Dad’s Army

Dad’s Army is best known as one of the most successful, most popular and longest-running sitcoms made in Britain. 

Dad’s Army tells the story of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard during the Second World War.  The platoon includes a bank manager, a chief bank clerk, a bank clerk, a butcher, a spiv, an undertaker and an ex-tailor. Initially armed only with arm-bands, they are ready to repel a possible invasion by thousands of German Wermacht troops at a moment’s notice!

Dad’s Army Main Cast

Dad’s Army lasted longer than the war itself and is a timeless, often repeated jewel in the BBC’s crown. Jimmy Perry was acting in the David Croft produced sitcom Hugh and I when he suggested the idea of a sitcom concerning those men who volunteered to be the last line of defence should the Germans invade, the Home Guard. Croft was impressed, and despite BBC misgivings that it may be disrespectful to the Home Guard, a series was commissioned. Their fears were unfounded, as there was nothing more palpable in Dad’s Army than the affection the programme makers had for the characters. For all their flaws, these men, we could rest assured, would give their lives to defend Great Britain.

 
Left to Right: Walker, Godfrey, Jones, Mainwaring & Fraiser

Based in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-On-Sea, the series used its setting for a sublime mix of character comedy and lunatic, slapstick escapades. Social mores are no more acute than in difficult times, and Dad’s Army was brilliant at exposing the flaws and anxieties of British society. Central to the show was a triumvirate of brilliant comedy characters. Captain Mainwaring was a jumped up, pompous, aspirational bank manager, reveling in the status accorded to him by his newfound rank. Sergeant Wilson was a far more laid back figure whose urbane insouciance aggravated his superior in the extreme. Corporal Jones was the local butcher, a dotty old man prone to overreaction.

 
Dad’s Army – Don’t Tell Him Pike!

The contrast between Lowe’s excellent posturing (and the ability to fall down behind a table and instantly reappear with his glasses skew-whiff), Le Mesurier’s measured, laissez-faire delivery and Dunn’s dedicated clowning ensured each character a place in comedy history. It’s a testament to the scripts that the platoon boasted illustrious actors in its ranks: admired Shakespearian Laurie was suitably apocalyptic as the cantankerous and pessimistic undertaker Frazer; noted playwright Ridley made the incontinent Godfrey; instantly loveable younger members Beck as the wily spiv Walker and Lavender as naïve mother’s boy Pike were spot on.

 
Dad’s Army Theme Tune

Despite the backdrop of conflict, most of the platoon’s problems were home grown, notably from jobsworth ARP warden Hodges (Pertwee, usually called upon to fall in a river and seethe with frustration) and the vicar and his verger. Croft and Perry seemed to cover all comedy bases in a single episode: there were high levels of farce mixed in with brilliantly, subtly observed characters and catchphrases galore (”Stupid boy”, “Don’t panic!”, “We’re doomed” and “D’you think that’s wise sir?”).

 
Dad’s Army – End Credits 

Out of one of the gravest moments in this country’s history, Croft, Perry and their peerless cast produced one of the most celebratory but least mawkish comedies of all time. As long as there are fans of comedy, there will be fans of the Dad’s Army.

Cast

Arthur Lowe Capt – George Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier – Sgt Arthur Wilson
Clive Dunn – L-Cpl Jack Jones
John Laurie – Pvt James Frazer
Arnold Ridley – Pvt Charles Godfrey
James Beck – Pvt Joe Walker
Ian Lavender – Pvt Frank Pike
Bill Pertwee – Air Raid Warden William Hodges
Frank Williams – The Vicar: The Reverend Timothy Farthing
Edward Sinclair – The Verger: Maurice Yeatman Janet
Davies – Mrs Mavis Pike
Pamela Cundell – Mrs Fox
Queenie Watts – Mrs Edna Peters
Colin Bean – Pvt Sponge

Crew
Jimmy Perry – writer
David Croft – writer
Harold Snoad – director
Bob Spiers – director