Man Hunt (Dad's Army episode)

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024 - Man Hunt
Script Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Director David Croft
Producer David Croft
Recorded Friday 21/11/69
Original transmission Thursday 27/11/69 7.30pm
Series Three
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 11.8 million
Preceded by Branded
Followed by No Spring for Frazer

Man Hunt is the twelfth episode of the third series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Thursday 27 November 1969.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

Walker brings along a tracker dog for the platoon and several dozen pairs of ladies negligee for the ladies of Walmington-on-Sea.

[edit] Plot

Mainwaring is giving a lecture on the progress of the war, and admits that they have thrown the Allies out of Greece and Crete, but reminds them that Rudolf Hess surrendered not too long ago, so the rats are leaving the sinking ship. However, he tells the platoon that the enemy are dropping empty parachutes to confuse the people, and if they spot one, they must report it to GHQ. Jones wonders what the difference is between British parachutes and Nazi parachutes. Mainwaring's memo tells him that British parachutes are white, while Nazi parachutes are a dirty, creamy, off-white. Frazer points out that the parachutist may be miles away by the time they find the parachute, so Walker decides to bring a tracker dog to the next parade.

After the parade, Jones decides to go to the pub, but Walker has to talk to Mainwaring. He confides in Mainwaring and Wilson that he found a parachute not too long ago. Mainwaring is anxious to know whether it was white or cream. Walker can't remember, as he sold it on his stall in the guise of eight dozen pairs of ladies knickers! He, Mainwaring and Wilson now have the unenviable task of trying to find a pair among the citizens of Walmington-on-Sea. Unsurprisingly, they have no luck, except a young lady who has no hesitation in showing Wilson her blue knickers! The people they have questioned complain to ARP Warden Hodges, who leaves Mainwaring in a tough situation when a pair of knickers emerge from a letterbox!

During a stealth practice the next day, Walker brings in the tracker dog. They test the dog's sniffing power by having Jones pretending to be a Nazi parachutist. They remove Jones' jacket and allow the dog to pick up his scent. As they head up the church hall stairs, Mrs Pike arrives to remind Wilson about their téte-a-téte supper. As the platoon, Jones and the dog come charging down the stairs, they knock down Mrs Pike, revealing her knickers. Walker remembers that he sold the last pair to Mrs Pike, and they're white: it was a British parachute!

Some time later, Hodges notices a parachute stuck in a tree. He is so busy trying to get it down, that he doesn't have any problems in giving directions to Downsend Woods for a man with a peculiar accent. Just as he removes the parachute, the platoon arrive, and it isn't long before the dog picks up the scent. Hodges tells Mainwaring about the man with the German accent, and it isn't long before they spot him. They chase him into a dilapidated old barn, and storm him. However, it turns out he's a Viennese ornithologist, looking for a Golden Oriole egg. Suddenly, the parachutist comes charging in, desperate to give himself up.

[edit] Quotes

"I've read about people like him in the News of the World" (an angry Walmington resident confronts Captain Mainwaring)

[edit] Notes

  1. Judging by what Mainwaring says at the beginning of the episode, this episode must be set in late May-early June 1941.

[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
Bill Pertwee ARP Warden Hodges
Janet Davies Mrs Pike
Patrick Tull Suspect
Robert Moore Large Man
Leon Cortez Small Man
Olive Mercer Fierce Lady
Miranda Hampton Sexy Lady
Robert Aldous German Pilot
Bran Himself

[edit] References

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