Dad's Army to get big screen treatment

On: May 4, 2014,  By: Bill Young

Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson and Private Pike are going back on patrol some 37 years after they were last on duty protecting the quiet seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea from a Nazi invasion. Dad’s Army, which starred Arthur Lowe, followed the escapades of the Home Guard platoon during World War II and their efforts as the front line in the event of an invasion across the English Channel. Consisting primarily of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, the Home Guard in Dad’s Army were ‘ineligible’ largely due to age.
 
Dad's Army headed to the big screen starring Bill Nighy and Toby Jones

Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (Are You Being Served, ‘Allo ‘Allo), it was only a matter of time before the iconic late 60’s BBC2 sitcom was turned into a feature film. The 90-year-old Perry is set to co-produce the new film with BAFTA award winning British producer Damian Jones (History Boys, The Iron Lady) which will star the greatness that is Bill Nighy (Page Eight, Love Actually, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The World’s End) as upper-class bank employee Sergeant Wilson, who always questioned Captain Mainwaring’s judgment, alongside Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor, The Hunger Games, Captain America: The Winter Soldier), who will headline as local bank manager, the exceedingly patriotic Captain Mainwaring.
 

 
Dad’s Army, which ran for nine series between 1968 and 1977 on BBC2, finished fourth in the 2004 Britain’s Best Sitcom poll. It will be interesting to see how this translates to the big screen. At first glance, even though it still has legs on the small screen anytime it transmits, I’m not sure this will work, but with Bill Nighy, how can it not. Thoughts?

In: Actors/Actresses,Comedy

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  • Dbollox

    Dad’s Army TO get big screen treatment? Dunno which rock youve been under mate, but I think the title of your report should have been “Dads Army Back on the big screen again”, as there was a film based on the Dad’s Army TV series made back in 1971 with the original cast when the series itself was still going.If,however, this is a remake of the 1971 Dads Army film,fair enough,but if its a brand new Dads Army film,how can Jimmy Perry write it with David Croft? Considering David Croft died 3 years ago at the grand old age of 89.

    • Bill_Young

      Thanks for the comment, Dbollox. While I did not reference the 1971 film, I am well aware of it. As well, I am fully aware that David Croft passed away three years ago. If you read the post , the reference to ‘co-written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft refers to ‘the late 60’s iconic BBC2 series’ NOT the upcomg film which then mentions that Perry will co-produce the upcoming film with Damian Jones. No reference to David Croft involvement. Also the title of the post merely speaks to the fact that Dad’s Army will be made into a feature. It’s not saying it’s the first time this has occurred. That said, thanks for reading Tellyspotting. Do you agree that a film should be made again or let the series be?

      • Dbollox

        Your welcome mate.I see I dont think it would work. While its a good cast so far, they would have to actually act out the mannerisms,etc of the characters whereas with the original cast, Arthur Lowe as Manwaring, John Le Mesurier,etc, they basically played themselves because thats how the actors were like in real life anyway.I mean this new film would give people whove never heard of Dads Army an insight,I suppose (dunno why they wont have seen any of the original episodes, as they are repeated on TV every so often) but I dont think it would work somehow. In short,the original had the right cast and the right writers,plus most of the cast had experienced WW II in one way or another and with the new cast,I dont think they would pull it off somehow.

  • Lumio-moon

    Terrible idea, won’t work. Bill Nighy is an irritating actor and would be a reason not to watch it