The Early Bird

The Early Bird
original UK Quad poster
Directed by	Robert Asher
Written by	Jack Davies Norman Wisdom
Starring	Norman Wisdom Edward Chapman Jerry Desmonde John Le Mesurier
Music by	Ron Goodwin
Cinematography	Jack Asher
Edited by	Gerry Hambling
Distributed by	Rank Organisation Warner Home video
Release date	1965
Running time	98 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Early Bird is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom. It also featured Edward Chapman, Bryan Pringle, Richard Vernon, John Le Mesurier and Jerry Desmonde. It was the first Norman Wisdom film to be shot in colour. The title is taken from the expression "the early bird catches the worm".

Wisdom's character works for Grimsdale's Dairy as a milkman, in competition with Consolidated Dairies, an ever-growing rival company under the management of Walter Hunter (played by Jerry Desmonde).

Much of the humour centres on classic slapstick comedy, with Norman encountering various comedic escapades. These include being dragged around Mr. Hunter's garden by an errant lawnmower and using the fire brigade's high pressure hosepipes to blast firemen off their ladders, after being called to a suspected fire at Consolidated Dairies' HQ.

The film used some notable special effects: to create extra storeys in the Consolidated Dairies' building and to create the illusion that Mrs. Hoskins (Paddie O'Neil) has a horse's head.

The film was one of the 15 most popular movies at the British box office in 1966.TV Guide wrote, "most of the humor is slapstick, predictable, and only vaguely amusing."; while Allmovie called the film a "lively British satire".