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The Bulldog Breed

The Bulldog Breed is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom.[1]

The Bulldog Breed

Norman Wisdom

  • 13 December 1960 (1960-12-13)

97 minutes

United Kingdom

English

Plot[edit]

Norman Puckle, a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, cannot seem to do anything right. After being rejected by Marlene, the love of his life, he attempts suicide, but cannot 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 will meet "lots of girls".


Life in the Navy proves not to be as rosy as described, and Puckle fails at every task during basic training. Despite this, he is 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-martialed, 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.

as Ordinary Seaman Norman Puckle

Norman Wisdom

as Admiral Sir Bryanston Blyth

Ian Hunter

as Chief Petty Officer Knowles

David Lodge

as Commander Clayton

Robert Urquhart

as Mr. Philpots

Edward Chapman

as Petty Officer Filkins

Eddie Byrne

as diving instructor

Peter Jones

as prosecuting counsel

John Le Mesurier

as defending counsel

Terence Alexander

as speedboat owner

Sydney Tafler

as Bert Ainsworth, cinema manager

Brian Oulton

as Streaky Hopkinson

Harold Goodwin

as Johnny Nolan

Johnny Briggs

as Mr. Carruthers

Frank Williams

as tall sailor

Joe Robinson

as NAAFI girl

Liz Fraser

as Marlene Barlow

Penny Morrell

as Peggy

Claire Gordon

Julie Shearing as WRN Smith

as yachtsman

Leonard Sachs

as gym instructor

Glyn Houston

as a sailor (uncredited)

Michael Caine

as a Teddy Boy (uncredited)

Oliver Reed

as Space Centre operator (uncredited)

William Roache

as Doris (uncredited)

Sheila Hancock

as Jimmy the landlord (uncredited)

Cyril Chamberlain

Production notes[edit]

The film features early appearances by Michael Caine and Oliver Reed.


Coronation Street actors Johnny Briggs and William Roache also had small roles.


The film was made with co-operation from the Royal Navy, and features several of the Type 14 Blackwood-class frigates. An early scene shows a flotilla of these sailing out of Portland harbour, led by HMS Murray (F91).

Critical reception[edit]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A naval farce which ought never to have put to sea. The best scene finds Norman Wisdom imprisoned in an over-inflated diving-suit. It is also, perhaps, the only genuinely funny scene."[2]


Variety wrote, "the film stands or falls by Wisdom and though the actor, as always, seems to be trying rather too hard, his general good humour and energy carry him through the various situations entertainingly ... Wisdom is surrounded by some very capable performers, notably Ian Hunter as the pompous admiral and Edward Chapman as an even more pompous character."[3]

Box Office[edit]

The film was a hit at the box office.[4]

at IMDb

The Bulldog Breed

at Rotten Tomatoes

The Bulldog Breed

then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets

The Bulldog Breed