Fallen Idol (Dad's Army episode)

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039 - Fallen Idol
Script Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Director David Croft
Producer David Croft
Recorded Friday 11/12/70
Original transmission Friday 18/12/70 8.00pm
Series Four
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 13.1 million
Preceded by Uninvited Guests
Followed by Battle of the Giants

Fallen Idol is the thirteenth episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Friday 18 December 1970.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

Mainwaring has always epitomised the principle of military sobriety to his men, but, after Captain Square leads him astray one day in the Officer's Mess, he ends up inebriated. Only something genuinely heroic now can restore his damaged reputation in the eyes of his men.

[edit] Plot

The platoon arrive at a weekend country training camp to teach them about bombs. The camp is run by a twichy Captain (Michael Knowles) frightened by the enthusiams and lack of awareness shown by the Home Guard. He is paticularly unsettled by the Walmington-on-Sea platoon, especially Corporal Jones.

The story largely follows Captain Mainwaring's fall from grace in the eyes of his platoon, and subsequent redemption. When the men are bivouaced in a tent, he falls under the influence of Captain Square who convinces him to set up an officers only section, much to the outrage of his men. He subsequently offends them by attending a select officers mess, drinking whiskey with Captain Square and colleagues, while his men enjoy a couple of bottles of ale elsewhere. Most of the men are disgruntled, while noting this is not Mainwarings normal behaviour. Fraser goes so far as to threaten to resign (his general surly attitude of late has led Mainwaring to suspect he is a communist, noting he "never plays monopoly with the others" as evidence of his suspicions) A drunken Mainwaring returns to their tent only to be jumped on by Corporal Jones, thinking he is a thugee.

The next morning, a rather hungover and worse for wear Captain Mainwaring joins his men for training. While at first things go seemingly to plan, potential disaster soon strikes when a stray grenade is fired into the roof of the platoons van. Mainwaring immediatly goes to warn Jones, while the van is moving, who abandons it in a panic. A cool Mainwaring then stops and evacuates the van, his command of the situation restoring his faith in the eyes of the platoon.

[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
Geoffrey Lumsden Captain Square
Rex Garner Captain Ashley-Jones
Michael Knowles Captain Reed
Anthony Sagar Sergeant Major
Tom Mennard Mess Orderly
Robert Raglan Captain Pritchard

[edit] References

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