| Archive for - Whispers From Walmington Forum - A forum dedicated to the classic British comedy Dads Army from the BBC |
| David Doherty |
Favourite momentsWell then... lets get the ball rolling with the old favourite that no-one will argue with im sure:Capt. Muller: "You boy, your name vill also go on ze list. Vat is it?" Capt Mainwaring: " Dont tell him Pike" That has to be the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' of Dads Army. Everybody knows it! I look forward to hearing your favourites! 
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| davecov |
It's my favourite too and it's no surprise that it is also Ian Lavender's favourite moment.
Enjoy again, here My other favourite is from "Ring Dem Bells" when the platoon are dressed as Germans and go into "The Six Bells" pub. Pike says "Good evening mein host! Sixteen shandies mit der ginger beer". And here is the pub (picture taken in 2000) - 
Dave |
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| David Doherty |
I know the Six Bells very well, having partaken of the many delights on tap therein....... ("We mustn't encourage him to drink now must we?" "Purely for medicinal purposes ma'am, purely medicinal!"
My sister lives in the next village to Bardwell!  
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| David Doherty |
Wasn't the Six Bells used as the pub in 'Wake-up Walmington' as well dave? | ||||
| davecov |
Yes it was. One thing that was a surprise was finding that there was no telephone box across the road from the pub as seen in "Ring Dem Bells". Obviously a BBC prop.
Dave |
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| lemonski |
The episode where Mainwaring starts wearing a toupee, theres a scene where he calls Wilson into his office and Wilson can't stop laughing...always cracks me up.
The other one that springs to mind is The Honourable Man episode - beautifully written and acted. Mainwaring gets more and more irritated by Wilson's title, and Wilson being completely oblivious to it but managing to enrage Mainwaring further with every offhand remark. Mainwaring: The golf club??!!! I've being trying to get in for years!!!! Wilson: Well, you know they're awfully particular |
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| David Doherty |
I love that line which is also from "keep young and beautiful"....
"I too have taken steps to look more...'virile'." "My god not monkey glands!"
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| fluff75 |
I can't remember which episode it was in but for me the most memorable was Fraser rolling his eyes and going on at length about Capt Mainwaring, and then saying later that "he never doubted him for minute". Perhaps someone else here will be able to remember this?
Ron. |
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| davecov |
Hi Ron,
Welcome to the forum. I didn't think it would take you long to get here! 
I reckon the episode you mean was "Room at the Bottom". Mainwaring is reduced to the ranks - much to the delight of Frazer! At the end of the episode, we find that Mainwaring is restored to his Captain's rank. There are also some other "Frazer-isms" like that in other episodes too! Dave |
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| fluff75 |
And of course there was always Corporal Jones going on about the war in Africa around 1900 when he used to say "they definitely do not like it up 'em" and constantly going on about those "fuzzy- wussies". This occured in many episodes. Interesting thing about all this is the fact that only in "Dad's Army" did the characters cover three wars, Sudan/Boer, WW1 and WW2. No other series has managed to do this.
Ron. |
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| pault |
One classic for me is when Pvt Fraser relates the story of when he and his mate land on a desert island in search of a precious ruby the size of a ducks egg.
A witch doctor catches them in the act and puts a curse of death on his mate as he is attempting to hack the ruby out of the idols forehead. Death, Death cried the Witch Doctor, Death, The ruby will bring ye death! At this point, Pvt Pike interrupts Fraser's yarn and say's 'Did the curse come true Mr Fraser' ? Aye son it did. He died........ About 4 years ago he was 87 ! Great stuff. Cracks me up. Cheers, Paul. |
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| pault |
Another has to be when Mainwaring comes home very drunk after a night in the officers mess with Cpt Square. (Episode Fallen Idol).
He struggles to get back into the platoons tent and half slides around the post. At which point he say's; 'Damn revolving doors' ! Love it Cheers, Paul. |
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| yeapb |
My current favourite that had me laughing fit to burst was the epsiode on the clock tower when the figures start moving with Jonesy on them and the muffling of the bell with everyone's hats! | ||||
| David Doherty |
I can't help enjoying the wonderfully unscripted moment in 'Never Too Old' when Mainwaring and Mrs. Fox are walking out of the church hall arm in arm and get stuck going through the doorway.
Pamella Cundell tells a wonderful story of how, when she and Arthur Lowe where rehearsing, no-one actually saw this accidental incident. Arthur told her to act normally until recording.....when they did it again but on purpose (and with great comedic effect)! If you look behind them you can see Janet Davies burst out laughing and then try to control herself! Great stuff!!
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| David Doherty |
One that I keep forgetting to post and it annoys the hell out of me because I think its very funny but on both the television AND radio episodes the audience hardly laugh at all!
In Museum Piece when Jonsey is talking about taking a spear and Mainwaring says "...... and anyway they are Halberds." Jonsey replies' "I dont suppose he'd mind!" You see he thought he said "Alberts"...get it? No? Oh well please yourself you cheeky monkeys! 
