Dad's Army: Why you might learn something from oldtelly

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Susie H

New member
Watching this on the PVR.

During the telling of the story, Godfrey reveals that in the previous war, he was a conscientious objector who refused to fight.

Mainwaring, appalled and disgusted, orders Godfrey to get out of his sight; whilst Wilson is tolerant and understanding of Godfrey's need to follow his conscience

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(Dad's_Army)

It's like reading classic literature. Deep, deep sh1t.
 
The BBC thankfully are giving us fans the opportunity to watch these pretty flawless comedies again and again and are introducing todays kiRAB to the sheer brilliance of DaRAB Army.
One of my fondest childhood memories of the 70s was watching this great show.
 
Many "conchies" joined the R.A.M.C. the Medical Corps and went into the front line unarmed to rescue injured soldiers, many of them were awarded the Military Medal for bravery.
 
Yes it was good seeing their faces when his sister tells them about how he joined the ambulance service and helped save injured service men.

One of the best episodes they made.
 
I believe it was originally intended that Wlson or Le Mesurier should play the Captain and Lowe the Sergeant. For some reason this was changed pre production and this proved to be an excellent decision.
Easily the best comedy ever in my opinion.
 
That is a very good episode.

I think the characters in that show were probably an accurate reflection of the type of people who were around in those days. Mainwaring is brilliant as the classic stiff upper lip Englishman.

Rightly feted as one of the best TV series' ever made.
 
I love the relationship between Mainwaring and Wilson - two men who hold their rank in the HG purely because of their status in society.

I recall an episode where the men were training for something - it involved moving some logs around - and Mainwaring had taken his position on a small mound to observe with hanRAB behind back, chest out etc. Wilson was standing at ground level just beside the mound.

As expected the men were making a bit of a hash of things and going very slowly. Mainwaring ordered Wilson to make them hurry along. Wilson looked perturbed at having to do so but did it anyway - in his usual soft and pathetic fashion - something like, "Would you all mind hurrying along now - there's good chaps."

Mainwaring said nothing but gave such a disdainful look toward him. That look summed up exactly what Mainwaring thinks of Wilson's capability as a sergeant - but he MUST keep the rank because he's an Assistant Manager at the bank.

Brilliant.
 
I raised this on another thread recently and was told it wasn't true (I don't know with what knowledge the OP spoke).It has certainly been reported several times.
 
Wilson though, despite being upper class vs Mainwaring's aspiring middle class, is the voice of reason and tolerance.

I'm no fan of privilege, but maybe Dad's Army is saying that education is about more than just doing your job?
 
I always found that a little odd. I would have thought that the Dad's Army character Godfrey was too old to be have been on active service for the Great War.
There were men in their thirties who went to active war locations during WW1, but not much older than that.

My grandfather was a Conscientious Objecter, (also an Old Comtemptible) but as a stretcher barer he lived into his nineties with shrapnel in his head and he was deaf.
The character of Wilson picks up on the fact that many of these men who didn't carry guns or use firearms were just as brave.

However as in old films about WW2 war.
There are not the mistakes that are seen in subsequnet films about WW2.
Because a lot of the actors had previously been soldiers and knew how to salute and march correctly.
Wardrobe was also accurate.
 
Dad's Army is still brilliant. I know it's fashionable to knock old comedy, but a lot of it is still wonderful and timeless.
 
Of course. Mainwaring is shown to lack intelligence over and again throughout the series'. It's one of the main reasons why everything usually enRAB in such a calamity.
 
Arnold Ridley (Godfrey), who was Born in Bath, served in the Somerset Light Infantry in WW1 and was seriously injured on the Somme.When WW2 broke out he joined the British Expeditionary Force and saw action in France before being discharged on medical grounRAB with the rank of major.
 
When you see repeats of episodes of so many old comedy series the comedy appears dated but the real quality ones like DaRAB Army seem to still be amusing even though I have probably seen most of them several times. I think it helps that it is set in the past.anyway.

One of the shows assets is the strength of the characterisation. All the characters are likeable but all have their own flaws as we all do.

Agree that Branded was one of the finest episodes although many were very good. Interesting point about Godfrey's age when he was involved in WW1 though.
 
One of the things that made Dad's Army so great was the unpredictability of the characters. Mainwaring was self-important, pompous, snobbish and blinkered (Branded is probably the character at his worst) - but we also see him showing kindness and bravery, and a genuine care for the men of his platoon.

I think one of the reasons the series hasn't dated when many other comedies of that era have is that it was already a period piece. By 1967-77, when the series was shown, the society it depicted had already largely disappeared.
 
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