User reviews

When I first saw "Dad's Army" on BBC Prime I thought that this is really corny one and since it was going on and on with only few laughs I gave up. Then after few weeks when I put BBC Prime again it was "Dad's Army" again, same episodes and again it wasn't as funny as other British comedy series, so again I gave up.

But lately I've seen the whole series from the beginning (since black & white episodes) and this time it all finally began to make sense. Finally I've seen the light and what kind of approach you need to like this series - usually it isn't LOL-funny, but with more subtle kind of humor. After seeing the whole series even the episodes I've seen before and didn't like make sense and I know what was funny about it.

Now I can say that "Dad's Army" is really great series with wonderful ideas, great cast and leaves something within you - now when I watch some films with people in uniforms I usually expect to hear "do you think it's wise", "stupid boy", "they don't like up them" or "permission to worry you, sir".

A really "must see" kind of TV history!

As I read through the comments, I was not surprised at how many were British but at how few were American. I was surprised at one comment that, while rating the show very high, also commented that the humor was not "laugh out loud" humor. I found this show to be hilarious! Jimmy Kroft and Mathew Perry were pure geniuses. Writing and working with so many hilarious episodes was a feat in itself. But coming up with such equally hilarious titles like "Be Young and Beautiful", "Knights of Madness" and "The King is in his Counting House" was pure genius, plain and simple.

Two of the funniest episodes are "Keep Young and Beautiful" and "My British Buddy". In "Be Young and Beautiful", the home guard, to look their best before the inspectors, used make-up. The results were hilarious. In "My British Buddy", the Americans arrive to join the Allies and it's a big event, so journalists and photographers show up to report the event, which doesn't quite turn out the way it was intended.

The humor is clearly British. And unlike classic British sitcoms like "In Sickness and in Health" and "Man About the House" which were recycled, given the American treatment and released as "All in the Family" and "Three's Company", there is no American equivalent to "Dad's Army". This show stands alone in more ways than one.

Though it would be downright criminal to classify this show along with "Monty Python" just because both happen to be British comedies, the two programs (note the American spelling!) have one thing in common. Either you'll love this show, or you won't. (I, for one, love this program, which has left me laughing out loud.) This show could never be classified as merely "OK".

"Dad's Army" is another of many British TV series that never made it to American TV, or that came out much later on video or DVD. I, for one, am glad that this one is out on DVD – at least part of it. Other reviewers have noted that it's British humor or that it's not a rollicking laughter series. Those are warnings or heads-up to viewers who prefer the rambunctious sort of humor. While I enjoy various types of comedy, I especially enjoy that with tongue-in-cheek, cynical, witty, or whimsical dialog. And the Brits really know how to deliver, as in this series.

All the actors are quite good, and the scripts and direction for each episode are right on target. I too especially enjoyed the development of the various main characters. Besides the wonderful lines, the physical expressions and demeanor of the actors alone added immensely to the humor. Each character seemed to have a nice niche in the series.

Clive Dunn excelled as Lance Corporal Jones. His over-the-top elucidations of his WWI Sahara service, and other unrelated machinations, were sometimes side-splitting funny. John Laurie's Private Frazer was a hoot with his goofy stories and tidbits. Each other character had his own quirk or two. But, the funniest part overall to me was Arthur Lowe's role. Captain Mainwaring had me laughing out loud the most often with his subtle quips as retorts to his group's shenanigans. And his facial expressions of disbelief or incredulity brought out constant smiles and chuckles. The would-be hard-nosed Captain Mainwaring comes across as a gentle friend and patriot, even in his pomposity.

The writers, directors and actors excelled in making this a warmly funny series, poking fun at a time and place and group of people in history. They did it without demeaning a large number of people who did their part to help there homeland during World War II. No aspect of society escapes a friendly jab or poke. The series has fun with class, military brass, clergy, country, custom and patriotism. This is the type of entertainment that can be enjoyed on repeated showings when one wants to relax and have some good clean fun at home.

I was a youngster during WW II living in America but I was made well aware of the courage and resolve of the British people. Dad's Army, in addition to being the best comedy show ever, shows us this courage. Unlike so many sit coms, it is not mean or vicious but is gentle yet over the top funny. Despite their bumbling and odd approach to things, their love of country, their braveness, and their willingness to die for England if they have to, always shows through.

