A Man of Action (Dad's Army)
"A Man of Action" | |
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Dad's Army episode | |
Episode no. | Series 7 Episode 2 |
Directed by | David Croft |
Story by | Jimmy Perry and David Croft |
Produced by | David Croft |
Original air date | 22 November 1974 |
Running time | 30 minutes |
"A Man of Action" is the second episode of the seventh series British comedy series Dad's Army. It was originally transmitted on Friday 22 November 1974.
Synopsis
A parachute mine has ripped up 100 yards of railway track and the gas and water supplies have been cut, the telephone wires are down, and Pike has got his head stuck through the bars of a gate. Mainwaring declares martial law.
Plot
Jones and Pike are out on patrol and whilst recreating a childhood
After securing Pike's gate to the ceiling with rope, they discover an emergency meeting in the office by the town elders (namely the Vicar, Warden Hodges,
He begins issuing a number of stringent edicts to Wilson, Jones and Frazer to shout from their bicycles, including: all
Jones has been given responsibility for bath permits, and old Mr. Bluett comes in, enquiring about how the system works. Despite the confident manner he had departed in, Mainwaring returns from his attempt to seize the town hall, indignantly explaining it was shut by the town clerk, and assuring that he will "deal with him in the morning". Frazer and Wilson say that he is behaving like a tyrant, and usurping the power of the land, but Mainwaring again denies it and says that for their own safety, everyone must "knuckle down" and get used to it.
However, when Captain Swan, a tough officer from GHQ arrives to take over command from him, implementing many of the same policies as he had, Mainwaring is himself outraged and the episode ends with him being locked out of his own office, thanks to Frazer telling Swan where the office is. Wilson laughs at Mainwaring's hypocritical nature.
Cast
- Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring
- John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson
- Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones
- John Laurie as Private Frazer
- Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey
- Ian Lavender as Private Pike
- Bill Pertwee as ARP Warden Hodges
- Mr Cheeseman
- The Vicar
- The Verger
- Eric Longworth as the Town Clerk
- Harold Bennett as Mr. Bluett
- Private Sponge
- Arnold Peters as Fire Officer Dale
- Jay Denyer as Inspector Baker
- Robert Mill as Captain Swan
Notes
- This is the first episode that introduces Mr Cheeseman as a member of the platoon. He had previously appeared in the episode "My British Buddy" as a reporter from the Eastbourne Gazette who photographed Mainwaring being punched by an American Colonel. In the radio adaptation he is replaced by Jonathan Cecil playing a character named Mr Norris.