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    Blackadder Goes Forth

    • TV Series
    • 19891989
    • TV-PGTV-PG
    • 2h 55min
    IMDb RATING
    8.8/10
    50K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,447
    50
    Episode guide
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    ComedyWar

    Stuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war.Stuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war.Stuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war.

    IMDb RATING
    8.8/10
    50K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,447
    50
    • Stars
      • Rowan Atkinson
      • Tony Robinson
      • Stephen Fry
    Top credits
    • Stars
      • Rowan Atkinson
      • Tony Robinson
      • Stephen Fry
    • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 79User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Top rated TV #57
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Episodes6

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    1989

    Photos90

    Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Miranda Richardson and Hugh Laurie in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, and Tony Robinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Laurie in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Hugh Laurie and Tony Robinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tim McInnerny, and Tony Robinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Tim McInnerny, and Tony Robinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Tim McInnerny in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
    Tim McInnerny in Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rowan Atkinson
    Rowan Atkinson
    • Captain Edmund Blackadderas Captain Edmund Blackadder
    6 episodes6 eps • 1989
    Tony Robinson
    Tony Robinson
    • Private S Baldrickas Private S Baldrick
    6 episodes6 eps • 1989
    Stephen Fry
    Stephen Fry
    • General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchettas General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett
    6 episodes6 eps • 1989
    Hugh Laurie
    Hugh Laurie
    • Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleighas Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh
    6 episodes6 eps • 1989
    Tim McInnerny
    Tim McInnerny
    • Captain Kevin Darlingas Captain Kevin Darling
    6 episodes6 eps • 1989
    Gabrielle Glaister
    Gabrielle Glaister
    • Driver Parkhurstas Driver Parkhurst
    2 episodes2 eps • 1989
    Jeremy Hardy
    Jeremy Hardy
    • Corporal Perkinsas Corporal Perkins
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Rik Mayall
    Rik Mayall
    • Squadron Commander Lord Flasheartas Squadron Commander Lord Flasheart
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Geoffrey Palmer
    Geoffrey Palmer
    • Field Marshal Haigas Field Marshal Haig
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Miranda Richardson
    Miranda Richardson
    • Nurse Maryas Nurse Mary
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Adrian Edmondson
    Adrian Edmondson
    • Baron von Richthovenas Baron von Richthoven
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Stephen Frost
    Stephen Frost
    • Corporal Jonesas Corporal Jones
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Bill Wallis
    • Brigadier Smithas Brigadier Smith
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Hugo Blick
    • Lieutenant von Gerhardtas Lieutenant von Gerhardt
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Lee Cornes
    • Private Fraseras Private Fraser
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Paul Mark Elliott
    • Private Robinsonas Private Robinson
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Jeremy Gittins
    Jeremy Gittins
    • Private Tipplewickas Private Tipplewick
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    Russell Brook
    • British Solideras British Solider
    1 episode1 ep • 1989
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    More like this

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    8.6
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    Blackadder II
    8.6
    Blackadder II
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    Blackadder Back & Forth
    7.6
    Blackadder Back & Forth
    Blackadder's Christmas Carol
    8.0
    Blackadder's Christmas Carol
    Blackadder: The Cavalier Years
    8.0
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    Fawlty Towers
    8.7
    Fawlty Towers
    Only Fools and Horses
    8.9
    Only Fools and Horses
    Blackadder Rides Again
    7.9
    Blackadder Rides Again
    Father Ted
    8.6
    Father Ted
    Monty Python's Flying Circus
    8.8
    Monty Python's Flying Circus
    Yes Minister
    8.6
    Yes Minister

    Storyline

    Edit
    It is 1917, and lunatic General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett is leading the British troops at the front lines against the Germans, while everyone waits for Field Marshall Haig's big push. There are various emotions throughout the camp about it. For Captain Kevin Darling, Melchett's bull-dog-like right-hand man, it makes no difference, as it appears he will be safe and sound with the general when the big push occurs. For Lieutenant George Colhurst Saint Barleigh, he is overly excited at thrashing the Germans. For Private S. (probably for Sod-Off) Baldrick, it's a terrifying experience he is not looking forward to. For Captain Edmund Blackadder, however, it's something he's too cowardly to face. Self-centered, arrogant, and sarcastic, Blackadder is always constantly searching for a way out of this silly war, and will try various, often crazy, variations on escape, all of which will take a turn he never expected. Sharing a dugout with George and Baldrick, his main obstacle for escape is Darling, who will ensure everyone is present for the big push. —Bloggers!
    world war one20th centurybritish comedy1910sbritish soldier38 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • War
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tim McInnerny's character was originally named Captain Cartwright. Stephen Fry had the idea to change it to Darling (named after a boy at his school) and created a running gag which is frequently used throughout the series.
    • Goofs
      Throughout the series, Blackadder and George, both front-line officers in the trenches, are show with their rank insignia displayed on their cuffs, whereas Melchett and Darling, staff officers, are shown with their rank insignia on their shoulders. In reality, this would have been reversed: Cuff insignia was the standard, but front-line officers were allowed to wear theirs on their shoulders to make them less conspicuous to snipers. Shoulder insignia eventually became an army-wide personal option in 1917, and made permanent in 1920 when the cuff insignia was abolished completely.
    • Quotes

