Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

FrogGlace In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

morpheusatloppers It has become fashionable in recent years to belittle (sorry!) the talents of Norman Wisdom - and I can't think why. In his day, the slight talents of many "superstars" of today would have resulted in them being shown the door.Back then, a "star" was expected to be multi-talented. And Norman WAS. If you don't believe me, check out the kinescope of the mid-sixties primetime live "Sunday Night At The London Palladium" where Norman and Bruce Forsyth wrote and did THE ENTIRE TWO-HOUR SHOW BY THEMSELVES.Huh? Well, S.N.A.T.L.P. was HUGE then and because of a strike, it looked like it would be canceled - even though the strike had been settled, who could POSSIBLY put together a two-hour show in THREE DAYS? Brucie and Norman, that's who. They did songs, dance sequences, comedy sketches and various bits of business they had written and rehearsed in Bruce's HOUSE. The MILLIONS who watched said it was one of the BEST S.N.A.T.L.P.s EVER.M'point is, in those days, to be a success you needed to be able to sing, dance, play instruments, act (comedy or straight) and it helped if you wrote - ALL of which Norman Wisdom DID.And in "On The Beat", he demonstrated his talents to the full. It's a film of set-pieces - the opening, which satirises the British cop-shows of the time, the car-washing sequence, the "tube" sequence, him and Eric Barker as the Police Doctor (those eye-charts with the sharps and flats were put back into props and surfaced in other films of the time!) the "briefing" where he is "coached" in the mannerisms of "Julio Napolitani", the scenes with him AS the afore-mentioned Julio, the sequence where hundreds of coppers run round the streets of Herts - SURREAL! - and of course, the back-garden "steeplechase".In its day, "On The Beat" was a tour-de-force, but today it stands as a work of GENIUS the like of which is rarely seen anymore.

Aaron Hassard The year is 1962, Norman Wisdom is already a major star in the world of comedy and this movie just really shows how funny this man is!In this Norman Wisdom outing, Norman is playing a police car washer who's life ambition is too become a policeman, but sadly doesn't meet the minimum height to become what he wants so he has to stick washing the cars, poor him :(But Normans fate does not get in his way and so dawns his fathers uniform (yes, his father was a policeman!) modifies it to fit his height and roll on one of the best on foot chase scene you will probably ever see, after Norman is found out he is chased all around town, through gardens and even through Normans house!He is finally cornered and sent to prison...Then Norman thinks out a scheme and with the help of some stilts and his fathers old uniform, heads to the police station to apply for his life long dream, but is found out and told to leave and without his fathers uniform.A while later, Norman is called on by the police to resemble an Italian Jewel Theft (very well played by Norman Wisdom, yes he did play him!) but Norman doesn't like the idea as he won't get a permanent place at the police but after much haggling they finally decide to give Norman a permanent place with the police squad after the Jewel Theft problem.After many hilarious things happening (Norman punching a mirror for example) he somehow manages to get his man and gets him put into custody, leaving the police station very happy and proud of Norman :DSo overall (as my score suggests) i really, really enjoyed this film and recommend it to anyone who's into comedy!

ianlouisiana Mr. Wisdom's pictures made a lot of money.In the 1950s he was England'smost popular entertainer,TV,movies,records,he did them all.Did he care that the critics hated him?Still do 50 years later and I daresay he probably still doesn't lose too much sleep over it. He is overdue for a reassessment.The concept of post-modern irony should see to that nicely."On the Beat" with it's moments of sublime stupidity and it's classic chase scene(Buster Keaton's "Cops" anyone?) is as good as anywhere to start. No sex,no violence,no obscene language - how come it was so funny. No sublety either,but lovely black and white photography,silly policemen,pomposity for Norman to burst and an accent for him to mangle. Bliss.

vinnienh Norman Wisdom surely is one of the best comedians of the 20th century. In this film he plays a double role as a would-be policeman and a gangster-hairdresser. The way he handles the sublimely script is perfect. The music adds much to the fun of watching this wonderful comedy.