Press for Time

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title: "Press for Time" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1966-films", "1966-comedy-films", "british-comedy-films", "films-directed-by-robert-asher", "films-set-in-devon", "films-set-in-london", "films-shot-in-devon", "1960s-english-language-films", "1966-british-films", "films-scored-by-mike-vickers", "films-based-on-british-novels", "films-about-journalists", "english-language-comedy-films"] description: "1966 British film by Robert Asher" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_for_Time" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1966 British film by Robert Asher ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]

Field	Value
name	Press for Time
image	"Press_for_Time".jpg
caption	Original British 1-sheet poster
director	Robert Asher
producer	Robert Hartford-Davis
Peter Newbrook
writer	Eddie Leslie
Norman Wisdom
Angus McGill (book)
starring	Norman Wisdom
music	Mike Vickers
cinematography	Jonathan Usher
editing	Gerry Hambling
distributor	Rank Film Distributors
released
runtime	102 minutes
country	United Kingdom
language	English
::

| name = Press for Time | image = "Press_for_Time".jpg | caption = Original British 1-sheet poster | director = Robert Asher | producer = Robert Hartford-Davis Peter Newbrook | writer = Eddie Leslie Norman Wisdom Angus McGill (book) | starring = Norman Wisdom | music = Mike Vickers | cinematography = Jonathan Usher | editing = Gerry Hambling | distributor = Rank Film Distributors | released = | runtime = 102 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = | gross = Press for Time is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom. The screenplay was written by Eddie Leslie and Wisdom, based on the 1963 novel Yea Yea Yea, by Angus McGill. It was the last film Wisdom made for the Rank Organisation.

Plot

Norman Shields is a newspaper seller in London, a job organised for him by his grandfather, the Prime Minister. After causing chaos. he is found a new job as reporter on a newspaper in the fictional seaside town of Tinmouth (partly filmed in the real seaside town of Teignmouth). The newspaper owner, an MP, has ambitions to become a junior minister and so goes along with the Prime Minister's 'request'.

During his time in Tinmouth, the well-meaning Norman gets himself into all sorts of trouble whilst reporting, such as starting an argument at a council meeting which develops into an all-out fight between members. He later becomes the reporter for the entertainment section of the newspaper, covering a beauty contest which his girlfriend Liz wins. They later return to London together, leaving a more politically settled Tinmouth behind.

Cast

• Norman Wisdom as Norman Shields / Emily, his mother / Wilfred, his grandfather (the P.M.)
• Derek Bond as Major R.E. Bartlett
• Derek Francis as Alderman Corcoran
• Angela Browne as Eleanor Lampton
• Tracey Crisp as Ruby Fairchild
• Allan Cuthbertson as Mr. Ballard (Attorney General)
• Noel Dyson as Mrs. Corcoran
• Peter Jones as Robin Willoughby (photographer)
• David Lodge as Mr. Ross (editor of the Tinmouth Times)
• Stanley Unwin as Mr. Nottage (Town Clerk)
• Frances White as Liz Corcoran
• Michael Balfour as sewerman
• Tony Selby as Harry Marshall (reporter for the County Chronicle)
• Michael Bilton as Councilor Hedge
• Norman Pitt as Councilor Quilter
• Hazel Coppen as Granny Fork
• Totti Truman Taylor as Mrs. Doe Connor
• Toni Gilpin as P.M.'s secretary
• Gordon Rollings as bus conductor
• Imogen Hassall as suffragette (uncredited)
• Helen Mirren as Penelope Squires (uncredited)

Production

In March 1966 Rank announced it would make nine films with a total cost of £7.5 million of which it would provide £4 million. Two films were financed by Rank completely, a Norman Wisdom movie and a "doctor" comedy (Doctor on Toast which became Doctor in Trouble).

Reception

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Relentlessly dispiriting Norman Wisdom comedy featuring the usual round of crude slapstick as the little man with the big heart pits himself against the rest of the world and wreaks havoc in his every endeavour with only a single dogged heroine to stand loyally by his side. Every situation is milked for all it has and more (Norman can hardly enter a public lavatory without emerging from the wrong side), and Wisdom duly takes his customary plunge into pathos by unwittingly delivering a plea for good-natured reason in front of his stunned tormentors. Wisdom's comedies are evidently designed to provide inoffensive fun and games for all and sundry; but even his admirers may find his impersonations (in sepia-tinted flashback) of a screaming suffragette and a stumbling octogenarian Prime Minister a trifle embarrassing."

Kine Weekly wrote: "A little less knockabout than some of the previous Wisdom films, this still keeps going all the time and, since it gives Norman the chance to play four parts, will obviously be very popular with his thousands of faithful admirers. ... Stalwart support is given by a number of well-known players including Derek Bond, Derek Francis, Noel Dyson, Peter Jones and David Lodge: and glamour and romance are provided by Angela Brown and Frances."

Box office

It was one of the twelve most popular films at the British box office in 1967.

References

References

1. "Press for Time".
2. Vagg, Stephen. (11 August 2025). "Forgotten British Film Studios: The Rank Organisation, 1965 to 1967".
3. (1 January 1967). "Press for Time". [[The Monthly Film Bulletin]].
4. (10 December 1966). "Press for Time".
5. (30 December 1967). "Sean Connery tops the bill again". The Guardian Journal.

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