The Man and the Hour

The Man and the Hour was the first episode of the British sitcom Dad's Army. It originally aired on television on 31 July 1968 and was later adapted for radio.

TV Episode

"The Man and the Hour"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no.	Series One Episode 001
Directed by	David Croft
Story by	Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Produced by	David Croft
Original air date	Wednesday 31/7/68 8.20pm (recorded Sunday 15/4/68)
Running time	30 minutes
Episode chronology
← Previous "N/A" Next → "Museum Piece"

The Man and the Hour is the first and pilot episode of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Wednesday 31 July 1968.

Synopsis

On the outbreak of World War II, a local bank manager, George Mainwaring, takes it upon himself to form a unit of Local Defence Volunteers in the town of Walmington-on-Sea.

Plot

It starts in present day (1968) England with Captain Mainwaring announcing to his former platoon that he is backing Britain. A flash back shows on a TV screen showing scenes from World War II and the British Army.

It then starts in Swallows Bank (1940), Walmington-on-Sea. Wilson, Pike and Mainwaring are laying sandbags at the window. Mainwaring then receives a message saying that he can set up a LDV unit to protect Britain. He finds out more about this on the wireless, having been told by a clerk, Janet King, that Anthony Eden is about to make a Ministerial broadcast. Pike is told to go round to all the LDV volunteers and tell them to meet in the church hall.

At the church hall, many people are waiting and Mainwaring (now the self-appointed commander) begins to enrol them. He makes Wilson his Sergeant and Jones his Lance-Corporal. An ARP warden bursts in and tells the commander to "shove off" because he needs the hall for an ARP lecture. He is forced to let him use it and informs the platoon to meet in the hall later.

Later, Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson are inspecting the platoon, Godfrey has a gun and Mainwaring believes that he should have it because he is the officer, but Godfrey refuses. The platoon are told about tanks and how to defeat then. The platoon play at being tanks and how to destroy them. Mrs Pike arrives to pick up Pike because it's his bed time. The uniform (armbands) and weapons (pepper) arrive. It is not what the platoon expected. They are handed out.

Mainwaring gives a speech and the platoon cheer.

Notes

1. This was the only Dad's Army episode to feature an audience laughter track during the opening titles.
2. A scene involving the fire brigade wanting to use the hall for practice was also filmed, but was cut from the final programme.
3. This episode was originally planned for transmission on Monday 5 June.

Cast

Cast	Characters	Nationality
Arthur Lowe	Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier	Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn	Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie	Private Frazer
James Beck	Private Walker
Arnold Ridley	Private Godfrey
Ian Lavender	Private Pike
Janet Davies	Mrs Pike

Support Cast	Characters	Nationality
Caroline Dowdeswell	Janet King
John Ringham	Bracewell
Bill Pertwee	ARP Warden Hodges
Neville Hughes	Soldier
Jack Wright	Despatch Rider

Radio episode

"The Man and the Hour"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no.	Series One Episode 001
Story by	Harold Snoad & Michael Knowles
Produced by	John Dyas
Original air date	Monday 28/1/74 6.15pm (recorded Sunday 3/6/73)
Running time	30 minutes
Episode chronology
← Previous "N/A" Next → "Museum Piece"

Synopsis

A local bank manager, George Mainwaring, decides to form a Local Defence Volunteers unit in the town of Walmington-on-Sea.

Cast

Cast	Characters
Arthur Lowe	Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier	Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn	Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie	Private Frazer
Arnold Ridley	Private Godfrey
Ian Lavender	Private Pike
James Beck	Private Walker
Timothy Bateson	Elliott/ General Wilkinson/ GHQ driver

References

• "The Man and the Hour" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Man and the Hour" at TV.com