- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Mark Braxton
This episode kicked off the second series in 1969. You’ll see that by this stage the cast had their characters down pat: Mainwaring is flummoxed by the 24-hour clock, Jones is a step behind the rest of the platoon, thunder-browed Frazer curses the entire world, and so on.
After some creaky-limbed physical training in the yard, during which Mrs Pike complains that her Frank shouldn’t be standing around in a vest, a crashing bore from GHQ drops by with a military challenge for the men. And for some reason that’s hard to justify, Frazer and Walker end up in a pantomime cow costume among a real herd. It’s a great example of when very silly becomes very funny.
About this programme
1/6. The platoon defends headquarters in an exercise against members of the Highland Regiment, leaving Captain Mainwaring and his men with little choice but to come up with a scheme to capture the attackers. Classic episode from 1969, starring Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Capt Mainwaring
- Arthur Lowe
- Sgt Wilson
- John Le Mesurier
- Lance Cpl Jones
- Clive Dunn
- Pte Frazer
- John Laurie
- Pte Walker
- James Beck
- Pte Godfrey
- Arnold Ridley
- Pte Pike
- Ian Lavender
- Mrs Pike
- Janet Davies
- Small boy
- Colin Daniels
- Capt Ogilvie
- James Copeland
Crew
- Producer
- David Croft
- Writer
- David Croft
- Writer
- Jimmy Perry
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