I own over 50 episodes on either VHS or DVD and am constantly searching for the ones I do not have. In addition I have both volumes of the complete scripts. I never get tired of watching or reading them. I can't watch the final episode (Never Too Old wherein Jonesy gets married and they drink a toast to the Home Guard every where)without feeling some tears welling up in my eyes. In fact, I'm starting to choke up a bit right now just thinking about it.

I have acquaintances (notice I don't say friends) who have watched it with me and just don't get it. They prefer the smart Alex stuff which passes for humor today. I do feel sorry for them.

Dad's Army is still played again and again, and it's easy to see why. Dad's Army created some of the most memorable characters on British television. The hilarity is still there. Even after seeing a lot of episodes 7 or 8 times over, I still laugh. That is a hard thing to achieve in comedy. Jimmy Perry and David Croft came up with something that surpassed anything created before and after. The central core actors executed their parts PERFECTLY. I still can't picture anyone than Arthur Lowe being the pompous captain, or Le Mesurier as the polite Sgt. This is the type of series where, when asked to pick your favorite character, you just can't. And that's because every character is very different from its fellow characters. There's Corporal Jones, the hilariously "wooly minded" butcher. And Private Walker, the spiv who would sell his own grandmother. Sadly James Beck died, and no matter how hard the writers tried, they couldn't replace him. There's Private Pike, the mommy's boy, who is constantly having the famous "You stupid Boy!" line directed his way. Then there's Frazer, the frugal Scottish mortician. And Godfrey, the gentleman, and the one who always needs to be excused. Then the afore mentioned Capt. Mainwaring, and Srgt. Wilson. The ARP Warden Hodges, the uncouth green grocer, who has a fierce feud with Capt. Mainwaring. The Vicar and the Verger, the troublemaker, and Mrs. Pike.

Even the more minor characters in this epic comedy are just so well done. It is a comic story set in the small seaside town of Walmington-On-Sea which is doing its bit to fight off the boche.

Dad's Army highlights a golden age for British Comedy. It's famous lines such as "Don't Panic!", have pervaded other areas of T.V. and culture. Dad's Army will keep marching on and on....

Dad's Army is one of those comedies that simply refuses to lose any of its appeal, it somehow seems, like a fine wine, to get better and better, in this day and age where good comedy is almost non existent, Dad's Army serves as a reminder of what a great comedy is.

It doesn't matter which series, which episode, you are guaranteed a laugh, warmth and good old fashioned fun. It's one of those rare shows that I would argue actually gets better as it goes one, with the best remembered and for many, funniest episode The Deadly Attachment coming late on in the show's run.

You can't possibly pick a favourite character, each of them is wonderful, funny, and acted with sheer quality.

I love the long running jokes, the fun it pokes at order and rank, and sometimes glimpses of life back in war torn Britain, with rationing and blackouts.

I have loved the show since I was a child, as I get older my love for it simply grows, it is one of the all time greats. 10/10.

I've seen Dad's Army over and over, so many episodes, and always enjoyed it. Have now just sat and watched series 1 which apparently I've not seen before (!) and laughed aloud. What brilliant timing, acting, writing, and story lines. Comedic genius, rare and precious, Perry and Croft do it over and over again, not only in Dad's Army but their others series (Hi de Hi is a particular favourite). I see that there are 9 series of Dad's Army, well I shall just have to sit and watch them all again. Did I mention that they are timeless? That too. Impossible to select a favourite character - they are all so polished and perfected. Using experienced and flawless actors helped of course.

Dad's Army -

Whilst a few set-ups (and more than a few sets) could be a bit ropey from time to time and you can sometimes hear actors fumbling through their lines, we forgive such trifling matters watching repeats of Dad's Army as almost every episode's a joy in spite of them.

What stands out most is casting that's second-to-none. Arthur Lowe fits into Mainwaring's shoes entirely convincingly. As do Le Mesurier, Dunn (well, when he'd been made up), Laurie, Lavender, Beck, and Ridley into their boots. Once these characters begin interacting with each other, it's guaranteed to raise laughs from adults and children alike; especially the implicit class opposition between short, rotund Mainwaring and dapper, laidback Sergeant Wilson. The vicar, verger, and ARP warden are also expertly cast.

There was the odd hiccup. Private Cheeseman didn't really work as a replacement for Walker, the only funny attribute of make-up-the-numbers Private Sponge is his surname, and the first and (what's left of) the second series don't really match the quality of those transmitted after the transition to colour. But at least fifty of the eighty episodes are an absolute hoot.

