Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Paul Ritter, Richard Dormer, Stuart McQuarrie, Sarah Alexander, Sally Philips, Charlotte McDougall, Harry Peacock, Keith Allen, Amy Hughes, John Sessions, Amy O’ Dwyer, Ralph Riach, Michael Cochrane, Mark Heap, Julian Sands, Kevin Bishop, Kieran Hodgson, Shane Ritchie, Roy Hudd.
Even today the sound of Bud Flanagan making his way through the lyrics to one of Britain’s favourite ever sitcoms can bring a smile of prepared enjoyment to the television viewer. Unlike many of the comedies from the era which might only receive the blessing of a repeat airing when a much loved cast member passes on to the great cathode set in the sky, Dad’s Army still has fans in the millions who regularly tune in and watch one of the B.B.C.’s finest moments and which arguably only Steptoe and Son and Hancock’s Half Hour can ever truly compete with. Yet as with all great moments, it very nearly didn’t happen as the excellent one hour drama We’re Doomed! The Dad’s Army Story was at pains to show.
Nothing seems to ever get done in the world today except by committee or going up the chain of command, yet the B.B.C. have always been seen as running on the finest of decrees, enough to make the British Army look at the structure with grudging respect and back in the 1960s there was perhaps no greater chain in the country with the possible exception of Harold Wilson’s Government.
Jimmy Perry and David Croft are names to aspire to in the art of comedy writing, their mass appeal is only second to the Godfathers of British Comedy Galton and Simpson. In Dad’s Army, the stars were in alignment for one of the true greats to come forth and yet personal opinions, actors who were not completely committed to the roles at first, a writer who desperately wanted to be in the show and a thousand other problems threatened to make it vanish before it had even started.
With John Sessions in absolute top form as Arthur Lowe, the debonair Julian Sands and comical talent of Mark Heap capturing both John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn perfectly and Keith Allen in dashing form as the man at the head of it all Paul Fox, a man of utter conviction who made this ultimately possible, there was nothing that could be said against the drama except for, as with the comedies themselves, it was just a shame it wasn’t longer and went into more depth.
A grateful reminder of what was truly a very wonderful programme, one that will bring more memories to television fans and the perfect tie in ahead of the new film released next year.
Ian D. Hall