Posted: Thu., Dec. 31, 1959, 11:00pm PT

The Bulldog Breed

(UK)

By Variety Staff

Rank. Director Robert Asher; Producer Hugh Stewart; Screenplay Jack Davies, Henry Blyth, Norman Wisdom; Camera Jack Asher; Editor Gerry Hambling; Music Philip Green; Art Director Harry Pottle

Norman Wisdom Ian Hunter David Lodge Robert Urquhart Edward Chapman Eddie Byrne

Series of situations, pegged to a thin story line, offer a lot of yocks even at their most contrived.

Without bothering with logical reasons, Norman Puckle (Norman Wisdom) tries to commit suicide for love of a haughty cinema cashbox blonde. As in everything in life he fails horribly, is rescued and persuaded to join the navy, where he continues to make a hash of everything. For a reason known only to the admiral, he is chosen, as the newest recruit, to be the first man sent into space in the Interplanetary Projectile Bosun.

The film stands or falls by Wisdom and though the actor, as always, seems to be trying rather too hard, his general good humor and energy carry him through the various situations entertainingly. Whether he's flirting with a dame, getting into the hair of senior officers, pricking pomposity, suffering indignities in the gymnasium or in special training, he is always the amiable gump, who retains the audience's sympathy even when they're ribbing him.

Wisdom is surrounded by some very capable performers, notably Ian Hunter as the pompous admiral and Edward Chapman as an even more pompous character. Technically, it's a capable job.

(B&W) Extract of a review from 1960. Running time: 100 MIN.