Radio
Episode 1: The Man and The Hour
 Based
on the TV Episode The
Man and The Hour (1968)
Studio Recording : Sunday 3rd June 1973
Original Broadcast: Monday 28th January 1974,
BBC Radio 4, 6.15pm
Adapted for Radio by: Michael Knowles & Harold
Snoad
based on the Television Scripts by Jimmy Perry & David
Croft
Produced by: John Dyas
England, May 1940, Bank Manager
George Mainwaring answers his country's call and forms a platoon
of Local Defence Volunteers to defend the Island home of Walmington-on-Sea
against possible Nazi invaders.
Appointing himself Commanding Officer,
Mainwaring also appoints his senior bank clerk, Wilson, the Sergeant
and the local butcher (an old campaigner) Jack Jones, the Corporal.
Assembling in the church hall the
platoon are individually interviewed by the Captain, (Wilson enlists
the use of some church papers which are soon abandoned when it
is deemed some of the questions are inappropriate).
Amongst the recruits are Joe Walker
(the local Spiv), James Frazer (the local Undertaker), Charles
Godfrey (a retired Gentleman's Outfitter who served in the Army
& Navy stores) and Frank Pike, (Mainwaring's Junior Bank Clerk
- Pike's mother - a widow -seems to have a friendly relationship
with Wilson).
Equipped with shovels and broom handles,
salt (to throw in the face of the enemy) and arm bands, the platoon
are prepared for the onslaught of the Nazi menace!
Cast:
Arthur
Lowe (Captain Mainwaring) , John Le Mesurier (Sergeant
Wilson), Clive Dunn (Lance Corporal Jones), John Laurie
(Private Frazer), James Beck (Private Walker), Arnold
Ridley (Private Godfrey), Ian Lavender (Private Pike),
Timothy Bateson (Elliott/ General Wilkinson/ GHQ Driver),
John Snagge (BBC Announcer)
 Now,
Pay Attention...
The
first Dad's Army radio episode was an adaptation
of the first episode of the TV Series "The Man
and The Hour" originally recorded five years
previously.
However,
section's were also adapted from the feature film (i.e.
Mainwaring and Wilson listening to Anthony Eden's speech
in the Wireless shop and General Wilkinson's refusal to
hand over his gun - this was Godfrey in the TV version
which contradicts Godfrey's later reasoning of being a
conscientious objector).
Listen
out for the only appearance of Bud Flanagan's version
of the signature tune in the radio series at the climax
of this episode. All other episodes open and close with
the Coldstream Guards version of the Dad's Army
theme which was usually heard at the end of the TV episodes.
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Available
on BBC Radio Collection Cassette: Dad's
Army 2 - Command Decision
Dad's
Army Radio Episode Guide
Written,
researched and designed by Andy Howells (c) 2002. Design revised:
Andy Howells (C) 2003.
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