Dad's Army has been repeated on the BBC many many times over the last 30 odd years, and its easy to understand why.

The scripts were rich, simple, entertaining, inoffensive, gentle & above all, very very funny. Veteran writers, David Croft & Jimmy Perry, excelled themselves with this show, that lasted nearly 10 years from 1968 to 1977.

Of course, having a good script is all very well, but you need quality actors to make those scripts come to life. Step forward, then, a host of relative unknowns, thespians and bit-part actors.

Arthur Lowe (blunderbus,Captain Mainwaring), probably takes most plaudits and was certainly a very good versatile actor. It was felt back in the early days of Dad's Army (DA), that the sitcom was perhaps a little below his considerable acting talents. But like all good actors, he stuck with it through the first hesitant series and was rewarded with major audience ratings which would invariably lead to more and more episodes coupled with an appreciative following and critical acclaim that would bring its own rich rewards.

John Le Mesurier (the softly spoken Sgt Wilson), another experienced film and theatre actor with almost 100 films in his CV prior to taking on the part of kindly Sgt Wilson - very much everyone's favourite "uncle" figure.

Clive Dunn (Corporal Jones), surprised us all by looking considerably older for his part as local butcher, veteran WW1 soldier, Jones. He was only in his late 50s when he took on the part of a soldier who looked well into his 70s. But for all that he was perhaps the funniest and most endearing character of them off, especially when he went off on one his "Don't Panic" attacks, telling everyone to calm down, when in actual fact there was nothing at all to worry about!

John Laurie (the Scottish undertaker, Fraizer), had a very distinguished theatre career coupled with some major films parts during the early part of his career in the 30s and 40s. Again, like Lowe, it was felt Laurie had too much quality to be seeing doing something as apparently "lowly" as a sitcom. It was even rumoured that during the first couple of series he criticised the scripts and some of the actors around him for being "amateur". Although by Series 3, and a consistant 16 million TV fanbase, coupled with a better salary, Laurie soon changed his mind and genuinely began to immerse himself in the part.

Ian Lavender ("Stupid Boy", Private Pike). It was a very shrewd idea by Croft & Perry, to include a very young soldier into the mostly elderly Home Guard. Pike was very much the "Mother's Boy", a soldier equiped with a rifle, a bannet and a wooly scarf knitted by his mom and wrapped tightly round his neck to keep out the cold. Lavender, was perfect for the part. It wouldn't be far from the truth if the majority of the female TV audience of DA were mothers, grannies and aunts simply begging to look after this young, innocent young man fighting to protect his home and country alongside a bunch of pensioners. Of course his Captain, Manwaring, wasn't quite so sympathetic, and would often call him a "Stupid Boy" for behaving like a reckless teenager weened on too many comics.

Then of course there are the support actors such as the Cockney spiv, Private Walker (James Beck), the soppy vicar (Frank Williams) and the antagonistic ARP Warden (Bill Pertwee), who clashed with Manwaring and his rabble of pensioners throughout the lifetime of DA, often resorting to calling the Captain, Napoleon for his arrogant and amateurish behaviour.

There were many excellent episodes throughout the history of DA and many many more "very good" ones. Only rarely was there a poor episode, and these seemed to crop up during the last couple of years of the show, when one or two of the actors such as James Beck had died, leaving huge gaps that were never really successfully filled.

By today's standard the sfx and stunts, such as they were, were often very poor & obvious, but this was downside never really handicapped the show. Today's audience is far more sophisticated in its viewing habits than those of 20 or 30 years ago. But what is consistent through the decades is the quality of the stories and its endearing appeal that can only mean Dad's Army will be continually repeated throughout the decades as a piece of warm & friendly humour during the dark months and years of WW2.

