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Fallen Idol (Dad's Army)
"Fallen Idol" is the thirteenth and final episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series ''Dad's Army''. It was originally transmitted on Friday 18 December 1970. Synopsis Mainwaring has always epitomised the principle of military sobriety to his men, but, after Captain Square leads him astray one day in the Officer's Mess, he ends up inebriated. Only something genuinely heroic now can restore his damaged reputation in the eyes of his men. Plot The platoon arrive at a weekend country training camp to teach them about bombs. The camp is run by a twitchy Captain Reed ( Michael Knowles) frightened by the enthusiasm and lack of awareness shown by the Home Guard. He is particularly unsettled by the Walmington-on-Sea platoon, especially Corporal Jones. The story largely follows Captain Mainwaring's fall from grace in the eyes of his platoon, and subsequent redemption. When the men are bivouacked in a tent, he falls under the influence of Captain Square who convinces him ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dad's Army
''Dad's Army'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard (United Kingdom), Home Guard during the World War II, Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Croft, and originally broadcast on BBC One, BBC1 from 31 July 1968 to 13 November 1977. It ran for nine series and 80 episodes in total; a Dad's Army (1971 film), feature film released in 1971, a stage show and a radio version based on the television scripts were also produced. The series regularly gained audiences of 18 million viewers and is still shown internationally. The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, either because of age (hence the title ''Dad's Army''), medical reasons or by being in Reserved occupation, professions exempt from conscription. Most of the platoon members in ''Dad's Army'' are over military age and the series stars several older British actors, including Arnold Ridley, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Laurie
John Paton Laurie (25 March 1897 – 23 June 1980) was a Scottish actor. In the course of his career, Laurie performed on the stage and in films as well as television. He is perhaps best remembered for his role in the sitcom ''Dad's Army'' (1968-1977) as Private Frazer, a member of the Home Guard. Laurie appeared in scores of feature films with directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Powell, and Laurence Olivier, generally playing memorable small or supporting roles rather than leading ones. As a stage actor, he was cast in Shakespearean roles and was a speaker of verse, especially of Robert Burns. Early life John Paton Laurie was born on 25 March 1897 in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire to William Laurie (1856–1903), a clerk in a tweed mill and later a hatter and hosier, and Jessie Ann Laurie (''née'' Brown; 1858–1935). Laurie attended Dumfries Academy (a grammar school at the time), before abandoning a career in architecture to serve in the First World War as a member of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Raglan
Robert Raglan (7 April 1909 – 18 July 1985) was a British actor best known for his semi-regular role in ''Dad's Army'' as Colonel Pritchard. He also starred in a number of other television series and films such as ''Fabian of the Yard'' (1954–56) and ''The Haunted House of Horror'' (1969). He also appeared in ''Danger Man'' with Patrick McGoohan and Scotland Yard (TV series). Partial filmography * ''The Courtneys of Curzon Street'' (1947) - (uncredited) * ''Circus Boy'' (1947) - Trevor * '' Night Beat'' (1947) - Det. Sgt (uncredited) * '' The Ringer'' (1952) - (uncredited) * '' The Broken Horseshoe'' (1953) - (uncredited) * ''Recoil'' (1953) - Sgt Perkins * ''The Good Beginning'' (1953) - Shelley (uncredited) * ''Gilbert Harding Speaking of Murder'' (1953) - Inspector McKay (uncredited) * '' Child's Play'' (1954) - Police Superintendent * ''Confession'' (1955) - Superintendent Beckman * ''Portrait of Alison'' (1955) - (uncredited) * ''Handcuffs, London'' (1955) - Det. Sgt W ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tom Mennard
Tom Mennard (11 February 1918 – 2 November 1989) was an English comedian and actor. Mennard had a long career in variety, radio and television. Mennard was born in Beeston, Leeds, the son of an undertaker.Roy Hudd & Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts: A Who Was Who of Light Entertainment 1945-60'', Robson Books, 1997, p. 119 He subsequently settled in Brighton where he worked as bus driver.Tom Mennard on Harry Worth site Whilst in Brighton he became involved in an amateur revue company where his performances attracted the attention of singer , who was appearing in variety in the town. On Peers' recommendation Mennard got an audition for the |
Anthony Sagar
Anthony Sagar (19 June 1920 – 24 January 1973) was an English character actor and a member of the National Theatre. He was prolific screen performer and appeared in many films (including seven of the ''Carry On'' series) and television series including the 1959 adaptation of ''The Moonstone'', ''Steptoe and Son'', '' The Avengers'' and ''Dad's Army''. Career James Anthony Sagar was born in Burnley, Lancashire and his early career was largely in film and stage. His first television role, in ''Dixon of Dock Green'', came at the age of 36. He stayed with police dramas, appearing in ''Z-Cars'', ''Special Branch'' and ''New Scotland Yard''. Other television roles included Ernie Kidd in ''Swallows and Amazons'' (1963), Sergeant Harris in ''Doomwatch'' (1970) and Parker in ''Spyder's Web'' (1972), as well as appearances in '' The Avengers'' (1969) and ''Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'' (1969).Richard Webber, Jimmy Perry and David Croft, ''The Complete A-Z of Dad's Army'' – Orion M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rex Garner
Rex Garner was a British born actor and director. He was born in 1921 in Wolverhampton, England. He died 17 May 2015 at the age of 94. Garner was survived by his seven children: Nicolas Garner, Lindsay Garner, Christopher Garner, Geraldine Raper (née Garner) Sally Garner-Gibbons, Kerry Garner, and Kim Garner, and his ex-wife Tammy Garner. Among his many British TV appearances he co-starred in '' My Wife and I''. In 1968 he went to South Africa to join the Academy Theatre, and settled there in 1974. In 1979 joined Pieter Toerien acting and directing plays until 1999. In 1981 he was the director of Tommie Meyer's film "Birds of Paradise". He returned to the UK in the early 2000s. He was named the best actor in 1983 at the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards are annual South African theatre awards focusing on professional productions staged in and around Cape Town. Awards are presented in 20 categories. History The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were ori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geoffrey Lumsden
