Don't Panic!! Dad's Army Has Arrived (Dad's Army - The Complete First Series (DVD))

Member Name: MI9to5

Product:	Dad's Army - The Complete First Series (DVD)
Date:	13/10/09 (56 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb characters that continue to develop

Disadvantages: The first series isn't as good as the following ones

Dad's Army is a British comedy series that was broadcast between 1968 and 1977. In a BBC poll in 2004 to find Britain's best sitcom the show was voted number 4 - just ahead of Fawlty Towers and Yes Minister but below The Vicar of Dibley, Blackadder and Only Fools and Horse, which topped the list.

== What is Dads Army? ==

The premise for Dad's Army is very simple indeed. The show follows the men of the home guard of Walmington-on-Sea on the south coast of England during World War 2. The series is based around their antics as they try to become a force fit to withstand anything thrown at them by the Nazis, or the Wardens or the Church Verger. The series as a whole is technically told as a series of flashback stories as the first episode begins in the 'present day' at a dinner as Captain Mainwaring addresses his old platoon. The programme doesn't however return back to the present day in the final episode and this flashback idea isn't evident in any of the other episodes. All of the episodes in all of the series tell self-contained stories although events in previous episode are sometimes loosely mentioned and the lives of the main characters constantly permeates all boundaries.

== The Characters ==

The characters in Dad's Army are truly unique in my opinion and fantastic to watch. They are all superbly depicted both through the acting and the witty lines written with painstaking brilliance.

There's the self appointed Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), who despite his sometimes seeming arrogance and his inability to use a 24-hour clock, simply wants to protect his country and more importantly his 'boys'. Next in line is his Sergeant, Wilson (John le Mesurier), who has a constant need check if something is "wise" and whose relationship with Private Pike's mum, Mavis, is certainly questionable. Close behind him is the bayonet barmy Lance Corporal Jack Jones (Clive Dunn), the town's butcher, who's all too eager to let "Gerry" have it or to simply tell the platoon a story about his time fighting the "Fuzzy-Wuzzies" and assure them not to panic!

Behind them is Private Frazer with his always classic "we're all doomed!" and Private Godfrey the team's medic whose sometimes feminine take on things and constant need to "be excused" is timeless. Following them is Private Joe Walker a bright bloke who can and will get his hands on anything if you give him half a chance and a couple of bob of course. His comic interruptions and witty statements are timeless and his relationship with Jonesey ultimately one of respect for the "silly old duffer". Finally comes Frank Pike the youngest member of the team at only 17. Frank is mollycoddled by his mother who constantly fears he'll get a cold and aggravate his chest.

All of these characters are in-turn neither backed up by the members of General Head Quarters, the members of the church and of course Mr 'turn that light out' Hodges, and Mr Yeatman.


== Series One & Two DVD ==

The full 6 episodes from series one plus the three surviving series two episodes are all contained in one box-set and across two DVD's. All of the episodes in this set can be watched with subtitles, which I can honestly say are rather accurate. It is also worth noting at this point that all of the episodes in these two series' were filmed in black and white and therefore do not exist in colour.

On top of the episodes the DVD's also contain a documentary entitled, "Missing Pressumed Wiped", which was broadcast on the BBC and tells the viewer all about the finidng of three of the series two episodes and the missing status of three others. Also contained on the DVD's are audio recordings of the three missing series two episodes. The recordings are definitely worth listening to as they fill in a couple of gaps especially by explaining how Walker gets out of being in the army.

== Episodes ==

Series 1
1. The Man and the Hour
All able bodied men are called to enrol themselves into the Local Defence Volounteers and Mr Mainwaring sets about making sure that it happens in Walmington-on-Sea.

2. Museum Piece
The platoon are unarmed and take matters into their own hands and try to equip themselves as a fighting force - with an ancient Chinese rocket gun.

3. Command Decision
Is Mainwaring willing to give up command to Colonel Square?

4. The Enemy Within the Gates
Godfrey by answering the 'call of nature' manages to lose the captured Nazi airmen and the chance of a £20 reward.

5. The Showing Up of Corporal Jones
The fitness of Lance Corporal Jones is doubted but nothing and no-one is going to put him down.

