asprail
Disabled Account
Posts: 315
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Post by asprail on Apr 14, 2009 21:25:53 GMT
Dad's Army, the first sitcom to be set in wartime was introduced in 1968 and was the brainchild of Jimmy Perry and David Croft. What's more, Dad's Army was an instant success although the last episode, 'Never Too Old' was transmitted in 1977. And before we fall out, this is your opportunity to talk about your favourite character, episode, etc.
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Post by Rusty Red Scrap Iron on Apr 14, 2009 23:20:24 GMT
Dad's Army is one of my favourite sitcoms from the 60s/70s, ab absolute classic. I remember Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson wanted the crowd to sing the theme because there was power cut during Maiden's gig in 2006, then he said: 'A bit before your time.'
My favourite character is Walker, then Frazer and Jones. Episode wise, I can't decide because they're all good.
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asprail
Disabled Account
Posts: 315
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Post by asprail on Apr 15, 2009 17:44:08 GMT
You know what? I can not just do vocal impersonations of various 'Dad's Army' characters e.g. Frazer but I often regard my time at college as a Dad's Army-type scenario!
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Post by Ian on Sept 4, 2009 15:19:12 GMT
Dad's Army was such a brave show for it's time. Starting so soon after the war, it could easily have gone the other way if it wasn't written, and performed, just right. Luckily, it was.
For every joke, every catchphrase (and lets face it there were several) and every silly thing that happened, the idea that this is about war, death, and terror, is there in every episode. Possibly the greatest episode to show this, and this is why it's one of my favourites, is 'Battle of Godfrey's Cottage'. Convinced the invasion has started, they are all prepared to fight against the odds and face certain death. To get comedy out of this situation is masterly.
Other favourite moments... Wilson becoming 'an Honourable'... Walker's pigeons in the church organ... Godfrey revealing he was a conscientous-objector in the Great War... Frazer taking over control of the platoon... Mainwaring getting legless and having trouble with a tent-pole/revolving door... Pike throwing a smoke bomb into the office, while the Vicar, Verger and Hodges are in there... Jones trying to drive two cars at once in an attempt to save the platoon from being blown up... ...this list could go on forever.
A great show.
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Post by Matthew24691 on Sept 4, 2009 16:00:36 GMT
i was introduced to this sitcom after my grandad passed aaway in march 2001, as he had a video that had the day the balloon went up - in which Mainwaring gets taken away by a runaway barrage balloon the deadly attachment - when they platoon has to guard a U-Boat crew and featured the memorable line "Don't tell him Pike" asleep in the deep - undoubtably my favourite episode when the platoon and Hodges are trapped in the pumping station which is flooding with water two and a half feathers - one of jone's old comrades from the sudan enlists in the platoon and reveals that jones was apparently a DESERTER until jones tells everybody his side of the story sons of the sea - when the platoon are given a new rowing boat and believe they have sailed across the channel but end up sailing down the coast
altough i have always found the radio adaptation of the honourable sgt wilson
to be much better than the television episode as is the audio version of when they are to be broadcat to the nation but it reveals there part of the broadcast has been cut.
other funny parts from the series is Jones and Walker freezing in Jones' meat freezer while talking about using Jones' Butcher van for platoon transport
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rellevart
Goods Engine
You're never -I repeat, NEVER- too old for Thomas!
Posts: 220
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Post by rellevart on Jan 24, 2011 15:50:44 GMT
Dad's Army: I have many favourite 'old' comedies, but this one stands head and shoulders above all others.
Firstly, I respect Perry and Croft. They managed to create a comedic series without insulting those who actually went through the war.
Secondly, it's one of those shows where I can't choose a favourite episode, catchphrase, or character: they're all good!
Finally, what adds another layer of humour to it is that whilst exaggerated, incidents like those portrayed did happen! I remember in an old annual my Dad found for me an incident where a young home guard member (another Pike) saw a 'German parachutist' standing in a field, shot and hit him, and then horrified at what he'd done went over to give first aid, only to find that what he thought was a parachutist had been a scarecrow! Another incident was when at night a home guard unit tried to sneak up on a gang of men reported to be on the beach, only to find it was an adjacent area's home guard practising night manoeuvres!
All in all, an amazing show.
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Ra's al Ghul
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The Demon Incarnate...
