The Recruit (12 Dec. 1973)

Whilst Mainwaring is in hospital Sergeant Wilson is in charge. Following the speedy departure of Walker back to London, leaving only a note behind, Wilson decides to make up the platoon's ... See full summary »

Writers:

Jimmy Perry (by), David Croft (by),

Stars:

Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn

Cast

Episode cast overview:
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 (credit only)
Arnold Ridley	...	Pte. Charles Godfrey
Ian Lavender	...	Pte. Frank Pike
Bill Pertwee	...	Chief Warden Hodges
Frank Williams	...	the Vicar
Edward Sinclair	...	the Verger
Susan Majolier	...	the Nurse
Lindsey Dunn	...	The small boy
Bud Flanagan	...	The Voice of (voice)

Storyline

Whilst Mainwaring is in hospital Sergeant Wilson is in charge. Following the speedy departure of Walker back to London, leaving only a note behind, Wilson decides to make up the platoon's numbers by allowing the vicar and the verger to join. Needless to say both of them are hopeless and the verger causes trouble by hitting a cheeky young lad who turns out to be Hodges' nephew. These new recruits are not in the Home Guard for very long.

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 1973 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Pike is talking about Angels with Dirty Faces, he mistakenly names the stars as James Cagney and Spencer Tracy, rather than James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. Similarly, he later names Edward G. Robinson as starring in Scarface. This is in keeping with Pike's immaturity and lack of knowledge.

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Connections

References Little Caesar (1931)

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Soundtracks

"Oft in danger, oft in woe"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Henry Kirke White and Frances Sara Fuller-Maitland
Sung by the verger whilst on guard duty

User Reviews

The Vicar and the Verger in the Army

A classic episode of Dads Army, the first though, not to star the great James Beck.

Mainwaring is in hospital and The Verger is in charge. When Mainwaring comes back, he is shocked to see how bad the platoon looks and can't believe Wilson allowed the Vicar and Verger to join the platoon. That night on duty The Verger hits a boy pretending to be Adolf Hitler. The boy tells his Uncle Willy (Hodges)so Hodges turns up to start a fight. But when the boy makes fun of the Wardens, he chases the boy out.

When doing inspection, there was a note in Walker's place. It says "Gone to the Smoke". Writers Croft and Perry knew James Beck wasn't well, but didn't expect him to die. The episode had to be filmed quick, so they gave him a temporary absence. But when he tragically died 3 weeks later, there was no more mentions of Walker.

Best Bit: This bit of dialogue MAINWARING: So Vicar, why do you want to join the army? VICAR: Well I thought to myself, can I stand by and watch my wife being raped by a Nazi, MAINWARING: But you're not married VICAR: I have a strong imagination you know