The Man and the Hour
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Contents |
[edit] TV Episode
|
001 - The Man and the Hour |
|
| Script | Jimmy Perry and David Croft |
|---|---|
| Director | David Croft |
| Producer | David Croft |
| Recorded | Sunday 3/6/73 |
| Original transmission | Wednesday 31/7/68 8.20pm |
| Series | One |
| Length | 30 minutes |
| Original Viewing Figures | 7.2 million |
| Preceded by | N/A |
| Followed by | Museum Piece |
The Man and the Hour is the first episode of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Wednesday 31 July 1968.
[edit] Synopsis
A local bank manager, George Mainwaring, decides to form a Local Defence Volunteers unit in the town of Walmington-on-Sea.
[edit] Plot
It starts in present day (1968) England with Captain Mainwaring announcing to his former platoon that he is backing Britain. A flash back shows on a TV screen showing scenes from World War II and the British Army.
It then starts in Swallows Bank (1940), Walmington-on-Sea. Wilson, Pike and Mainwaring are laying sandbags at the window. Mainwaring then recives a message saying that he can set up a LDV unit to protect Britain. He finds out more about this on the wireless, having been told by a clerk, Janet King, that Anthony Eden is about to make a Ministerial broadcast. Pike is told to go round to all the LDV volunteers and tell them to meet in the church hall.
At the church hall, many people are waiting and Mainwaring (now the self appointed commander) begins to enroll them. He makes Wilson his Sergeant and Jones his Lance-Corporal. An ARP warden bursts in and tells the commander to "shove off" because he needs the hall for an ARP lecture. He is forced to let him use it and informs the platoon to meet in the hall later.
Later, Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson are inspecting the platoon, Godfrey has a gun and Mainwaring believes that he should have it because he is the officer, but Godfrey refuses. The platoon are told about tanks and how to defeat then. The platoon play at been tanks and how to destroy them. Mrs Pike arrives to pick up Pike. Pike leaves. The uniform (armbands) and weapons (pepper) arrive. It is not what the platoon expected. They are handed out.
Mainwaring gives a speech and the platoon cheer.
[edit] Notes
- A scene involing the fire brigade wanting to use the hall for practice was also filmed, but was cut from the final programme.
- This episode was originally planned for transmission on Monday 5 June.
[edit] Cast
| Cast | Characters |
| Arthur Lowe | Captain Mainwaring |
| John Le Mesurier | Sergeant Wilson |
| Clive Dunn | Lance Corporal Jones |
| John Laurie | Private Frazer |
| James Beck | Private Walker |
| Arnold Ridley | Private Godfrey |
| Ian Lavender | Private Pike |
| Janet Davies | Mrs Pike |
| Caroline Dowdeswell | Janet King |
| John Ringham | Bracewell |
| Bill Pertwee | ARP Warden |
| Neville Hughes | Soldier |
| Jack Wright | Despatch Rider |
[edit] Radio episode
|
001 - The Man and the Hour |
|
| Script | Harold Snoad & Michael Knowles |
|---|---|
| Producer | John Dyas |
| Recorded | Sunday 3/6/73 |
| Original transmission | Monday 28/1/74 6.15pm |
| Series | One |
| Length | 30 minutes |
| Original Viewing Figures | 1.2 million |
| Preceded by | N/A |
| Followed by | Museum Piece |
[edit] Synopsis
A local bank manager, George Mainwaring, decides to form a Local Defence Volunteers unit in the town of Walmington-on-Sea.
[edit] Plot
[edit] Cast
| Cast | Characters |
| Arthur Lowe | Captain Mainwaring |
| John Le Mesurier | Sergeant Wilson |
| Clive Dunn | Lance Corporal Jones |
| John Laurie | Private Frazer |
| Arnold Ridley | Private Godfrey |
| Ian Lavender | Private Pike |
| James Beck | Private Walker |
| Timothy Bateson | Elliott/ General Wilkinson/ GHQ driver |
