It’s the Second World War, and road worker Norman Pitkin and his colleague, borough-engineer, Mr Grimsdale (Edward Chapman), are making a nuisance of themselves whilst digging up the road outside an Army barracks.
When the Army command loses patience with Pitkin and Grimsdale, they arrange to have the civilian road workers drafted into the forces.
In error, they are transferred to the paratroops and dropped behind enemy lines in France, where the Germans take Mr Grimsdale prisoner.
Wisdom accidentally slips behind enemy lines but is picked up by the French Resistance. Norman capitalises on his amazing resemblance to a German general and finds himself spearheading a mission to rescue British prisoners from German headquarters. He is soon captured by the Nazis and almost immediately facing a German firing squad.
The film starts brightly enough but the joke quota rapidly declines as the film progresses.
Typical bumbling Norman Wisdom farce in which the star plays dual roles and the love interest is provided by Honor Blackman.
Norman Pitkin/General Schreiber
Norman Wisdom Lesley Cartland
Honor Blackman Mr Grimsdale
Edward Chapman Sergeant Loder
Campbell Singer Gretchen
Hattie Jacques Henri Le Blanc
Brian Worth Captain Wharton
Terence Alexander Colonel Layton
John Warwick General Hunt
Arnold Bell Jean-Claude
André Maranne Jogenkraut
Victor Beaumont Captain Ford
Frank Williams
Director John Paddy Carstairs
Video
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When the Army command loses patience with Pitkin and Grimsdale, they arrange to have the civilian road workers drafted into the forces.
The film starts brightly enough but the joke quota rapidly declines as the film progresses.
