Norman Puckle, a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, can't seem to do anything right. After being rejected by Marlene, the love of his life, he attempts suicide, but can't 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'll meet 'lots of girls'. Life in the Navy proves not to be as rosy as it's been described, and Puckle fails at every task during basic training. But despite this, he's 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.
Norman Wisdom
as Norman
Ian Hunter
as Admiral Sir Bryanston Blyth
David Lodge
as Chief Petty Officer Knowles
John Le Mesurier
as Prosecuting counsel
Terence Alexander
as Defending Counsel
Michael Caine
as Sailor in Cinema Fight (uncredited)
Oliver Reed
as Teddy Boy in Cinema Fight (uncredited)
Robert Urquhart
as Cmdr. Clayton
Edward Chapman
as Mr. Philpots
Liz Fraser
as NAAFI Girl
Penny Morrell
as Marlene Barlow
Claire Gordon
as Peggy - Girl in Bar