Geoffrey Forbes Lumsden (26 December 1914 – 4 March 1984) was a British character actor who had a lengthy career on television. Lumsden was born in London in 1914 and attended Repton School, where he was a contemporary of Denton Welch. By the time he had left school, both his parents had died. While living with his uncle he reluctantly trained as an engineer at a colliery. It was at the colliery that he first became interested in acting when he organised concerts for the workforce, and won a scholarship to train at RADA while still working there. In 1938, he married Judith Cope. Working in repertory theatre, his theatrical career was interrupted by World War II during which he served in Burma. Returning to the theatre after the war, he became a playwright and appeared on various TV shows and films. In 1947, he married Helen A. Syme at Cuckfield in Sussex. On Broadway he appeared as Sir Francis Getliffe in '' The Affair'' at the Henry Miller Theatre (1962) and as Major ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Private Pike
Private Frank Pike is a fictional Home Guard private and junior bank clerk, first portrayed by actor Ian Lavender in the BBC television sitcom ''Dad's Army''. He was appointed as the platoon's information officer by Captain Mainwaring in The Man and the Hour. He is frequently referred to by Captain Mainwaring as "stupid boy". Personality Pike was born in 1922, and is the youngest of the Walmington-on-Sea platoon. Aged 17 when the series begins, he is not old enough to join the army, although presumably he has reached, or is nearing, his 18th birthday when he is about to receive call-up papers in When You've Got to Go; in the event, it is revealed that he has a rare blood type that excludes him from military service. In "War Dance", it is revealed to Mainwaring from Wilson that Pike "is going on 19". He lives in the shadow of his bossy and over-protective mother, Mavis Pike, who is in a relationship with Sergeant Wilson. Wilson is referred to by Pike as "Uncle Arthur" and is h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian Lavender
Arthur Ian Lavender (born 16 February 1946) is an English stage, film and television actor. He is best known for his role as Private Pike in the BBC sitcom ''Dad's Army'', and is the last surviving major cast member of the series following the death of Frank Williams in 2022. Early life Lavender was born in Birmingham, England. He attended Bournville Boys Technical School (later Bournville Grammar-Technical School for Boys) where he appeared in many school dramatic productions. From there he went to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, with the assistance of a grant from the City of Birmingham. Following his graduation in 1967 he appeared on stage in Canterbury. Career His first television appearance was as the lead in a Rediffusion play entitled ''Half Hour Story: Flowers at my Feet'' in 1968. ''Dad's Army'' In 1968, aged 22, Lavender was cast as Private Frank Pike, the youngest member and “stupid boy” of the platoon in the BBC sitcom ''Dad's Army''. This made him a hous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Private Godfrey
Private Charles Godfrey MM is a fictional Home Guard platoon member, first portrayed by Arnold Ridley in the BBC television sitcom ''Dad's Army''. and in the 1971 ''Dad's Army'' film. He is retired and was previously a tailor for the Civil Service Stores or the Army & Navy Stores. Godfrey was a conscientious objector during the First World War, yet he did work as a stretcher bearer with the Royal Army Medical Corps and earned a Military Medal for taking the wounded off the battle field at the Battle of the Somme. This has earned him great respect among the platoon members and resulted in him being appointed as the First Aid supervisor. Ridley himself fought at the Battle of the Somme during the First World War. Personality Godfrey was born in 1871, and is a gentle, mild-mannered and kindly old gentleman, though more complex than at first evident. He is the only member of the platoon who has retired. In the episode " Branded" it is revealed that he was a conscientious object ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arnold Ridley
William Arnold Ridley, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984) was an English playwright and actor, earlier in his career known for writing the play '' The Ghost Train'' and later in life in the British TV sitcom ''Dad's Army'' (1968–1977) as the elderly bumbling Private Godfrey, as well as in spin-offs including the feature film version and the stage production. He is the great-uncle of actress Daisy Ridley. Early life William Arnold Ridley was born in Walcot, Bath, Somerset, England, the son of Rosa Caroline (née Morrish, 1870–1956) and William Robert Ridley (1871–1931). His father was a gymnastics instructor and ran a boot and shoe shop. He attended the Clarendon School and the Bath City Secondary School where he was a keen sportsman. A graduate of the University of Bristol, he studied at the Education Department, and played Hamlet in a student production. Ridley undertook teaching practice at an Elementary School in Bristol. Military service Ridley was a student ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Private Walker
Private Joe Walker is a fictional black market spiv (or Wholesales Supplier, as he politely puts it) and Home Guard platoon member, first portrayed by actor James Beck in the BBC television sitcom ''Dad's Army''. In real life, Beck died suddenly on 6 August 1973. The character of Walker was one of the seven primary characters in the show. Following his character's departure (Walker was last mentioned in the episode "The Recruit", although he does not appear in this episode) the series attempted to replace him with a war reporter called Private Cheeseman (played by Talfryn Thomas), who had made a previous cameo appearance in the episode "My British Buddy". Personality Walker is the second-youngest member of the platoon, the youngest being Private Pike, and speaks with a cockney accent. A pleasant and amiable (if slightly shifty) personality, Walker is nevertheless a constant thorn in Captain Mainwaring's side, for he doesn't share Mainwaring's idealism, and makes cheeky and wit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
