Things That Go Bump in the Night (5 Dec. 1973)

During a nightly patrol in terrible weather the platoon runs out of rationed petrol for Jones's van, so they decide to spend the night in an at first sight abandoned house. There Pike, who ... 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
Arnold Ridley	...	Pte. Charles Godfrey
Ian Lavender	...	Pte. Frank Pike
Jonathan Cecil	...	Captain Cadbury
Colin Bean	...	Private Sponge
Bud Flanagan	...	The Voice of (voice)

Storyline

During a nightly patrol in terrible weather the platoon runs out of rationed petrol for Jones's van, so they decide to spend the night in an at first sight abandoned house. There Pike, who got drenched, must undress and put on a heraldic garment and, after an accidental fire complicates the hilarious sleeping arrangements all wet again, a bear rug. Frazer's ghost stories seem to come to life with footsteps once everybody is asleep, but it's just captain Cadbury, a military dog school administrator who lives here with the hounds in training. In the morning friendly Cadbury walks the men back, but is no use when the bloodthirsty half-trained canines get loose.

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Plot Keywords:

fire | patrol | public humiliation | bare chested male | public nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 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

It is quite apparent that James Beck only features in the exterior location filmwork. This was shot before he was taken (ultimately fatally) ill, hence his absence from the interiors videotaped in the studio at a later date.

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Connections

Featured in Selection Box: Dad's Army (1997)

User Reviews

Hounds, Home Guard, Hilarious

Another classic episode from the world's greatest TV Programme, Dads Army.

Mainwaring and his men have been out in Jones's van all night. In the middle of nowhere it runs out of petrol. They see a house, they go to it and it is empty, so they go in and go to bed. The sound of Hounds howling is terrifying the men. The man who owns the house Captain Cadbury, turns up and is happy to let the men stay the night. The next day they find out it is a school that trains dogs. Pike is very wet and has to put on an old German uniform. When the men go out to get petrol, the dogs sniff the German uniform, covered in aniseed (the uniform was for training purposes)and the men get chased by the hounds.

A great episode, but a sad one. This was the last episode James Beck appeared in, he died at a very early age weeks after. But the thing is Walker is only in the last scene. So the last scene must have been shot first and Walker must have taken ill the day after. Expecting him to survive, Jimmy Perry and David Croft gave Walker a temporary absence in the next episode, The Recruit. But tragically, 3 weeks after he died. And because he was only in one scene, Walker, who was one of the best and funniest characters in it, had no funny lines. The show went for 3 more series though, and although Dads Army wasn't as good, it was still at a very high standard.

Best Bit: When Wilson/Pike and Jones/Godfrey bump into each other outside the bathroom.