Came Home | DVD | (07/03/2005) from £4.98   |  Saving you £-0.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  The true story of one woman's confinement in a World War II Japanese prison camp from the account by Agnes Newton Kieth. She and her British husband were separated when the Japanese invaded Borneo during WWII. Though the camp commander took an interest in her he could not prevent her torture starvation or humiliation by the guards....

• John Lennon - Rare And Unseen | DVD | (22/02/2010) from £14.57   |  Saving you £2.68 (20.14%)   |  RRP £15.99

  John Lennon: Rare And Unseen

• Trouble In Store | DVD | (15/10/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Perhaps surprisingly, the British comedy legend Norman Wisdom has made just 20 films, from his debut in Date With a Dream (1948) to the thriller Double-X (1992). From 1948 on he had his own TV series, Wit and Wisdom, but 1953 was the real turning point. Not only was his son Nicholas born, but he became an instant movie star with the release of Trouble in Store. Playing a character called Norman he brought his familiar stage and television personality to the big screen as a young man with the ambition to become a window dresser in a major department store. Ever loveable victim of his own clumsiness, all Norman's efforts to improve himself result in chaos. That is, until he meets Sally (Lana Morris), the girl of his dreams. Then things turn disastrous. Co-starring Margaret Rutherford, Trouble in Store introduced Wisdom's self-penned song which would become his theme, "Don't laugh at Me ('Cause I'm a Fool)". The film became a massive box-office hit and won Wisdom a BAFTA Award. Very much of its time, yet still highly entertaining, this video release provides the opportunity to nostalgically revisit and reassess one of Britain's greatest stars. Wisdom's follow-up was another substantial hit, One Good Turn (1954). --Gary S. Dalkin