Dad's Army movie

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18 years 9 months

Posts: 2,766

The year is 1944....England on the brink of defeat.....our only defence......eh?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nig2SQk6jx4

Oh well, looks fun anyway.

Original post

Member for

17 years 6 months

Posts: 9,739

Britain on the brink of defeat.....in 1944? Am I missing a joke here...

...or do the producers of this film really have that poor a grasp on history?

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

Indeed - particularly as the TV series was set in 1940 to 1943, as far as I recall. It's interesting seeing this, having forgotten all about the film, as I enjoy the weekly rebroadcasts of the radio series. A marvellous cast - and I can easily see Toby Jones as Mainwaring but I just cannot get the old gang out of my head.....!:applause:

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9 years 6 months

Posts: 197

OK, so the historical side was a teeny bit suspect, but I saw enough to suggest that it might be mildly diverting. Seemed to be a genuine respect for the old actors and their characterizations. Still, the old ones are the best!

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12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

I knew Arthur Lowe. We lived near the Thames by the bridge at Mortlake. Across the river was Cubitts boatyard. I was re-building a small boat at the time on the towpath near to the Ship pub.

Not having much spare cash, I was always sniffing around Cubitts for bits of timber, ply or boat fittings. One of the vessels in the dock, was a large; to my eye, fifty or sixty feet sailing yacht of a rather elderly design featuring a long counter called, if I remember, Jubilee.

She was always a scene of much activity with professional carpenters busying around re-planking etc. and occasionally, Arthur Lowe (Capt. Mainwaring) who I discovered was the owner, was seen. I talked to him about the boat and its history. Evidently the vessel had been damaged by flying debris as a consequence of a flying bomb attack and he, Arthur Lowe had fallen in love, and bought it with the purpose of restoration.

Whether he ever completed the work, and used the boat I do not know. We moved away. Eventually Cubitts was sold for re-development and was turned into a small marina with residential properties.

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11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

"AND THEN, of course, there was the boat. Lowe bought the Amazon in 1968 for pounds 2,000. It was a 114ft Victorian steam yacht, sans its steam and sans just about everything else, lying neglected in a Chiswick boat-yard. Lowe had just started making Dad's Army, having finally left Coronation Street, where he had made his name as Leonard Swindley, the draper, two years before. Lowe put tens of thousands into restoring the Amazon. He planned to retire on to it, and meanwhile had it berthed at Teddington or moored at seaside towns such as St Helier, in Jersey, or Shanklin, Isle of Wight, while performing in summer shows he had taken for the purpose.

Plans would be pored over in rehearsal rooms, invitations issued. Lowe did not sail it himself, but used a professional crew, or his son, Stephen, who had gone into the merchant navy. He did, however, affect a natty captain's hat and blazer, and a competent manner. 'There was a lot of looking over the side,' says Croft. Drinks would be served on a silver salver to music from the harmonium installed by Joan Lowe.

Ask Peter O'Toole, a great admirer, about the boat, and there is a roar down the phone about Lowe 'driving up and down the bloody Thames in this dirty great boat with people playing the organ. A boat with an organ] We used to call him Admiral Bligh. Arthur was a throwback to the old and proper days, larger than life. Life has become terribly small and mediocre, hasn't it?'

Bill Pertwee was invited on board at Teddington for a drink. 'Suddenly, Arthur shouted to the crew: 'Weigh anchor]' We then moved all of 50 yards down the river. 'Did you see that snotty boy picking his nose and fishing?' said Arthur. 'I'm not sitting on my yacht and watching that.' '

At Shanklin, Arthur's stately repair to the Amazon after his performance and a good supper became something of a tourist attraction; but he was never entirely happy with the attention of fans. At Ramsgate, where John and Joan Le Mesurier had a house and where the Amazon was moored for a couple of summers, one persistent couple onshore kept up a lengthy barrage of ' 'Ere, Arthur, Captain Mainwaring, don't panic]' studiously ignored by Lowe as he polished his brasses. Eventually, one of them shouted, 'Next time you're on, I'm switching you off]' Little wonder, then, at Preston station, when smiling fans peered into the dining-car as the Dad's Army team made its way north to turn on the lights at Blackpool, that Lowe should rap the window and bark: 'Clear off]'

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

Thanks for that. Thats completed the story. I got some of it right !

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

Is she still in use do you know ?

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

Yes.

From the link above

Amazon's owners says: January 26, 2015

‘Amazon’ remains in good order and is looking forward to some more cruising this year!