6. Shooting Pains
The platoon looks unlikely to beat Eastate Platton in a shooting competiton until Walker has an idea.

Series 2
1. Operation Kilt
A training exercise pits the platoon against the Highland Regiment regular army unit.

2. The Battle of Godfret's Cottage
As the church bells sound, the paltoon naturally believe the invasion has begun and hasten to the gun post at Godfrey's house.

3. Sergeant Wilson's Little Secret
When Mavis tells Frank that a little Arthur is on the way Mainwaring insists that Wilson does the decent thing.

== Episode Opinion ==

Now I am a huge fan of Dad's Army and I absolutely adore all of the episodes in these two series'. The early series one episodes aren't some of my favourites but I understand why they take the form they do and why it was necessary at the original time of broadcast for them to be presented as such. The humour in all however is so rich that you cannot help but laugh and the characters are all so well developed and unique that you cannot help but love them right from the start. It is this instant warming of the audience to the characters that for me makes this programme so good and one that you always seem to remember.

My favourite episode from this box-set is proabbly 'The Showing Up of Corporal Jones' because I loved the way that although the platoon hadn't known each other for very long they all pulled together to ensure that Jones stayed with them. On top of this the episode also highlighted how both Walker and Pike are more than they may at first seem. Pike isn't simply a mummy's boy who can't do anything for himself and walking despite being a definite spiv is ultimately very bright and has a kind heart. It is this episode in which his relationship with Jones really starts to take of and for me this is one of the most prominent in the series as a whole.

== Humour ==

The early series one episodes highlight how dangerously and demoralisingly under equipped the Home Guard found themselves and therefore the humour in these episodes is a lot darker than it becomes in previous ones. Ultimately however all of the episodes have an element of truth humour in them, meaning that a quantity of the comedy is generated from telling the sitaution as it is. In these situations it is the comic timing and the deadpan way of phrasing that make the statements so humorous.

As the first series progresses however it is the subtle humour as well as the slapstick elements that ar ebrought more to the forefront. From a slapstick perspect Corporal Jones is the perfect model. His inability to do most things without causing at least a little bit of chaos is always funny and his frequent requests for "Permission to Speak", "Permission to volounteer" and his telling others "Don't Panic" always make me chuckle.

It is the character relationships and their interactions however that provide us with the subtle humour. The relationship between Sergeant Wilson and Mavis Pike is eternally questionable is a very open sort of way and the way Mainwaring and Wilson interact with one another creates numorous long-running jokes. This subtle humour continues with Pike's constant need to tell his mum and well as all the other characters little quirks.

All of the humour however, whether it be dark, subtle or slapstick in variety, is carefully mixed with some true poignant moments, which highlight the sacrifices that those in the Home Guard throughout the war made. The prime example is when a small group of the men are left behind at Godfrey's cottage to defend the town from German invasion and Mainwaring says, "Of course, that will be the end of us!" and Fraser, the most pessimistic of the lot, replies with "We know Sir," before getting on with the task they have to perform.

== Music ==

All of the music used in the Dad's Army series was taking from the period in question and therefore is historical accurate and not in conflict with what is being shown on the screen. Better still a lot of the music used is lesser known war-time pieces or marching songs and in a way this adds a greater sense of authenticity.

The best piece of music in the series however is the title track, which everyone seems to know. This is a track that epitomises the programme in my opinion and is one that I just can't help but sing along to. Just incase you're not aware of the track in question I have reproduced the first verse below:
"Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler, if you think we're on the run?
We are the boys who will stop your little game.
We are the boys who will make you think again.
'Cus who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler, if you think old England's done?"


== General Opinion ==

This DVD set is one that every comedy fan should own. It is the start of a TV comedy series that is probably the best ever made. In my opinion Dad's Army captuares perfectly the spirit of a military based unit. I myself am an Air Cadet and know from experience that every unit has a Captain Mainwaring, a Sergeant Wilson, a Private Pike and definitely a Corporal Jones. The way they interact with each other and the way they behave may seem strange but trust me when I say that these characters crop up in any unit. If characters make a series what it is then Dad's Army is a prime example.

I would whole-heartedly recommend this series to anyone and everyone. It has a rating of PG and can therefore we watched, enjoyed and chersihed by young and old alike. It is in my eye simply a comedy that will never die and whose humour will stay forever young.

Summary: A brilliant series well worth purchasing