| The Bulldog Breed | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Robert Asher |
| Produced by | Hugh Stewart |
| Written by | Henry Blyth Jack Davies Norman Wisdom |
| Starring | Norman Wisdom |
| Music by | Philip Green |
| Cinematography | Jack Asher |
| Editing by | Gerry Hambling |
| Release date(s) | 13 December 1960 |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Bulldog Breed is a 1960 British comedy film starring Norman Wisdom and directed by Robert Asher.
Contents |
Norman Puckle (Norman Wisdom), a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, can't seem to do anything right. After being rejected by Marlene, the love of his life, he attempts suicide, but can't even do that. He is saved from jumping off a cliff at 'Lover's Leap' by a Royal Navy petty officer. He persuades Puckle to join the Royal Navy, where he'll meet 'lots of girls'.
Life in the Navy proves not to be as rosy as it's been described, and Puckle fails at every task during basic training. But despite this, he's regarded by the Admiral in charge of a rocket project to be a 'typical average British sailor', and chosen to be the first man to fly into outer space in an experimental rocket.
Puckle fails at every stage of his training and is court-martialled, but successfully pleads for a final chance to prove himself. By accident, he takes the place of an astronaut and leaves Earth in the rocket. Equally by accident, he manages to return. He crash-lands on a Pacific island and ends up in the arms of a compliant local maiden.
The film is notable for early appearances by future British film stars Michael Caine and Oliver Reed who share a scene together with Wisdom. It takes place in a cinema lobby, where Norman gets into a fight with a gang of Teddy Boys (one of which is played by Reed), only to be helped by some sailors, who include Caine.
Coronation Street actors Johnny Briggs and William Roache, later to play the role of Ken Barlow, also had small roles.