The Man and the Hour

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The Man and the Hour was the first episode of the British sitcom Dad's Army, which aired on television on 31 July 1968. It was later adapted for radio.

Contents

[edit] TV Episode

001 - The Man and the Hour

Script Jimmy Perry and David Croft[1]
Director David Croft[1]
Producer David Croft[1]
Recorded Sunday 15/4/68[1]
Original transmission Wednesday 31/7/68 8.20pm[1]
Series One
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 7.2 million[1]
Preceded by N/A
Followed by Museum Piece

The Man and the Hour is the first and pilot 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 receives 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 enrol 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 being tanks and how to destroy them. Mrs Pike arrives to pick up Pike because it's his bed time. 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

  1. A scene involving the fire brigade wanting to use the hall for practice was also filmed, but was cut from the final programme.
  2. 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


Support Cast Characters Nationality
Caroline Dowdeswell Janet King Flag of England
John Ringham Bracewell Flag of England
Bill Pertwee ARP Warden Hodges Flag of England
Neville Hughes Soldier Flag of England
Jack Wright Despatch Rider Flag of England

[edit] Radio episode

001 - The Man and the Hour

Script Harold Snoad & Michael Knowles[1]
Producer John Dyas
Recorded Sunday 3/6/73[1]
Original transmission Monday 28/1/74 6.15pm[1]
Series One
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 1.2 million[1]
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

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army. Orion, 134. 

[edit] References