Dad's Army (film)
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| Dad's Army | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Norman Cohen |
| Produced by | John R. Sloan |
| Written by | Jimmy Perry David Croft |
| Starring | Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, John Laurie, James Beck, Arnold Ridley, Ian Lavender, Bernard Archard |
| Music by | Wilfred Burns |
| Cinematography | Terry Maher |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures, Norcon Productions |
| Release date(s) | March 12, 1971 (UK), September, 1971, (US) |
| Running time | 95 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Dad's Army was a 1971 feature film based on the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army. Directed by Normen Cohen, it was filmed between series three and four and was based upon material from the early episodes of the television series. The film told the story of the Home Guard platoon's formation and their subsequent endeavours at a training exercise.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Prologue
Operation Dynamo has just taken place. From the newly conquered French coastline, a Nazi colonel looks out over the English Channel with powerful binoculars. Surveying the White Cliffs of Dover, he spies Godfrey emerging from a lavatory. Godfrey joins the rest of his platoon, who are defiantly waving the Union Jack. The colonel fumes contemptuously; "How will the stupid English ever win?!"
The film
It is 1940. George Mainwaring, the manager of Martin's Bank, Walmington-on-Sea is walking to work through the town centre and once there, he opens the bank and refuses to cash a cheque for a man who does not have an account with them. Unbeknown to him, the man is Major General Fullard, a high ranking army officer, who refers to Mainwaring as a "Damn Bank Clerk". Meanwhile, once in his office, Mainwaring discusses with his chief clerk, Wilson, the recent downturn in the fortunes of British forces in France - German forces have advanced 50 miles, and have broken through the Maginot Line. Suddenly, he remembers that Anthony Eden is to make an important radio broadcast about civil defence. Thus, Mainwaring, Wilson and the junior clerk, Pike head down to the local wireless shop and demand the proprietor to switch on a radio. Eden announces that the a new civil defence initiative has been launched, to be called the "Local Defence Volunteers" and that men should register at their local police station. The three men go to register at once, picking up Jack Jones, the butcher, on the way.
Once at the police station, chaos ensues because there is nobody to organise the enrollment of the men. Mainwaring, being the local bank manager, takes it upon himself to take charge, leading the men to St. Aldheim's church hall where he will take down names. On the way, he also picks up local spiv, Joe Walker, who imagines that where there are crowds, there is business.
Once at the church hall, Mainwaring appoints Wilson as his sergeant and (after a bribe of some sausages) Jack Jones as his Lance-Corporal. However, the enrollment does not go entirely to plan due to using choir sign-up sheets instead of official forms and the ARP wardens holding a meeting in the hall. Mainwaring therefore tells his men to parade at the church hall later that evening with any weapons they can find.
At the parade, some soldiers have made more effort than others, with Pike attaching a carving knife to a brush handle, but leaving the bristled end on as well. However, some have formidable weapons, and one man even has a gun (although he refuses to give in to Mainwaring). Mainwaring then gives the men a lecture on how to stop tanks with makeshift petrol bombs. Meanwhile, a lorry arrives at the vicarage to take away the church bells for gun metal. Upset that this will end his hobby of campanology, the Vicar decides to ring the bells for the last time. However, the ringing of church bells was designated as the warning signal of an invasion, and the troops improvise a blockage on the main road into the town. Once the truth emerges they are told to move the blockade by Chief ARP Warden Hodges.
The platoon is then seen marching along, gradually gaining their uniforms and weapons. Also, following Dunkirk, the LDV is to be renamed the "Home Guard". This is intersperced by a number of demonstrations of Jones' makeshift weapons. The first is a rocket launcher designed to take down enemy aircraft. This works well, although unfortunately sets fire to a nearby barn. Next, Jones demonstrates his tank, which is an upturned bath on wheels. However, it rolls down a hill, crashes into a pond and sinks. The next invention is Frazer's oil slick creator, which is a tank full of oil, which spreads oil over the road through a cistern. Major General Fullard is invited to inspect this device, although the demonstration is ruined when Jones falls onto the handle, which spreads oil over the road, causing the general's staff car to skid. Finally, Jones demonstrates his converted butcher's van, with gun-slots in the side and roof. This is a success, and Mainwaring imagines it will be the star of the upcoming Home Guard training weekend, and informs Jones that due to petrol rationing he has arranged to have it converted to gas.
The platoon is on the way to the training weekend in Jones' newly-converted van, with the gas being stored in a large bag on the roof. Jones is in the back talking about his previous campaigns and demonstrating his skills with the bayonette. Suddenly, Mainwaring spots what he thinks is a Stuker dive bomber and orders the platoon to fire on it. Unfortunately, Jones still has his bayonette attached, and the gas bag is punctured, rendering the van unusable. The platoon arrive at the camp late, with the van towed by a steam roller. However, neither Jones nor Mainwaring knows how to drive it or stop it, and the roller ends up destroying the platoon's tents, as well as other equipment, further angering Major General Fullard, who is in charge of the weekend exercises.
