The Square Peg (1958): Cast & Plot
The Square Peg is a 1958 war comedy directed by John Paddy Carstairs, starring Norman Wisdom as Norman Pitkin / General Schreiber, Edward Chapman and John Warwick. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 29m (89 min)
- Director
- John Paddy Carstairs
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- The Rank Organisation
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Square Peg About?
The premise of The Square Peg without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Council workmen Norman Pitkin and Mr. Grimsdale repair a road outside an army base and clash with troops. Drafted, they fall under the Sergeant they bested and are sent to France to fix roads ahead of the Allied advance, where they are captured. Pitkin uses a resemblance to impersonate General Schreiber, turning the tide and returning as a hero.
The Square Peg Themes & Keywords
· 43 tags- 1940s
- year 1944
- impostor
- co written by cast member
- reference to lady godiva
- lie
- french underground
- telephone
- piano
- soldier
- german
- drill sergeant
+31 more Show fewer
- tunneling
- execution by firing squad
- conscription
- personal feud
- monocle
- opera singer
- escape
- nazi prison
- city council
- town mayor
- city hall
- public works department
- stutterer
- french resistance
- spy
- parachuted agent
- occupied france
- castle
- barrier
- stop sign
- workman
- road repair
- look alike
- impersonation
- nazi general
- army barracks
- pompous man
- idiot
- world war two
- shape in title
- actor shares first name with character
The Square Peg Cast & Characters
Norman Wisdom leads the cast as Norman Pitkin / General Schreiber, with Edward Chapman as Mr Grimsdale and John Warwick as Colonel Layton. Directed by John Paddy Carstairs; 16 actors are credited in all.
- Director John Paddy Carstairs
- Norman Wisdom as Norman Pitkin / General Schreiber
- Edward Chapman as Mr Grimsdale
- John Warwick as Colonel Layton
- Campbell Singer as Sergeant Loder
Also Starring in The Square Peg
· 12 more- Honor Blackman Lesley Cartland
- John G. Heller German Officer at Gatepost
- Brian Worth Henri Le Blanc
- Hattie Jacques Gretchen
- Oliver Reed
- André Maranne Jean-Claude
- Michael Collins Airman Handing Out Tea (uncredited)
- Terence Alexander Captain Wharton
- Frank Williams Captain Ford
- Brian Wilde New Recruit (uncredited)
- Arnold Bell General Hunt
- Robert Desmond Sentry (uncredited)
More from John Paddy Carstairs
More films directed by John Paddy Carstairs: The Devil’s Agent, A Weekend with Lulu, Tommy the Toreador and Just My Luck.
The Square Peg Plot Summary
What happens in The Square Peg from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
During the Second World War, Norman Pitkin, Norman Wisdom a roadmender with the St Godric’s Borough Council, takes quiet pleasure in needleThe soldiers at the nearby British Army camp — even the camp’s general. His mischief draws the blunt attention of his boss, Mr Grimsdale, Edward Chapman the Borough Engineer, and of Colonel Layton, John Warwick the camp commander, who decide to discipline him by dragging him into the Pioneer Corps.
Full summary
The whole story of The Square Peg, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Square Peg?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the occupation of Norman Pitkin before he is conscripted into the Pioneer Corps?
Cars in The Square Peg
17 cars on screen, including the 1940 Hillman Minx Phase I and the 1937 Austin 14/6 Goodwood.
-
1940 Hillman Minx Phase I Important role -
1937 Austin 14/6 Goodwood Minor role -
1939 Bedford MW 15cwt Minor role -
Bedford O-Type Minor role
The Square Peg Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Не на своём месте” and “Мистер Питкин в тылу врага”.
- Also known as
-
- Не на своём месте
- Мистер Питкин в тылу врага
- Én és a tábornok
- Le point de chute
- جاده صاف کن
- Espía a la fuerza
Seen The Square Peg?
Movies Like The Square Peg
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Night We Dropped a Clanger, The Square and Squareheads of the Round Table.
-
The Night We Dropped a Clanger 1959 -
The Square 2017 -
Squareheads of the Round Table 1948 -
Private’s Progress 1956 -
Operation Mincemeat 2022 -
The Captive Heart 1946 -
Babette Goes to War 1959 -
A Man Called Sarge 1990 -
The Impostor 1944 -
Don’t Look Now… We’re Being Shot At! 1966 -
The Better ’Ole 1926 -
All the Queen's Men 2002
The Square Peg FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Square Peg, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Square Peg?
The Square Peg runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).
When was The Square Peg released?
The Square Peg was released on December 4, 1958.
Who directed The Square Peg?
The Square Peg was directed by John Paddy Carstairs.
More films by John Paddy Carstairs Who is in the cast of The Square Peg?
The Square Peg stars Norman Wisdom as Norman Pitkin / General Schreiber, Edward Chapman as Mr Grimsdale and John Warwick as Colonel Layton, among 16 credited actors.
Does The Square Peg have a post-credit scene?
No. The Square Peg has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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