Dad’s Army (The Best of British Comedy) - Hardcover

Webber, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0007285302 ISBN 13: 9780007285303

Publisher: Harper, 2008

Synopsis

The best jokes, gags and scenes from a true British comedy classic.

‘They don't like it up 'em!’

'People shout the "Don't tell him, Pike!" line at me regularly - and I didn't even say it!’ Philip Madoc.

In the annals of British television, no finer example of classic comedy exists than in the shape of Dad's Army, the Home Guard-based sitcom written by veteran writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Although they penned many other sterling programmes, including Hi-De-Hi! and the underrated You Rang, M'Lord?, they'll forever be remembered for their brilliant wartime comedy spotlighting the antics of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard, led by the irascible and pompous Captain Mainwaring.

Between 1968 and '77, nine series and three Christmas Specials - totalling 80 instalments - were screened, much to the delight of the millions of fans who tuned in; but the show's popularity has continued unabated and even today, four decades since the platoon marched onto the scene, it remains one of the golden offerings from the sitcom genre.

With the 40th anniversary of Dad’s Army in 2008, what better time to celebrate the magic of this show.

The Best of British Comedy - Dad’s Army includes:

· The History: an overview of how Dad’s Army was born and developed
· Gags and Catchphrases: a collection of classic quotes from the programme
· Did You Know?: snippets of info about the show, cast, etc.
· Favourite scenes: the most memorable scenes in full
· A Dad’s Army quiz

Episode: 'Something Nasty in the Vault'

Mainwaring and Wilson are stuck in the bank's strong room. There has been an air raid and they've ended up holding an unexploded bomb. Pike arrives.

Pike: Uncle Arthur?
Wilson: Oh, what it is, Frank?
Pike: Do you think I ought to phone mum and tell her you're holding a bomb?
Wilson: No!
Pike: But she might get cross if she found out that you'd been holding a bomb and she wasn't told about it.

About this title

Review:

On the basis that it is possible to have too much of a good thing, this book may well be dangerous to Dad's Army fans of a nervous disposition. Richard Webber's absorbing and affectionate tribute to the hugely popular sit-com features more information than you could possibly need. Yet to its huge credit it still manages to steer a path round getting bogged down in anorak-level detail. Of course there are biographies of all the stars and the plot lines of every episode. Nothing surprising in that. But there are also short pieces on the minor actors--did you know that the man who played the obsequious verger also played a taxi driver in the film version of No Sex Please We're British--and astonishingly a round-up of the 21 "silent soldiers"; actors who made up the rest of the platoon and never uttered a single line between them. There's details of the Dad's Army film, the stage play and the radio show as well as a terrific forward by Michael Palin who, rightly, points out what a fine ensemble piece the show was. You probably need to be a fan to buy this book but if you are it is a genuine treat. --Nick Wroe

About the Author:

As a journalist and writer, Richard Webber writes regulary about TV, contributing to a host of newspapers and magazines, including TV Quick, Daily Express, Sunday Express and the Sunday Telegraph and is the author of over a dozen books celebrating classic comedy, such as The A-Z of Dad's Army, The A-Z of Only Fools and Horses, The Complete One Foot in the Grave, Are You Being Served? - 25 Years, Rising Damp - A Celebration, Porridge - The Inside Story and The Complete A-Z of Everything Carry On.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0007285302
• ISBN 13: 9780007285303
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160