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Post by Ra's al Ghul on Feb 3, 2011 20:42:28 GMT
Very big fans of the show in my household, having accumulated a great deal of paraphenalia to do with the show! As has been mentioned above, it is almost impossible to choose a favourite episode as so many were performed and written to such high standards. Having said that, I do believe the show went slightly down hill following James Beck's sad death, but the show still managed to produce excellent comedy; an example would have to be Mainwaring and Godfrey's phone conversation in 'Wake-up Walmington'!
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Post by WhitehouseFilms on Sept 27, 2011 17:34:54 GMT
Just heard the passing of David Croft, who helped Jimmy Perry make Dad's Army as it is to this day. He will be missed dearly. RIP David
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Post by ringo86 on Sept 27, 2011 18:09:16 GMT
Just heard the passing of David Croft, who helped Jimmy Perry make Dad's Army as it is to this day. He will be missed dearly. RIP David Very sad to hear about David Croft's death. And you're right - he WILL be much missed. RIP David Croft
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Post by Rusty Red Scrap Iron on Sept 28, 2011 9:41:48 GMT
That is sad about David Croft's passing yesterday. He will be missed, but his work shall always bring us and future generations much laughter and joy for years to come.
R.I.P David Croft.
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Post by Chris on Sept 28, 2011 16:17:53 GMT
A great loss. Only recently I mentioned the longevity of both David Croft and Jimmy Perry - back when we lost John Sullivan in April.
The likes of Fawlty Towers and OFAH continually take the top spot of these Greatest/Funniest Sitcom countdowns, but I've always maintained Dad's Army is the best British sitcom ever made. In those 80 wonderful episodes, I don't think there was ever anything worse than occasional innuendo and the swearing got no stronger than "bloody". Perfect family viewing like this is almost a lost art nowadays, especially when it comes to comedy shows.
It seems Croft's talent never dwindled, as his final sitcom project, Oh Doctor Beeching, is brilliant fun to watch too. One of these days, I really must explore his other works like 'Allo 'Allo and Hi-De-Hi, as unfortunately I haven't seen a great deal of either.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2011 18:08:13 GMT
One of these days, I really must explore his other works like 'Allo 'Allo and Hi-De-Hi, as unfortunately I haven't seen a great deal of either. You won't be disappointed with "Hi-De-Hi", believe me. It is sad to find out what happened to David Croft as I really enjoyed the work he did for "Hi-De-Hi" and "Oh, Doctor Beeching!". He will certainly be missed.
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Ra's al Ghul
Shunting Engine
The Demon Incarnate...
Posts: 88
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Post by Ra's al Ghul on Sept 28, 2011 20:32:40 GMT
What a man. He'll definately be missed among my family, who are all very much Dad's Army fans, and of his other projects as well. Truly sad.
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Madness
Main Line Engine
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Post by Madness on Sept 28, 2011 22:35:18 GMT
I was shocked when I heard David Croft passed away. I could not believe it, we've lost another truly great writer.
His work will never ever be forgotten and he has made many wonderful, incredible shows for the BBC and made tv charcters such big legends.
Farewell David Croft, you will always be remembered.
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Post by Devious Diesel on Sept 29, 2011 7:47:45 GMT
I have to agree with what everyone has said so far....I loved Dad's Army a lot when I was younger, and when I found out about Croft's passing....well, I had to tell my Dad, he loved that show too.
I'll never forget him or his work.
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Post by Ian on Oct 11, 2011 11:10:12 GMT
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Andrew B.
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Allon-sy Alonso!
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Post by Andrew B. on Jan 27, 2012 8:03:01 GMT
Who could forget this show! Mainwarring gets demoted Jones panics Wilson asks politley And of course, many many many grand moments! Which makes the passing of Croft all the sadder.
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Post by Skarlouie on Jan 27, 2012 19:10:47 GMT
Dad's Army is an genius comedy! I absolutely love it! I only have the one dvd though! It is really funny. The best line is "You Stupid Boy"!
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SteamArt
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We Are One!
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Post by SteamArt on Jan 27, 2012 20:17:33 GMT
Dad's Army is one of those shows that make me proud to be British! I just love Jones' constant refrain 'Don't Panic!' - possibly inspired the slogan for the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy!
The loss of the genius Mr Croft is almost as bad as the passing of the legendary Ronnie Barker! The truth is that even though writers might be long gone, their handiwork will remain with us forever! (After all, you can't take it with you!)
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Post by ellsworth on Nov 7, 2012 20:14:21 GMT
Just heard the passing of Clive Dunn, who played Lance Corporal Jones. He will be missed dearly. R.I.P Clive Dunn. Don't Panic!
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