In the morning, after a night spent sleeping without tents, the platoon wake up to find that they have overslept and (apart from Wilson) missed breakfast. Confidence in Mainwaring's leadership is beginning to falter. Major General Fullard informs them that they are to look after the pontoon bridge during the day's exercise. However, the bridge has been sabotaged by the Royal Marines, and the cable ties cut. Luckily, Walker and Jones spot the bridge is loose and manage to stop it floating away. Unfortunately, the general arrives on his horse to inspect them and arrogantly demands a salute over the men's protests. Thus, the bridge floats away with the general and his horse aboard.
The platoon manage to catch up with the general, and lean over a bridge to pull him to safety. However, Jones falls off and ends up hanging onto the general's horse, which is still on the boat. Mainwaring and the others then run after him, leaving the general fuming. Mainwaring, Wilson and Frazer manage to board the floating bridge, although it soon gets stuck in the middle of some weeds. Captain Mainwaring decides that there is no alternative but to swim for help. He ceremoniously removes his hat and items, only to jump into shallow water. They are then able to ride across and back to the camp. In the morning, Captain Mainwaring is summoned to the general's office and is told that due to the platoon's poor showing, he is to recommend Mainwaring be replaced.
While the platoon are walking back to Walmington, a Luftwaffe aircraft is shot down and the three crew parachute out. They are told by Nazi headquarters that they are too valuable to be imprisoned, and must return to Germany at all costs. Therefore, they burst into Walmington church hall, where the mayor is holding a meeting, and hold the people at gunpoint with the vicar as the hostage. They demand a boat back to France, and release the Verger to arrange this. Meanwhile, Mainwaring and his men arrive back in Walmington after getting a lift back in a refuse lorry. However, they are surprised to find the church doors locked and demand entry. The vicar, at gunpoint, refuses them entry, saying that there is a "young mothers meeting" although his expression makes them suspicous. This suspicion is verified by the Verger, who has telephoned the army and police. However, by this point the "real" military have begun to arrive, and Major General Fullard tells the Walmington Home Guard to leave. Mainwaring has to comply, but congregates around the other side of the church.
The platoon then formulate a plan to infiltrate the building though the church crypt. Dressed in choir surpluses, they process into the church hall singing an irreverent version of All Things Bright and Beautiful. The Nazi airmen are confused and tell them to halt. Mainwaring suddenly pulls a gun out from under a collection plate and points it at the leader. They both say they will shoot after a count of three. There is a tense moment as both men count to three. Mainwaring then reminds him that if he is shot, there is a whole platoon to replace him. Suddenly the platoon all pull out rifles. The German airmen are forced to surrender, and the congregation burst into applause. Bemused, Major General Fullard enters and is shocked to see that Mainwaring and the Home Guard have ended the situation successfully.
The following day, Mainwaring is walking to work again through the high street. Word of his heroics has spread around the town, and he is congratulated by several passers-by. At the bank, he is greeted by Wilson who tells him that the German's gun wasn't loaded. Mainwaring confesses that his wasn't either.
Epilogue
Mainwaring and the Home Guard are once again looking towards France from the cliff-tops. The weather has changed for the worst and it seems unlikely that the Germans will invade. Wilson asks if they may have the weekend off, but Mainwaring refuses, warning that they could invade at any time - they may even be tunnelling under their feet. Jones thinks he can hear a burrowing sound, and is joined by the others. The film ends with Mainwaring suspecting it is Pike shuffling his feet.
[edit] Differences to the television series
The film made a number of significant changes, imposed by Columbia Pictures, such as recasting Liz Frazer as Mavis Pike instead of Janet Davies and filming outdoor scenes in Chalfont St Giles rather than Thetford. Also, the bank was now "Martin's" rather than "Swallow" Bank. In addition, with the increase in budget, the set interiors and the vehicles used were completely different, and the streets of Walmington had extras walking on them. As well as this, the audience saw the Germans preparing across the Channel, rather than simply being an unseen threat.
Many of the changes, in particular the recasting of Mrs. Pike met with criticism. Jimmy Perry has said "It was a mistake...not to cast Janet in the role because the viewing public has come to recognise her as Mrs. Pike. But that was a decision made by Columbia.".<ref>Jimmy Perry interviewed in Richard Webber Dad's Army: A Celebration, (Virgin Publishing 1997), p.168, ISBN 0-7535-0307-7</ref>
[edit] Reception
Filming took place between 10 August and 25 September 1970, at Shepperton Studios and various locations. The film's UK premiere was on 12 March 1971 at the Columbia Theatre in London. Critical reviews were mixed, but it performed well at the UK box office.
Discussions were held about a possible sequel, to be called Dad's Army and the Secret U-Boat Base, but the project never came to fruition.<ref>Richard Webber Dad's Army: A Celebration, (Virgin Publishing 1997), pp.164-169, ISBN 0-7535-0307-7</ref>
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
