Battle School (Dad's Army episode)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents

[edit] TV episode

014 - Battle School
Script Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Director David Croft
Producer David Croft
Recorded Sunday 1/6/69
Original transmission Thursday 18/9/69 7.30pm
Series Three
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 11.4 million
Preceded by The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones
Followed by The Lion Has Phones

Battle School is the second episode of the third series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Thursday 18 September 1969.

[edit] Synopsis

The platoon go on a weekend guerilla-warfare exercise. If they ever manage to find it, they have to capture Captain Rodrigues' HQ.

[edit] Plot

The platoon are travelling to a battle school in the country. Save for an incident involving Godfrey's weak bladder, the journey is uneventful. It is when they arrive at the station however, that disaster strikes. Mainwaring opens the secret instructions, and it is clear that he doesn't know how to read a map. They start off confidently, but it's not long before they end up back at the station again! They try again and Mainwaring leads them into an ambush lead by a rugged Captain.

When they finally reach the school, they are greeted by a cheery Major Smith, who then proceeds to tell them that, to the platoon's horror, they have missed the evening meal by four hours! He introduces them to Captain Rodrigues, a tough Spanish Captain (the captain who had lead the ambush) who fought in the Spanish Civil War and doesn't approve of military disciplines such as arm-waving. He gives Mainwaring and the platoon a single blanket each to keep them warm and some carrots and onions to eat.

Rodrigues wakes up the sleepy platoon in the morning with a fire cracker, telling them that they have missed breakfast as well! Walker is fed up with this and is determined to search for food at a nearby farm, but is scared off by the unimpressed farmer. Rodrigues hints that they will have an opportunity to capture his HQ; unfortunately no one has succeeded due to the fierce Alsatians, barbed wire and the electrified fence.

The platoon are soon put to the test, and are handed a clearly quickly made meal. As the exercise continues, Mainwaring falls down a hole, and discovers Rodrigues' HQ. Later that night, he takes the platoon through the tunnel and ends up in the stores. Walker is impressed, and it isn't long before the HQ is captured, and the platoon are full laden with food once more.

[edit] Notes

[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
Alan Tilvern Captain Rodrigues
Alan Haines Major Smith
Colin Bean Private Sponge

[edit] Radio episode

010 - Battle School
Script Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles
Producer John Dyas
Recorded Thursday 28/6/73
Original transmission Monday 1/4/74, 6.15pm
Series One
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 1 million
Preceded by Operation Kilt
Followed by Under Fire

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Plot

[edit] Notes

[edit] Cast

[edit] References

v • d • e
Dad's Army
Characters:
Television episodes
Radio episodes
Spin-offs