Follow a Star

"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 Laverick) 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.