****/*****

Only the British, quite possibly only the BBC, could ever try to produce a television sitcom based on a bunch of old codgers, with barely a functioning limb between them, up for defending their little bit of the country from the opposing Nazis just a few miles across the channel - armed only with one gun and some broom handles. David Croft and Jimmy Perry are, not for the first time, divinely inspired with this charming comedy that puts Arthur Lowe "Capt. Mainwaring" (pronounced Mannering), the town's pompous bank manager in charge of a platoon that features his clerk, the rather weedy but intelligent "Sgt. Wilson" (John Le Mesurier); "Cpl. Jones" who fought in the last war (Clive Dunn); poor hen-pecked "Pte. Pike" - the youngster of the squad who is about as hapless as it possible to get, and the butt of most of the jokes (Ian Lavender) and, of course, for me the star of the series: the old, dour, Scots undertaker - the veteran John ("we're dooooomed") Laurie as "Pte. Frazer". The series' see a whole range of gently amusing, faintly ridiculous, scenarios played out as the squad of Home Guard have to deal with everything from a visit from the King to the capture of some enemy paratroopers - all of which give "Mainwaring" the opportunity to demonstrate his complete lack of leadership skills and judgement whilst the rest of the cast do all the heavy lifting... The scrips are poignant and witty, swiping not just at their foe, but at the last vestiges of a supercilious class system that was very much on it's last legs, whilst also swinging at the aspiring middle classes who were all too keen take their place. The casting is superb, and only gets better as the cast become more comfortable in the roles - and bounce off one another expertly. With people like this on our side - it's no real wonder they won the war!

1940. France has fallen and Germany is poised to invade England. In towns all across Britain volunteer Army units form from local, generally older, townsfolk. This volunteer force would be the Home Guard. We follow the adventures and misadventures of such a unit in the small south coast town of Walmington-on-Sea.

Good fun. Is initially a bit disappointing: the first few episodes show the platoon being formed and these are a bit hit-and-miss. Just as I was about to give up on the series, however, it found its feet and became very entertaining. The characters gained more depth, the plots became cleverer, the jokes become sharper and there was a better rhythm to things. There's some great absurdist Pythonesque humour too.

Not brilliant though. Some characters, especially Hodges and Pike, are very annoying. As the series goes on the writers tend to rely too much on over-repeated catchphrases and retreads of the same gags. Some plots are just silly without being funny.

Another factor later on in the series was the death of James Beck. Beck played Private Walker, an "entrepreneur" responsible for some shady business dealings. He was easily the best character in the show: his ability and enthusiasm to get and trade anything, despite there being a war on, and his sardonic put-downs were the highlight of the show.

Overall, a good series with some iconic moments.

...but I never liked it. If it weren't for the acting talents of all concerned, especially Arthur Lowe, John le Mesurier and Bill Pertwee (in my opinion, the only believable character of the lot as the ARP warden), I'd rank it down there with 'Are You Being Served' (probably another favourite of a lot of you, but in my opinion the worst calumny ever afflicted on the British television public).

Which is a pity, since the premise is superb; and the subject matter manna from heaven to the Beeb's costume/set departments. Unfortunately, it degenerates into unbelievable situations, childish slapstick, and that faithful fallback of so much mediocre British comedy - the walk-on line.

Perhaps it was the timing: I was 11 when it first came out, possibly too young to appreciate all the wartime references (my parents loved it, and they didn't agree on much); but in my view it stands as a missed opportunity for all the undoubted talent involved.

Dad's Army is the best comedy ever written. It follows the Walmington-On-Sea Home Guard (part time soldiers) during the course of WW2. The platoon is led by the pompous Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), and the public school educated Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier). Third in command is the decorated veteran Lance-Corporal Jones (Clive Dunn). Also in the platoon are a Cockney black-market dealing Private Walker (James Beck), a Scottish ex-Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer turned Undertaker named Fraser (John Laurie), a medic with bladder trouble named Godfrey (Arnold Ridley) and a mummy's boy named Pike (Ian Lavender). The platoon frequently gets into various types of trouble, and this usually leads to a clash with the Chief ARP Warden Hodges (Bill Pertwee).

The plots and scripts for all of the episodes are superb, and like a fine wine, the series gets better with age!.

An especially funny exchange was in the episode 'The Deadly Attachment' where the platoon are ordered to look after a U-Boat crew for the night. This exchange was recently voted the funniest moment ever in a comedy series!

If you don't watch this brilliant series, make sure you see it soon, and if you don't find it funny, you will never laugh at anything!

The cast were right,.the atmosphere they created unique and the situation emphasized to the maximum Its writing excellent and acting from arthur lowe and co at times moving aswell as amusing

Great actors, great scripts and still one of the best comedies on TV.

Some years ago "Dad's army" was voted the best British comedy and rightly so.

Great Britain faced imminent invasion by Germany in 1940. The British army was destroyed on the beaches of Dunkirk. To counter an invasion the government decided to raise local militias consisting of individuals unfit or too old for military service called the Home Guard. Dad's Army is the story about such a local militia in the (fictious) little town of Walmington-on-Sea.

