"Dad's Army" (1968) TV series 1968-1977

Creators:

David Croft
Jimmy Perry

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

31 July 1968 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Plot:

Popular BBC comedy series set in the fictional south coast seaside town of Walmington-On-Sea during World War 2...

Plot Keywords:

Home Guard | Lance Corporal | Sergeant | Butcher | Bank Manager

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

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	...	A.R.P. Warden Hodges / ... (57 episodes, 1968-1977)
Bud Flanagan	...	The Voice Of / ... (49 episodes, 1968-1975)
Edward Sinclair	...	Verger Henry Yeatman / ... (46 episodes, 1968-1977)
Colin Bean	...	Private Sponge / ... (41 episodes, 1968-1977)
Frank Williams	...	Rev. Timothy Farthing / ... (40 episodes, 1969-1977)

Also Known As:

The Fighting Tigers (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (80 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

A pilot for a sequel to Dad's Army, "It Sticks Out Half a Mile", was recorded for BBC Radio in 1981 with Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier. In it, Mainwaring moves to another seaside resort in 1948. He wants a loan with the local bank manager and discovers that this is Wilson. He wants to buy the local pier, closed since the war, and attempts (with Wilson's help) to buy it off the council. It was not transmitted (Lowe was very ill during the recording and died soon after) but the pilot is sometimes repeated on the digital radio channel BBC7. With some reworking "It Sticks Out Half a Mile" did become a radio series. In it Hodges and Pike decide to restore the pier at Frambourne-on-Sea and approach Wilson for the loan. Le Mesurier, Bill Pertwee and Ian Lavender reprised their rôles. The series aired on Radio 2 in 1983-4 and is often rerun on BBC7; it was also reworked for television in the form of ITV's "High and Dry" (1987).

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "TV Burp: (#6.7)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Calling all workers

Quite possibly the reason television was invented

I was a youngster during WW II living in America but I was made well aware of the courage and resolve of the British people. Dad's Army, in addition to being the best comedy show ever, shows us this courage. Unlike so many sit coms, it is not mean or vicious but is gentle yet over the top funny. Despite their bumbling and odd approach to things, their love of country, their braveness, and their willingness to die for England if they have to, always shows through.

I own over 50 episodes on either VHS or DVD and am constantly searching for the ones I do not have. In addition I have both volumes of the complete scripts. I never get tired of watching or reading them. I can't watch the final episode (Never Too Old wherein Jonesy gets married and they drink a toast to the Home Guard every where)without feeling some tears welling up in my eyes. In fact, I'm starting to choke up a bit right now just thinking about it.

I have acquaintances (notice I don't say friends) who have watched it with me and just don't get it. They prefer the smart Alex stuff which passes for humor today. I do feel sorry for them.