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Comedy

Follow a Star

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Norman Truscott is a store worker who dreams of stardom. Vernon Carew is a singer whose star is fading. Vernon manages to get a recording of Norman singing and passes it off as himself.

Release Date : 1959-01-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The Rank Organisation

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Norman Wisdom

Character Name : Norman Truscott

Original Name : Norman Wisdom

Gender : Male

Jerry Desmonde

Character Name : Vernon Carew

Original Name : Jerry Desmonde

Gender : Male

June Laverick

Character Name : Judy

Original Name : June Laverick

Gender : Female

Hattie Jacques

Character Name : Dymphna Dobson

Original Name : Hattie Jacques

Gender : Female

Richard Wattis

Character Name : Dr. W. Chatterway

Original Name : Richard Wattis

Gender : Male

Eddie Leslie

Character Name : Harold Franklin

Original Name : Eddie Leslie

Gender : Male

John Le Mesurier

Character Name : Birkett

Original Name : John Le Mesurier

Gender : Male

Fenella Fielding

Character Name : Lady Arabella Finchington

Original Name : Fenella Fielding

Gender : Female

Ron Moody

Character Name : Violinist

Original Name : Ron Moody

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Norman's Singin' In The Rain. Standard formula for a Norman Wisdom movie here. Norman becomes a put upon clown whilst bubbling under the surface is the fact he's a very talented guy (singer here), whilst he's in love with a wheelchair bound beauty. It's often the saccharine elements of Wisdom's films that puts people off, but to his fans (and I'm one), they are integral to letting Wisdom hit his comedic heights. Follow a Star is not a great Norman Wisdom film, but it is a very safe and enjoyable one. Story finds Norman used by ageing crooner Jerry Desmonde, who upon finding he is no longer fashionable, plots to use Norman's amazing singing voice as his own. Cue Norman moving in with Desmonde as the house slave and chaos ensues. Meanwhile those closest to Norman smell a rat and try to bring down Desmonde the fraud. As usual there are plenty of laughs and high energy acrobatics, with stand out sequences involving hypnosis and the bravura mania of the finale - where the dastards do all they can to get Norman off of the stage. Some super British comedy actors fill out the support slots, most notably Hattie Jacques and Richard Wattis, while Philip Green's musical contributions are most pleasing. One for Wisdom fans only? For sure. Otherwise leave well alone. 6.5/10

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-11-17

"Truscott" (Norman Wisdom) spends much of his days at work in a laundry dreaming of a stardom that might just come his way when he encounters legendary crooner "Vernon Carew" (Jerry Desmonde). This man's star is very much on the wain until he hears his new friend sing and hits on the idea of "borrowing" his voice - without telling or paying him, of course. His career rejuvenated, it's only his vocal coach "Dymphna" (Hattie Jacques) who recognises the true owner of the voice but what to do. "Truscott" can only sing if his beloved "Judy" (June Lsverick) is there to encourage him and that's not possible right now. As "Carew" heads to the bright lights of the London Palladium, our plucky hero's friends have to think of a way of showing where the real talent lies. How, though? This is another decent showcase for Wisdom to show that he had quite a few strings to his bow. His semi-slapstick comedy timing is perfect but here he proves that he can also hold a tune, delivering a few of the numbers that fit entertainingly into the story. The story itself, though, is far too long. It could readily lose half and hour and not suffer. Indeed were it a tighter production with less meandering, it'd be quite a solid tale that could have better played to Wisdom's strengths, those of writer Jack Davis and the very Rutherford-esque efforts of an on-form Jacques. As it is, it struggles to stay engaging until perhaps the last ten minutes when life is breathed back into it and some laughs are to be had. It's still quite a fun vehicle for it's star and is a perfectly watchable example of his work.