Dad's Army
Originally intended to be called The Fighting Tigers, Dad’s Army was based partly on co-writer and creator Jimmy Perry’s real-life experiences in the Local Defence Volunteers (later known as the Home Guard). Perry had been 15 years old when he joined the 19th Hertfordshire Battalion and with a mother who did not like him being out at night and fearing he might catch cold, he bore more than a passing resemblance to the character of Frank Pike. An elderly lance corporal in the outfit often referred to fighting for Kitchener against the "Fuzzy Wuzzies" and proved to be a perfect model for Jones. Other influences were the film Whisky Galore!, and the work of comedians such as Will Hay whose film Oh, Mr Porter! featured a pompous ass, an old man and a young man which gave him Mainwaring, Godfrey and Pike. Another influence was Robb Wilton.
Perry wrote the first script and gave it to David Croft while working as a minor actor in the Croft-produced sitcom Hugh and I, originally intending the role of the spiv, Walker, to be his own. Croft was impressed and sent the script to Michael Mills, Head of Comedy at the BBC. After addressing initial concerns that the programme was making fun of the efforts of the Home Guard, the series was commissioned.
In his book, Dad's Army, Graham McCann explained that the show owes a lot to Michael Mills. It was he who renamed the show Dad's Army. He did not like Brightsea-on-Sea so the location was changed to Walmington-on-Sea. He was happy with the names for the characters Mainwaring, Godfrey and Pike but not with other names and he made suggestions: Private Jim Duck became Frazer, Joe Fish became Joe Walker and Jim Jones became Jack Jones. He also suggested adding a Scot to the mix. Jimmy Perry had produced the original idea but was in need of an experienced man to see it through. Mills suggested David Croft and so the successful partnership began.
Read more about this topic: Perry And Croft
Famous quotes containing the words dad and/or army:
“Now folks, I hereby declare the first church of Tombstone, which aint got no name yet or no preacher either, officially dedicated. Now I dont pretend to be no preacher, but Ive read the Good Book from cover to cover and back again, and I nary found one word agin dancin. So well commence by havin a dad blasted good dance.”
—Samuel G. Engel (19041984)
“Olivia Dandridge: You dont have to say it, Captain. I know all this is because of me. Because I wanted to see the West. Because I wasnt, I wasnt army enough to stay the winter.
Capt. Brittles: Youre not quite army yet miss, or youd know never to apologize. Its a sign of weakness.”
—Frank S. Nugent (19081965)