The movie version of an adored TV series set during WWII is a must for film buffs.
The film came out in 1971 and focused on earlier events in between the seasons of the BBC TV show.
Many have praised the big-screen outing, with one person posting a glowing review on IMDb titled: “Probably the best film of a TV show ever.”
The user went on to say: “TV shows from the 1970’s which were turned into films were usually terrible.” But the reviewer said this was the “exception” and explained: “The plot is similar to parts of some of the TV episodes, but that doesn’t matter because they’re still as funny.”
A second person gave a 10/10 review and commented: “Often when TV series are transferred to the big screen, they lose their appeal. Not in this case! The historical accuracy in costumes, equipment and general art direction, like the TV series, is outstanding.”
While a third gave another 10/10 review and said: “This is surely British humour at its best. It tends to grow on you. The first time I watched it I couldn’t quite figure out what it was all about but now I can watch the episodes over and over again and enjoy them every time.”
Someone else titled their 10/10 review “Brilliant as Usual” and hailed the original TV series as the “best British sitcom of all time”.
The audience member said: “I believe that if you just watch one episode of the show you cannot judge in completely on that one episode, (this include the movie) You must at least watch a series of this show, get inside the characters, become familiar with there surroundings and the situations which they are in.”
Classic British BBC sitcom Dad’s Army got the silver screen treatment in the 1970s amid the success of of the TV show, which first started in 1968.
Like the TV programme, the film followed the formation of the Home Guard platoon in Walmington-on-Sea and their training exercises and misadventures.
The cast from the TV series appeared in the film, including Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring, John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson, Clive Dunn as Lance-Corporal Jones, John Laurie as Private Frazer, James Beck as Private Walker, Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey, and Ian Lavender as Private Pike.
Further cast included Bernard Archard as Major General Fullard,
Derek Newark as Regimental Sergeant Major, Bill Pertwee as Chief ARP Warden Hodges, Frank Williams as Vicar, Edward Sinclair as Verger, Anthony Sagar as Police Sergeant, and Pat Coombs as Mrs Hall.
However, actress Liz Fraser was cast as Mrs Pike in the film, while Janet Davies played the role in the TV show.
There were hopes for a sequel titled Dad’s Army and the Secret U-Boat Base, but the project never took off.
The Dad’s Army TV show ran from 1968 to 1977 and remains one of the best comedies on the box.
There was a total of nine series as well as a stage production and a radio version.
In 2016, another Dad’s Army film was made starring Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, Love Actually’s Bill Nighy, Toby Jones of The Detectorists fame, Outlander and Fleabag’s Bill Paterson, Unforgotten star Tom Courtenay, and Harry Potter’s Michael Gambon, along with Blake Harrison and Daniel Mays.
Dad’s Army (1971) is streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV+ for a fee
TV series Dad’s Army is streaming on BBC iPlayer now