ianlouisiana Review of On the Beat

On the Beat (1962)

Profit without honour or prophet without honour?

[7/10 · 2 December 2005]

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.