I grew up watching Dads army in the 1970's. In those days TV programmes were much more about quality. They had to be!. There was so few channels to watch, BBC1 BBC2 and ITV. Unlike today where you have a 100 channels plus of largely drivel. Being set during the 2nd World War, the series is pretty much timeless and future proof. Quality family entertainment, likely to still be watched and enjoyed a 100 years from now. Following the lives and comic escapades of a 'Home Guard' platoon. Commanded by the local pompous bank manager, Captain Mainwaring. As they prepare to defend their island from imminent invasion. What makes this probably most appealing is the 'realisim'. It is based on the real experiences of the writers. Most of the actors were in the military and in WW1 or WW2 (Clive Dunn was even a P.o.W. in WW2). So they knew how to march, they knew how to shoulder arms and salute. They weren't just acting, they had played the role for real. Which added a strong element of authenticity to the series. You only have to see modern films/TV of actors 'playing' soldiers, marching badly, 'pork pie' berets and generally looking like bad actors pretending to be soldiers to know what I mean. What really gives this series a final touch of class, is the respect you have for them.Despite all the characters silliness and human weaknesses. The platoons ridiculous escapades. The bottom line is our hero's (like their real life counterparts) were prepared to fight and defend their country no matter what the odds.Even if (as in one episode) the entire platoons weapons consisted of just one shot gun, 2 cartridges and some pitchforks. When they heard the church bell warning of invasion they made a barricade across the road and prepared to face the might of the German army. As ridiculous as it was heroic. Sadly they don't make TV series like this any more.I haven't seen the current film. I know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. However, to me, trying to imitate/relive what was classic TV, seems doomed to failure. Aye doooooomed, there doooomed.

Jimmy Perry and David Croft brought out the best of all their comedies, as fine as their others are/were, with Dad's Army. If you check out the characters, look how each has a strong personality of their own, which must, be difficult to write. Some will be easier/able to capitalise on at the time, i.e. Walker and his spiv-like activities with the 'black market', but you still have to come up with the jokes, even with a character like Walker which the comedy duo delivered perfectly and without fault - 'Wanna buy some petrol coupons?' and when Jimmy Beck died, they didn't replace with him with anyone but Cheeseman, not another 'Walker', which maybe wouldn't have worked with another actor. A lot of people have found 'Jonesy' annoying with his rambling on, but you expect it nonetheless. It's not a million miles away from the mickey-taking in 'Only Fools...' with Uncle Albert's wartime porkies after all! You can't fault Wilson's deadpan delivery, 'Pikey's' thumb-sucking and 'telling mum', Fraser the doom-laden Scot, Godfrey 'dozing off' and although Bill Pertwee's warden could be annoying, he was a welcome foil to the put-upon Captain Mainwaring, the brilliant Arthur Lowe. An awesome classic series, many of the actors who aren't alive now, really do live on in a faithful mickey-take of a period in history. This is great stuff. Whilst the favourite line in 'The Deadly Attachment', was an easy one, it's still great! However, my favourite line in that one is the very last line, regarding Jones having a hand grenade in his trousers (an unbeknown dud to the platoon, but Wilson knows and informs at the last minute) wanting physical removal from Jones' pants by Fraser, subsequently asking Captain Mainwaring: 'now that the grenade/danger's over, would you mind telling Fraser to take his hand out of my trousers?' Classic!

I won't bother describing 'Dad's Army' in detail as its been covered extensively elsewhere. Quite simply, its one of the best comedy series ever made. Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier headed a stellar cast of comedy actors which included Clive Dunn, James Beck, Ian Lavender, John Laurie ( my favourite ), Arnold Ridley, Janet Davies, Edward Sinclair and Pamela Cundell. Not forgetting the marvellous Bill Pertwee as 'A.R.P. Hodges', Back in the '60's/'70's, 'Dad's Army' was watched by two different audiences for two different reasons - older viewers found it unbearably nostalgic, with its slightly rose-tinted ( though not inaccurate ) view of wartime England, whilst younger viewers ( of whom I was one ) simply loved it for its occasional forays into slapstick comedy.The show was created and written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Perry had served in The Home Guard ( he was the role model for 'Pike' ) so he was able to bring much authenticity to the scripts. He later cited the classic Will Hay film 'Oh Mr.Porter' ( pompous man, old man, stupid boy ) as a major source of inspiration, and its easy to see what he meant.The fine cast were ably served by the hilariously funny scripts. Probably the best remembered episode is 'The Deadly Attachment' in which Philip Madoc played the captain of a captured U-Boat crew, if only for the legendary 'Don't Tell Him, Pike!' scene. My personal favourite, however, was 'Battle Of The Giants'.After James Beck tragically died mid-way through the series, they brought in Talfryn Thomas as reporter 'Mr.Cheeseman'. Personally, I liked him, but it was felt he added nothing to the show and so he was dropped.Its testament to the quality of 'Dad's Army' that its still being repeated forty years later. Contrary to myth, the show's fans are not all old age pensioners. I wasn't alive when the Second World War happened, but I love the show because I know great comedy when I see it.

Capt. Mainwaring would frequently utter the above phrase, and then immediately do something much more stupid than young Private Pike could ever accomplish. This is one of the reasons why this colorful program is one of my favorites (pardon my American English spelling).The scripts are good, but what really make this show brilliant are the great characters and the wonderful actors. It must have been very difficult to get elderly actors to do zany slapstick comedy, but the directors managed to do it beautifully.The contrast of young and old, and middle class and working class people in perpetual conflict is really great fun to watch. More egos are deflated in this series than ever before, and with hilarious results.Instead of watching the horrible news accounts of the Iraq War, watch a video tape of Dad's Army. This a very funny remembrance of a much better era.