Dad's Army (1971)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Norman Cohen

Writers:

David Croft (screenplay)
Jimmy Perry (idea)

Release Date:

September 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Tagline:

At last! Their epic story invades the Big Screen!

Plot Keywords:

WWII | Accident | Sequel | Based On TV Series | 1940s

Cast

Arthur Lowe	...	Capt. George Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier	...	Sgt. Arthur Wilson
Clive Dunn	...	LCpl. Jack Jones
John Laurie	...	Pte. James Frazer
James Beck	...	Pte. Joe Walker
Arnold Ridley	...	Pte. Charles Godfrey
Ian Lavender	...	Pte. Frank Pike
Liz Fraser	...	Mavis Pike
Bernard Archard	...	Maj. Gen. Fullard
Derek Newark	...	Regimental Sergeant-Major
Bill Pertwee	...	A.R.P. Warden Hodges
Frank Williams	...	Rev. Timothy Farthing - the Vicar
Edward Sinclair	...	Henry Yeatman - the Verger
Anthony Sagar	...	Police sergeant
Pat Coombs	...	Mrs. Hall

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:11 | Sweden:Btl | USA:G | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Arthur Lowe had a clause written into his contract which stated that he would never appear without his trousers on. This is why Sgt. Wilson is leading the platoon during the platoon's changeover march (when the platoon change from civvies to uniform via their long-johns) instead of Captain Mainwaring. (Incidentally, this is also the reason why Jones gets the grenade down the trousers in the U Boat crew episode - it was originally going to be Captain Mainwaring).

Goofs:

Continuity: After the pontoon bridge is sabotaged the river is moving from left to right, however when the general is on it the river flows in the opposite direction

Quotes:

Cpt. George Mainwaring: [when the improvised weapon made of bathtub fell into the water with Walker inside and begun to sink] Quick Walker - put the plug in!

Movie Connections:

References Dracula (1931)

Soundtrack:

We'll Meet Again

slightly disappointing

Perhaps the TV show was just too good, or having the Germans land in Walmington was just too improbable. Whatever, this film version of the much-loved BBC classic doesn't quite work. Everyone in it is fine but it is less slapstick and silly than it was on the small screen, and suffers a bit in comparison. I do like the bit where the stuck up officer sails down river on a bit of broken bridge still sitting on his horse though, and the oil slick machine is pretty funny!