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 !
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!
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!! _________________ "Can you hear me Muller?"
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! _________________ "Can you hear me Muller?"
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.
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!
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...
Last edited by jo on Thu 01 Mar 2007 16:37 pm; edited 1 time in total
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.
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.
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...
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!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