Dad's Army is British comedy at his very best. Some good points are

* The Brits are masters of ridiculing other nations but are grandmasters in ridiculing themselves. They do it with gusto in Dad's Army. * The ensemble cast has no weak links. Arthur Lowe (as capt. Mainwaring) is a giant, and John Le Mesurier (as sgt Wilson) plays himself, the quintessential English gentleman. *The writing is superb, the humour as British as British humour can get *There is so much to discover, the relationships between the characters, living in Britain during the war, the class-struggle, so many actors from other series make an appearance.

It is all wonderful to be honest.

I watched this series in the early 1970's, sitting with my Father a former Military man, who was literally in stitches of laughter from start to finish!.

In absolute honesty, I didn't understand the humour back then. My Father would often explain what made him laugh so much, but as a child it didn't do it for my child's mind.

Fast forward to the late 1980's and I arrive at a friend's apartment, as he and a few mates are sitting down to watch the Dads Army boxset.

I remember stating that I didn't get Dad's Army, but decided to join the group anyway.

Several hours later, my Jaws ache from laughing so much and my friend asks: I thought you didn't get Dad's Army?.

I realised just what my Father found so funny about the show, maturity played her part in my realisation, no doubt!.

To Conclude, genuinely great Comedy of the time and even now, if your maturity level is such that you understand the comedy in each situation.

Dad's Army is one of the greatest British comedies of all time!.

Gentle well written humour relying on the interactions of the main characters. The cast were an inspired selection of actors who were able to draw the most from the excellent scripts. AND not a sign of bad language!! Oh how we could do with that standard of writing and performance now. The catch phrases have sunken into the British psyche of those viewers of a certain age group. From Mainwaring's "Stupid Boy, Pike" to Jones' "Don't Panic" it was just a ball of laughs. But then through their earnest endeavours they generally came good with the tasks allotted to them by central command. The best episode for a classic comedic piece of timing, in my opinion, was The Deadly Attachment. Pike ridicules Hitler to the U-boat Capitain, and when asked what his name is to go on the reprisals list, Mainwaring butts in with a perfect "Don't tell him, Pike!". Classic.

A distinctly average comedy for middle of the road Britain. There is nothing essentially wrong with Dad's army, it's by no means bad and it does have several endearing elements, but the comedy is far from ground breaking, predictable and ultimately not especially funny. Many episodes lack originality and follow the same tired old gags and catchphrases over and over again. Time had done the series no favours either, if anything it feels even more staid and predictable than it did way back then. If you compare it to other classic BBC sitcoms, infact you could name many, Fawlty Towers. The Good Life, Reggie Perrin, Open All Hours, etc, all of them feel funnier than this and some are still as ground breaking as they were back then. Dads Army falls short of the mark in too many areas. I'm sure if you want a nostalgia trip or you like twee, middle of the road humour, this and last of the summer wine will be a hoot for you but otherwise it's an average relic that doesn't deserve the reputation it got.

To say that I love this show is an understatement. Comedies may come and go and have their moment, such as Royle Family or One Foot in the Grave, but there are precious few thats allure and appeal are timeless. Dad's Army is one such comedy.

A mix of subtle scripting, with gentle humour and a cast that is unsurpassed in sitcom history makes even the odd mediocre episode a pure joy to watch.

The casting is a joy with the characters so broadly defined and so well rounded the episodes almost write themselves around the situation that the individual episode is based on.

Also ponder for a moment the irony of the fact that Dads Army became hugely popular after the death of the majority of the cast.

An all time classic.

Dad's Army is without a doubt, pure comedy gold, and the ultimate 'much loved' classic. More than 30 years since it was last filmed it's as fresh and funny as ever.

The key reason it is so funny is that it's a huge ensemble of characters, too many to list. Even minor ones are wonderfully observed and add to the fabric.

What brings it all together however so fantastically is that all these characters serve to wind up, show up, and humiliate the ever self-important and self appointed commander of the platoon Captain Mainwairing.

The genius Arthur Lowe just had to give a withering look in reaction to a quip or unhelpfull comment from one of his platoon to hilarity. And with a shed-load of catchphrases from nearly all the characters that we all know and love, there were plenty of laughs to be had.

This show is the best 'tonic' you could wish for.