The Square Peg is a 1958 British war comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom.
During the Second World War, Norman Pitkin, a roadmender with the St Godric's Borough Council, enjoys annoying the soldiers of the nearby British Army camp, even a general.
Despite the efforts of his boss, Borough Engineer Mr Grimsdale, Colonel Layton (the camp commander) has both of them called up for service in the Pioneer Corps to exact retribution.
Pitkin and Grimsdale board the wrong lorry and end up parachuting into France, where they are put to work on road repairs.
Meanwhile, Pitkin (out of uniform) goes to the nearby town of Fleury to purchase sugar and eggs, but does not notice German soldiers standing to attention and saluting him.
When Gretchen, the general's girlfriend (an opera singer of Wagnerian proportions), arrives, Schreiber leaves strict orders not to be disturbed, no matter what.
When Schreiber leaves the room to attend to his throat, Pitkin is mistaken for him by Gretchen and has to attempt to sing Schubert lieder with her.
After the war ends, Schreiber puts on his glasses and Turns back into Mr Grimsdale and he is still Borough Engineer, but Pitkin is now the mayor.
Wisdom also tries to give a show of acting versatility in doubling the parts of the German general and Pitkin, and this provides the few genuinely comic moments of the film – though the strain is apparent and lapses in continuity (the portrait of Schreiber shows a scar on the opposite side of his face to the one eventually worn by Wisdom) spoil much of the effect.