Many tributes have rightly been paid to the comedy writer David Croft, who died recently at the age of 89.
Some of the shows which Croft co-wrote formed part of the fabric of my upbringing during the 1970s, particularly Dad's Army, Are You Being Served? and It Ain't Half Hot Mum.
One of the most powerful and effecting pieces of his work was Branded, an episode from the third series of Dad's Army. During this episode, Private Godfrey discloses to his superiors that he wishes to leave the platoon, and that he was a conscientious objector during World War One.
The military background of Croft and co-writer Jimmy Perry is very evident in the attention to detail in the script. They managed to deal with this emotive theme very sensitively within the context of a comedy programme.
The writers contrast the gung-ho attitude of Captain Mainwaring and others with the principled and humane stand taken by Godfrey, but also seek to stress that this was all taking place in the white-heat of a major war. People were expected to make terrible and difficult choices at that time.
From a modern and purely objective perspective, Godfrey's integrity and honesty are more endearing than Mainwaring's bluster. When it is revealed that Godfrey won the Military Medal for his work as a medical orderly in The Great War, his compassion and humility are shown once again. We should not judge people by narrow criteria.
In short, Branded has the ability to cause one to laugh, cry and think deeply, all within its thirty minute duration. Quite an achievement....
Showing posts with label david croft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label david croft. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Friday, 22 July 2011
Dad's Army
A recent purchase of mine was the DVD boxset of "Dad's Army", the sitcom written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft about the Home Guard during World War 2. Watching all of the episodes back-to-back endowed me with a new perspective on the themes and issues tackled.
Although "Dad's Army" was a comedy, it managed to achieve a balance, in that it did not trivialise war or downplay its horrors. Often the humour served to soften the edges, and was derived from the hardships and upheavals being endured by the populace. Whilst the universal values of idealism, stoicism and patriotism are to the fore, gentle satire and bathos are regularly employed to prevent things becoming excessively trite.
One of the strengths of this sitcom is that it is not permitted to descend into the realms of becoming a rose-tinted account. The tensions of class, bureaucracy and power are explored; normal human frailties against the backdrop of war.
Perhaps the hinge of "Dad's Army" was the sometimes fraught relationship between Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson. Mainwaring is the classic self-made "chip on the shoulder" type, whose overbearing nature is largely born of insecurity. At times he struggles to conceal his contempt for the languid and often dilettante Wilson, contrasting their social backgrounds with their respective professional and military standing. The sergeant generally responds with gently sarcastic remarks which tend to go completely over Mainwaring's head!
I still think that Arthur Lowe received insufficient credit for his extraordinary performance as Captain Mainwaring. He expertly conveyed the officer's characteristics, and his "physical" comedy skills came in very useful at times!
An emollient to the Mainwaring-Wilson dynamic comes in the shape of Corporal Jones, who cuts through some of the tension with his straightforward, salt-of-the-earth style.
For all the eccentricities and vagaries of the characters, such as Frazer the doom-laden undertaker, and Walker the black-market profiteer, when the crunch comes their loyalty can usually relied upon. This is evident in several touching but underplayed moments throughout the life of the series. When their own interests are threatened, the platoon was at pains to present a united front, particularly in their tussles with Mr Hodges, the grumpy ARP warden.
Even though the series is set around seven decades ago, the themes and emotions examined in "Dad's Army" still resonate today.
Although "Dad's Army" was a comedy, it managed to achieve a balance, in that it did not trivialise war or downplay its horrors. Often the humour served to soften the edges, and was derived from the hardships and upheavals being endured by the populace. Whilst the universal values of idealism, stoicism and patriotism are to the fore, gentle satire and bathos are regularly employed to prevent things becoming excessively trite.
One of the strengths of this sitcom is that it is not permitted to descend into the realms of becoming a rose-tinted account. The tensions of class, bureaucracy and power are explored; normal human frailties against the backdrop of war.
Perhaps the hinge of "Dad's Army" was the sometimes fraught relationship between Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson. Mainwaring is the classic self-made "chip on the shoulder" type, whose overbearing nature is largely born of insecurity. At times he struggles to conceal his contempt for the languid and often dilettante Wilson, contrasting their social backgrounds with their respective professional and military standing. The sergeant generally responds with gently sarcastic remarks which tend to go completely over Mainwaring's head!
I still think that Arthur Lowe received insufficient credit for his extraordinary performance as Captain Mainwaring. He expertly conveyed the officer's characteristics, and his "physical" comedy skills came in very useful at times!
An emollient to the Mainwaring-Wilson dynamic comes in the shape of Corporal Jones, who cuts through some of the tension with his straightforward, salt-of-the-earth style.
For all the eccentricities and vagaries of the characters, such as Frazer the doom-laden undertaker, and Walker the black-market profiteer, when the crunch comes their loyalty can usually relied upon. This is evident in several touching but underplayed moments throughout the life of the series. When their own interests are threatened, the platoon was at pains to present a united front, particularly in their tussles with Mr Hodges, the grumpy ARP warden.
Even though the series is set around seven decades ago, the themes and emotions examined in "Dad's Army" still resonate today.
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