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One Good Turn

  • 1955
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
704
YOUR RATING
Norman Wisdom in One Good Turn (1955)
Norman is the oldest orphan at Greenwood Children's Home and now acts as their caretaker. All the orphans are very happy and well cared for. The adventures start when a nasty property developer wants to close the orphanage and build a factory on the site.
Play trailer2:03
1 Video
6 Photos
SlapstickComedy

Norman is the oldest orphan at Greenwood Children's Home and now acts as their caretaker. All the orphans are very happy and well cared for. The adventures start when a nasty property develo... Read allNorman is the oldest orphan at Greenwood Children's Home and now acts as their caretaker. All the orphans are very happy and well cared for. The adventures start when a nasty property developer (boo hiss!) who is also the chairman of the orphanage board wants to close the orphana... Read allNorman is the oldest orphan at Greenwood Children's Home and now acts as their caretaker. All the orphans are very happy and well cared for. The adventures start when a nasty property developer (boo hiss!) who is also the chairman of the orphanage board wants to close the orphanage and build a factory on the site. The children are sent to Brighton for the day and Norm... Read all

  • Director
    • John Paddy Carstairs
  • Writers
    • John Paddy Carstairs
    • Sid Colin
    • Maurice Cowan
  • Stars
    • Norman Wisdom
    • Joan Rice
    • Shirley Abicair
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    704
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Paddy Carstairs
    • Writers
      • John Paddy Carstairs
      • Sid Colin
      • Maurice Cowan
    • Stars
      • Norman Wisdom
      • Joan Rice
      • Shirley Abicair
    • 14User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Trailer

    Photos5

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    Top cast96

    Edit
    Norman Wisdom
    Norman Wisdom
    • Norman
    Joan Rice
    Joan Rice
    • Iris
    Shirley Abicair
    • Mary
    Thora Hird
    Thora Hird
    • Cook
    William Russell
    William Russell
    • Alec Bigley
    Joan Ingram
    Joan Ingram
    • Matron Sparrow
    Richard Caldicot
    Richard Caldicot
    • Mr. Bigley
    Marjorie Fender
    • Tuppeny
    Keith Gilman
    • Jimmy
    Noel Howlett
    Noel Howlett
    • Jeweller
    David Hurst
    David Hurst
    • Professor Dofee
    Harold Kasket
    • Ivor Petrovitch
    Ricky McCullough
    • Gunner Mac
    • (as Ricky Mc Cullough)
    Anthony Green
    • Martin
    • (as Antony Green)
    John Adams
    • Constable in Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Chris Adcock
    • Stagehand
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Andrews
    • Boxing Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Jonathan Bailey
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Paddy Carstairs
    • Writers
      • John Paddy Carstairs
      • Sid Colin
      • Maurice Cowan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.5704
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    Featured reviews

    alexandra-25

    Rebellion

    Here in the film; One Good Turn, director; John Paddy Carstairs' focus appears to be on juxtaposing 1950s youth culture with Victorian philanthropic-style morality. In other words this film director looks at the up-and-coming democratic methods as illustrated by the children's anarchic actions pertaining to saving their home, which is an orphanage. This is pitted against pillar-of-the community-type figures who are not used to democracy where their authority and values are questioned by the new generation. This anarchic behaviour is further juxtaposed with Norman's innocent attitude to life.

    The illustration of the insubordinate behaviour of young people is also illustrated well in films such as for example;The Blue Lamp (1950), albeit in a more serious and as such cynical way where the youths of the era are labelled as potentially dangerous. But this film along with One Good Turn are mere reflections of social change.

    For my money J.P. Carstairs is the director who brings more to bare to Wisdom's acting and comic timing. As such One Good Turn is a far superior Wisdom outing than many of his later ones. For this reason it is an excellent choice for viewing.
    Fareed-2

    Good Old Fashioned Family Movie

    Norman Wisdom may not be a household name in North America, but he certainly was one in Europe & Asia during the height of his career in the '50s & the '60s. "One Good Turn" is a funny, clean cut family comedy that you can watch with your kids without having to have the remote handy to press the forward button during the inappropriate sections which nowadays is all over so called family movies. Norman is charming, honest & utterly funny in his movies. A likable character that kids and adults alike can relate to. "One Good Turn" is a funny movie with many clever slapstick sequences (check out the orchestra conductor sequence for just one example) that have not lost their charms. Norman Wisdom movies have been hard to find here in North America but recently WHAM! USA label has put out a whole bunch of them out (sadly on VHS only so far). Get them while they're still around. You won't be disappointed!
    7shaun_lime

    The car in the front shop window

    I'm so glad I came across norman wisdom when i was young because he's truly a Magnificent actor and great at his comedy acting and never gets old.

    I loved the film, a wonderful story and always love a good laugh and norman's films never fail to do that for me even when ive seen them all many times.

    There just don't make films like this anymore..
    9gwilym49

    Probably the best of Wisdom's films.

    Probably the best of Norman Wisdom's films. Some extremely funny and clever scenes are seen in this work. For example, Wisdom fools around in a railway carriage in front of some very 'English' stuffed shirts. Also,(in one of the funniest scenes I have seen in any film) he stands in front of an orchestra waving a candy floss stick. The orchestra plays accordingly! There are some sentimental scenes also, which some viewers may find hard to take (as in all Wisdom's films). But, on the whole, a very funny film guaranteed to cheer you up when you are feeling down.
    8Sleepin_Dragon

    Sweet and funny.

    Norman agrees to buy a pricey toy car for a young lad at an Orphanage, and sets about earning the required amount.

    It is a truly lovely, sweet film, it has some very funny moments, the scene inside the first class carriage, and the orchestra conduction are works of pure brilliance.

    Lots of familiar faces, a young William Russell, a good few years before his break on Doctor Who, Thora Hird is lovely as Cook.

    Wisdom as always is just wonderful, a great actor, boundless charisma. 8/10.

    It's a joy.

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    Related interests

    Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
    Slapstick
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Producer Maurice Cowan made Norman Wisdom's first film, and wrote the story for his third film. He so disliked working with Wisdom on this film that he never produced another film for the comedian.
    • Connections
      Featured in Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema: British Comedy (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Please Opportunity
      Written by Norman Wisdom

      Performed by Norman Wisdom

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 17, 1955 (Portugal)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Veseli Norman
    • Filming locations
      • Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Maurice Cowan Productions
      • Two Cities Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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