Monday, February 2, 2009

Just My Luck (1957) Film Review - Norman Wisdom

Plot Summary - British screwball comedy centering around a horse racing bet. Starring Norman Wisdom as Norman, a man who lives with his overbearing mother who handles all his pay and keeps her forty-plus son on a strict "allowance". Norman works at a jewelry store where he admires from a distance the young lady who works at the dress shop across the street - with a desire to buy the woman an expensive diamond pendant, he sneaks a pound from mama's "holiday fund" jar to back an accumulator bet he wants to make on a jockey via a local bookie joint. Now his jockey must win six races in a row for him to win a large sum of cash, and meanwhile Norman, by chance, meets his dream girl on the subway train and romance blossoms. At one point Norman tries to purchase a horse that is part of his bet from an eccentric (Margaret Rutherford) who lives with a large menagerie of critters large and small, including assorted birds, a chimpanzee, and a big elephant living in the front yard. Will Norman win the bet or get the girl - or both?!

Review - I quite liked this film - very entertaining and quite funny, parts had me laughing out loud. Particularly enjoyed the movie theatre scene where Norman has taken out aggressive neighbor Phoebe against his personal desires (pushed into it by Phoebe and mama, plus a desire to acquire a pound from her for the purpose of making his bet) and not only has to contend with her coming on to him but the people around him in the movie who are being annoyed by his antics - hilarious. I can't say that I've ever seen actor Norman Wisdom before - I really liked him, very funny fellow - I'm now a fan. A fun film all around. Rating - 8.5/10 stars

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