TV Episode 1 - The Man and The Hour

30 minutes, Black & White, BBC 1968

Original Recording: Monday 15th April 1968
Original Broadcast: Wednesday 31st July 1968

It's May 1940; Sir Anthony Eden makes his announcement to the nation that a new home Defence is to be formed for which to defend Britain's homes against German invasion - the Local Defence Volunteers.

Walmington-on-Sea's bank manager - George Mainwaring, hears the announcement on the Wireless. Within weeks he forms a platoon, with himself as Captain and his bank clerk, Arthur Wilson as Sergeant.

With the advantage of steak supply, the local butcher, old campaigner Jack Jones is allowed to retain his Lance Corporal role.
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Classic Moment - The Man and The Hour by Jimmy Perry & David Croft
Wilson: Mr. Mainwaring wants your rifle.
Godfrey: Who wants it?
Wilson: Captain Mainwaring.
Godfrey: Well, he can't have it.
Mainwaring: Are you refusing to obey an order on active service?
Do you realise that we could have you shot?
Walker: That would be a bit difficult - seeing as he's the only one with a gun.
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The formation of the platoon leads to lots of grumbling as it becomes apparent that they have no weapons, Mainwaring however challenges his men to go home and find any thing they can use as a weapon. Pike does this by tying a knife to a broom handle, but unfortunately leaves the brush on it!

The first weapon consignment arrives, Pepper - for throwing in the face of the enemy! Mainwaring and his men are not downhearted however and are ready to take on any invading Nazi hordes that enter Walmington-on-Sea!

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), Janet Davies (Mrs Pike), Caroline Dowdeswell (Janet King), John Ringham (Bracewell), Bill Pertwee (The A.R.P. Warden), Neville Hughes (The Soldier), The voices of Bud Flanagan & E.V.H. Emmett.

More About "The Man and The Hour"

The first Dad's Army episode - The Man and The Hour was previewed in a one-page article in the Radio Times written by Russell Twisk. More information...

Preview's for the first episode weren't very positive - 'Dad's Army wasn't all that popular to begin with' confided Jimmy Perry to TV Quick in 2001, 'One Woman said, "we've had enough of this wartime stuff - and that bald bugger (Arthur Lowe) doesn't know his lines!"'

In the first episode Mainwaring and Wilson listen to Sir Anthony Eden's announcement on the wireless in Mainwaring's office. For the later adaptations on film and radio Mainwaring, Wilson and Pike go to Elliott's radio store to hear the message, as Mainwaring doesn't have a radio in his office.

When the platoon return with their weapons Godfrey is the one with a gun, this changes in later adaptation's as it is later revealed in the episode "Branded" that in World War 1 Godfrey was a conscientious objector! Owning a gun therefore does not really befit his character.

Jimmy Perry originally wanted to play the role of Private Walker, when David Croft told him he had to decide if he wanted to write or act, Jimmy decided to write! David Croft then suggested James Beck for the role of Joe Walker.

John Ringham plays Bracewell in the first episode; this character however was dropped as it was felt he was likened too much to Godfrey's character. John Ringham needn't have worried; he would be invited back to play Captain Bailey in four later episodes of Dad's Army.

The role of Mainwaring was always to be played by Arthur Lowe and likewise Wilson by John Le Mesurier. It seems that BBC executive Huw Weldon mistakenly believed that the actors were to play opposite roles as it seemed to him more likely that John would play the Captain and Arthur the Sergeant.

BBC controller Paul Fox objected to David Croft's original title sequence for the programme of evacuee's and invading German's. The title sequence was changed to the animated arrow map of the South Coast of England.

The accompanying photograph of the episode billing in the Radio Times actually shows a scene from episode 3 - "Command Decision".

EVH EMMETT narrated the newsreel footage for this episode and throughout season one.

The episode begins with a prelude sequence set in 1968 at Walmington's "I'm Backing Britain" Campaign. All characters are seen except Corporal Jones, its presumed he has died by this point. This is the only time in the series the characters are seen in the present day.

"The Man and The Hour" was released by BBC Video in 1993. More Information...

The radio adaptation of this episode was made by BBC Radio in 1973. Michael Knowles & Harold Snoad adapted Jimmy Perry & David Croft's original television scripts. More Information...

Written and researched by Andy Howells.

This Presentation: Copyright: www.dadsarmy.tv 2002
All Photographs Copyright: BBC & Radio Times 1968