Dad's Army 

A ragtag group of Home Guard volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion during World War II.

Creator:

Jimmy Perry

Stars:

Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn

1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Arthur Lowe	...	Capt. George Mainwaring / ... 80 episodes, 1968-1977
John Le Mesurier	...	Sgt. Arthur Wilson 80 episodes, 1968-1977
Clive Dunn	...	LCpl. Jack Jones 80 episodes, 1968-1977
John Laurie	...	Pte. James Frazer 80 episodes, 1968-1977
Arnold Ridley	...	Pte. Charles Godfrey 80 episodes, 1968-1977
Ian Lavender	...	Pte. Frank Pike 80 episodes, 1968-1977
James Beck	...	Pte. Joe Walker 60 episodes, 1968-1973
Bill Pertwee	...	Chief Warden Hodges 60 episodes, 1968-1977
Edward Sinclair	...	Verger Maurice Yeatman 49 episodes, 1968-1977
Colin Bean	...	Private Sponge 46 episodes, 1968-1977
Frank Williams	...	Reverend Timothy Farthing 40 episodes, 1969-1977

Storyline

A ragtag group of Home Guard volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion during World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

world war two in britain | british humor | british comedy | catchphrase | running gag | 

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1968 (UK)

Also Known As:

Daar komen de schutters

Filming Locations:

All Saints' Church, Honington, Suffolk, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (80 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bill Pertwee used to warm up the audience before each recording. He was the only one of the main cast with experience as a stand-up, and had also been warm-up man before other BBC shows.

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Goofs

Throughout the series LCPL Jones is the only member of the platoon to wear medal ribbons on his uniform. Frazer, Wilson, and Godfrey (and possibly others) all saw service in WWI and would have medals and ribbons, and would most likely have worn them proudly as well.

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Quotes

Jones: You know, when I was in the Sudan...

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Connections

Referenced in The Passing Years (2007)

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Soundtracks

Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr. Hitler?
(opening titles)
Written by Derek Taverner and Jimmy Perry
Performed by Bud Flanagan

User Reviews

My favourite comedy series of all time

WARNING: This review contains spoliers

"Dad's Army" has got to be my favourite comedy series of all time.

It is about the adventures of a Home Guard platoon on the South Coast of England during World War II. Pompous bank manager Mr Mainwaring [Arthur Lowe] is Captain of the platoon. He is assited by his chief clerk Arthur Wilson [John Le Mesurier] who is the Home Guard sergeant.

The other main characters who formed the platoon were 70 year old devoted solidier Lance-Corporal Jack Jones [Clive Dunn] who fought in the Sudan under the command of General Kitchener during the 1880s, James Frazer [John Laurie], a doom-and-gloomy old Scotsman who runs an undertakers in Walmington-on-Sea [the town where the series is situated], who was formerly a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy [my favourite character], retired Menswear salesman Charles Godfrey [Arnold Ridley], the platoon's medical orderly who lived in a country cottage with his sisters [Dolly and Cissy], Cockney "spiv" Joe Walker [James Beck] who was usually seen with various lady friends and was well-known for being able to obtain rationed goods for people [if they paid him for them] and finally, Frank Pike [Ian Lavender], the youngest member of the platoon who was very much a "mummy's boy" and usually made a mess of things, Mainwaring was often heard to describe him as a "stupid boy".

Another regular character was the Chief Air Raid Warden, Mr Hodges [Bill Pertwee], who expressed a severe dislike for Mainwaring and his men, due to the fact that they often curtailed his plans. He referred to Mainwaring as "Napoleon" and the two soon developed an instant dislike for each other, doing more fighting among themselves rather than with the Germans [!]. There was also other regulars including Mrs Pike [Janet Davies], Pike's mother and Wilson's girlfriend, Wilson being Pike's Uncle Arthur. Mrs Fox [Pamela Cundell], a resident of the town who had a long-running relationship with Jones, before the two eventually married in the final episode and OAP Mr Blewitt [Harold Bennett] was also seen many times.

Many guest stars were also seen in the programme including Barbara Windsor ["EastEnders" as a theatre star], Nigel Hawthorne ["Yes Minister" as a man on a bike], Wendy Richard ["EastEnders" as Walker's girlfriend], Carmen Silvera ["Allo Allo" as Mainwaring's lady friend], Geoffrey Hughes ["Coronation Street" as a bridge controller], Phillip Madoc [a German Captain], Peter Butterworth ["Carry On" films as a printer] and Fulton MacKay ["Porridge" as a doctor].

This has to be the best British comedy series of all time and if it doesn't make you laugh, I don't know what will.

10 out of 10!