      Lieutenant George: But this is brave, splendid and noble...

      [Blackadder doesn't react - there's a long pause]

      Lieutenant George: ...Sir

      Captain Blackadder: Yes, Lieutenant.

      Lieutenant George: I'm scared, sir

      Private Baldrick: I'm scared too, sir

      Lieutenant George: I'm the last of the tiddly-winking leapfroggers from the golden summer of 1914. I don't want to die... I'm really not over keen on dying at all, sir.

      Captain Blackadder: How are you feeling, Darling?

      Captain Darling: Ahm- not all that good, Blackadder. Rather hoped I'd get through the whole show, go back to work at Pratt and Sons, keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen, marry Doris. Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says: "Bugger".

      Captain Blackadder: Well, quite.

      [Outside: "Stand to, stand to, fix bayonets"]

      Captain Blackadder: Come on, come on, let's move.

      [at the door, Blackadder turns to George]

      Captain Blackadder: Don't forget your stick Lieutenant

      Lieutenant George: Rather, sir. Wouldn't want to face a machine gun without this.

      [they walk into the misty trench, waiting for the off - suddenly there is silence - the machine guns stop]

      Captain Darling: I say, listen - our guns have stopped.

      Lieutenant George: You don't think...

      Private Baldrick: Perhaps the war's over. Perhaps it's peace.

      Captain Darling: Thank God. We lived through it. The Great War, 1914 to 1917.

      Captain Darling, Private Baldrick, Lieutenant George: Hip hip hooray!

      Captain Blackadder: I'm afraid not. The guns have stopped because we are about to attack. Not even our generals are mad enough to shell their own men. They feel it's more sporting to let the Germans do it.

      Lieutenant George: So, we are, in fact, going over. This is, as they say, it?

      Captain Blackadder: Yes, unless I can think of something very quickly.

      [a voice shouts 'Company, one pace forward.' They all step forward]

      Private Baldrick: There's a nasty splinter on that ladder, sir. A bloke could hurt himself on that.

      [another call: "Stand ready" - they put their hands on the ladders ready to climb]

      Private Baldrick: I have a plan, sir.

      Captain Blackadder: Really Baldrick? A cunning and subtle one?

      Private Baldrick: Yes, sir.

      Captain Blackadder: As cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University?

      Private Baldrick: Yes, sir.

      [another call: "On the signal, Company will advance"]

      Captain Blackadder: Well, I'm afraid it's too late. Whatever it was, I'm sure it was better than my plan to get out of here by pretending to be mad. I mean, who would have noticed another madman round here?

      [a whistle blows he looks at Baldrick]

      Captain Blackadder: Good luck, everyone.

      [Blackadder blows his whistle, there is a roar of voices as everyone leaps up the ladders, meeting the machine gun fire]

    • Crazy credits
      In the opening credits, Captains Blackadder and George lead a battalion in parade past General Melchett and Captain Darling (with Private Baldrick in the marching band playing a triangle). The closing credits are a grainy 1920s newsreel of the same battalion heading into battle, with Melchett and Darling walking casually but quickly in the other direction...
    • Connections
      Featured in The Story of Bean (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      British Grenadier
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      (incorporated in the theme)

    User reviews79

    Review
    Top review
    Definitely the best Blackadder
    Th fourth Blackadder series is British Humour at its best. I never liked the first Blackadder, the second one was fairly good, the third one was great (and Hugh Laurie´s Prince of Wales one of the funniest characters ever on TV), but the fourth series tops it all. Apart from the great acting and the hilarious punchlines, it offered the deepest (and often tragic) characters and the most interesting interactions between them. The ´Speckled Jim´ episode is my favorite, followed by the one with George in the hospital (the ´I spy with my little eye´ opening scene is amazing).
    helpful•17
    3
    • kostas papageorgiou
    • May 9, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 28, 1989 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • BBC (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Blackadder
    • Filming locations
      • Colchester Garrison, Colchester, Essex, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 55min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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