| "Fallen Idol" | |||
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| Dad's Army episode | |||
| Episode no. | Series Four Episode 039 |
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| Directed by | David Croft | ||
| Story by | Jimmy Perry and David Croft | ||
| Produced by | David Croft | ||
| Original air date | Friday 18/12/70 8.00pm (recorded Friday 11/12/70) |
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| Running time | 30 minutes | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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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 |
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.
The platoon arrive at a weekend country training camp to teach them about bombs. The camp is run by a twitchy Captain (Michael Knowles) frightened by the enthusiasm and lack of awareness shown by the Home Guard. He is particularly 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 bivouacked 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 whisky 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 Mainwaring's 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 platoon's van. Mainwaring immediately goes to warn Jones, who abandons the van while it is moving. A cool Mainwaring then stops and evacuates the van, his command of the situation restoring his reputation in the eyes of the platoon.
| 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 |
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