Dad's Army

 Year of Release:  1971

Director:  Norman Cohen

Screenplay:  Jimmy Perry and David Croft, from an idea by Jimmy Perry, based on the television series Dad's Army created by Jimmy Perry and David Croft

Starring:  Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, John Laurie, James Beck, Arnold Ridley, Ian Lavender

Running Time:  95 minutes

Genre:  Comedy, war

During World War II it looks increasingly likely that the Nazis will invade Britain, and so the British Government create a volunteer militia made up of those men who are unsuitable for drafting into the regular Army, mostly due to age (hence they were nicknamed "Dad's Army" by regular troops).  They were originally dubbed the Local Defence Volunteers, and later the Home Guard.  Their job was basically to be a last line of defence in the event of an invasion.  At the small town of Walmington-on-Sea, on the south-east coast of England, the local Home Guard, under the command of pompous bank manager George Mainwaring (Lowe) make up in enthusiasm what they lack in equipment, skills and common sense.

The television sitcom Dad's Army ran for nine seasons between 1968 and 1977 totalling 80 episodes, and to this today is still one of Britain's most beloved TV shows, and is repeated regularly.  It was inevitable that it would be brought into the 1970s vogue for adapting popular sitcoms as low-budget feature films.  This fares better than most, mainly because it doesn't stray too far from it's TV origins.  In fact the early part of the film is almost a remake of the first episode, and the things that fans expect are largely present and correct.  The main difference between this and the TV series is that there is a planned Nazi invasion of Walmington-on-Sea, which really only comes into play in the last quarter of an hour, and seems to be there just to give the film an ending.  The film is very episodic and feels like a kind of TV special rather than a feature film.  However the cast are all talented comedy actors and by this time their roles fit them like gloves.    Fans of the TV series will enjoy it, and if you've never seen the show than it is a good introduction.  The film was very popular, and as equal was planned but never made.  However the series was again adapted into a film in 2016 called Dad's Army, with a mostly completely different cast.

Don't panic, Mr. Mainwaring: Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier in Dad's Army