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| yeapb |
The ability to switch laugh tracks off is a wonderful invention - when it is a 'laugh track' that is and not a live audience! You then feel free to laugh when YOU find it funny. | ||||
| jo |
I think that could be a forum topic in itself - hilarious moments that the audience fails to pick up on... Uncharacteristically I can't think of any at the moment, but I'll get researching as I know there are many (usually involving Jones). As for my favourite moments: After being introduced to DA via radio first (as mentioned elsewhere) 'Keep Young and Beautiful' was the first TV episode I watched - what a visual feast! The whole wig scene was flawless - from when Mainwaring half swallows the match to when Wilson nearly snaps his girdle. The drunken moments in 'All is Safely Gathered in' when the congregation are shoving each other while the vicar anxiously sings on. When Mainwaring shoots the balloon out of the sky in 'Battle of the Giants' and - initially offended by Wilson's disbelief - admits "Good Heavens!". When Mainwaring faints after seeing Elizabeth as 'Lady Godiva' and the sheer delight on Pike's face. 'The day the Balloon went up' from the moment the vicar sees the platoon apparently saluting him "Oh, well, bless you... You've rather taken the wind out of my sails, I came down here to be very cross..." to when Mainwaring points at the rude word on the harmonium "Jones, have you done that?" "Do you mean recently, sir?" (a bit nerdy, but in this episode - why didn't he simply jump off in the haystack?) Or 'We Know our Onions' with the classic scene between Wilson and Ramsay. "What are you doing in France?" "I'm not in France" before replying "Well, bonjour. What would you like to know?" (I only noticed this extra bit when reading the subtitles on the DVD recently. Makes more sense when Ramsay replies "You're not supposed to tell me anything!") 'Mum's Army' when Mainwaring takes his glasses off and misses the chair when sitting and also when he walks into the wall in the Tea Rooms. I'm a sucker for physical humour when done well - although some almost bordered on pantomime it somehow worked brilliantly. Leads me to a 'blink and you'll miss it' moment in 'War Dance' when Mainwaring gets increasingly drunk and the camera falls on him wobbling and holding his sherry glass up to the vicar (who's trying not to laugh). Is it me or was Frank Williams always laughing in his scenes, or was it in fact - like Godfrey - that it was "his normal expression"? And what about Wilson's brilliantly executed "My God, Mainwaring, you can hit pretty low when it suits you..." Yeah - you tell 'im Wilson! (my original tapes were ruined by rewinding such scenes too often!) I think that's enough for volume 1. Once you think of one, they all flood in... Ps. David, nice to see your promotion, your reverence... |
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| jo |
I once read in a (reasonably) reputable article that scientists had researched that monkeys and humans are more likely to laugh out loud at something when surrounded by fellow primates/people. It has something to do with bonding rituals. I admit this is true from my experience - I recently watched an episode with a friend and laughed at everything out loud much more than I would have done alone. Maybe this is part of the theory behind laughter tracks - to make you more susceptible to laughter? Well, it's a thought... Certainly watching the film without a laughter track somehow made it seem empty. |
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| jo |
After aquiring a cheap book of Dad's Army scripts, it's strange to see how much the original lines were changed - even if ever so subtly. This leads me to a favourite small moment in 'Asleep in the Deep' that wasn't in the original script - where Mainwaring and Wilson continue to hold hands after returning back to face the rest of the platoon. The look of pained restraint on Wilson's face, and the way Mainwaring reacts when he realises is priceless... | ||||
| David Doherty |
Breathe potaketl!
Seriously, many thanks for your wonderful contributions to the forum and many thanks for your congratulations on my promotion. If any one else turns up please bring them in to the service! |
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| jo |
Ha ha, I don't need to breathe... I'm a cartoon character.
I think he's taken over me. Jo's quite a normal person, actually, when I can get a word in edgeways. |
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| iq |
Dad's Army never resorted to a laughter track. The nearest they got was when two of the lost episodes were found and the BBC invited DA fans to the BBC to watch them and to record a new laughter track in case the old one wasn't up to much. Luckily, it was. In fact DA shows had to fade out the laughter as it went on too long and made the programmes over run! This was done mainly when location footage was shown. In 'The Day the Balloon Went Up' the audience bursts into appreciative applause when Mainwaring is hauled onto the railway bridge at the end of his balloon trip. This is rapidly faded out! |
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| Matt Vinyl |
Hi all, what a great site, and I hope to have many happy postings here!
I'd have to say that is one of my favourite lines - a completely uncharacteristic retort from Wilson.
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| Matt Vinyl |
And starting off with a double post, but:
There's another bit like that in an episode (name escapes me currently) where Walker says something pretty funny, and all you hear is Wilson go 'Tt, Lord!' quietly in the background, and no reaction from the audience. If I recall more details, I'll add 'em in.
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| Swallow Bank |
That's from War Dance and yes, that comment was uncharacteristic of Wilson. Wilson often lets Mainwaring's jibes go, but when he mentions Pike (the 'Peter Pan' comment), as he does in this episode, Wilson does tend respond - but usually he goes on the defensive, not the offensive as he does here. |
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| cositscheaper |
Favourite momentI think one of my favourite (and one of the most underrated) moments is in 'War Dance', when Mainwaring says, and I quote:'You've never really grown up have you Wilson? You're not a middle-aged bank clerk. You're a sort of...Peter Pan.' And later in that same episode when Wilson says, 'My god Mainwaring, you can hit pretty low when it suits you.'
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| Mrs Shaw |
I love the scene in Jonesy`s meat fridge where he takes Walker for a "private word" in The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones. I could watch it again and again and it`d never get stale! | ||||
| BWW |
One of my favourites is in the episode when Pike finally gets called up. He's thrown a fish supper by the platoon and then has to tell them the news that he's not going after all.
"Why didn't you say something?" asks Mainwaring "No-one's ever thrown me a fish supper before" replies Pike Cue a silence for a sympathetic response.... "You stupid boy" |
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