My British Buddy
Encyclopedia
My British Buddy is the second episode of the sixth series of the British television
sitcom Dad's Army
that was originally transmitted on BBC 1 on Wednesday 7 November 1973.
, the Americans have, at last, decide to join the fight against Nazism
, and the first small contingent of troops arrives in Walmington-on-Sea
. Mainwairing tells them to make themselves at home, which they promptly do - with the platoon's girlfriends. When the British are told they don't know the right temperature to serve beer, and the Americans are told they don't know when to enter a war, a fight breaks out. A photographer from the local paper is on hand to record the special relationship...
Home Guard
unit has received exciting news; as Captain Mainwaring puts it, the long dark tunnel is now illuminated by a bright light shining for all to see. He is not, as Pvt. Pike initially believes, referring to the blackout
, but to the arrival of the Americans in the war (and not before time, according to certain members of the platoon). A detachment of American troops will be arriving in Walmington-on-Sea within the week, and the Home Guard intend to treat them to a traditional British welcome. It is Lance Corporal Jones who has the brilliant idea (arrived at following a characteristically long-winded anecdote about a spear-throwing contest during his military service in the Sudan
) of treating their visitors to a darts
match in the local pub, to which the platoon will bring their girlfriends along.
All initially goes well with the meeting of two nations. Mainwaring is surprised by the informality of the American Colonel Schultz (who greets the British officer with a cheery "Howdy partner, put it there!"), and the Colonel is somewhat nonplussed by both Pvt. Frazer's unique rendition of a Robert Burns
poem (with strategic updating and references to Hitler) and Jones' complicated explanation of where the term 'limeys
' originated, but all seems to be going well, with a number of pleasing propaganda photos taken. It starts to go wrong, of course, when the American soldiers are told to make themselves feel at home - and thus immediately start flirting with the Home Guard soldier's girlfriends, who all promptly forget about their boyfriends when faced with the attention of the glamorous, sexy young Americans. Matters are not helped by the ungracious American response to warm beer and the lack of scotch due to war privations, and when Warden Hodges struts in and begins telling the Americans that their late entry into both the First and Second World War is not greatly appreciated, it doesn't take long for a fight to break out.
The next day, Mainwaring (having earned a black eye as the first person to get hit in the fight) is ordered by his superiors to make a formal apology to the Americans, and thus restore Anglo-American relations and offset any potential German propaganda value out of the fight. Resentful at being made the scapegoat
, he intends to make a formal statement detailing how his platoon were not responsible for the violence; but as every member of the platoon (even, surprisingly, Pvt. Godfrey) was a more than willing participant in the fight, it soon becomes a moot gesture.
Mainwaring is surprised, however, by the arrival of the Colonel Schultz - who, having learnt the extent of British hardship during the war, and somewhat ashamed of his earlier ungraciousness, has arrived to offer his own apologies on behalf of his unit, and to give the men a gift of chocolate. This would seem to be repairing the friendly relations - but then, the Home Guard learn of a dance in the American mess to which their girlfriends are all invited. It doesn't take long for Jones to provoke the Colonel to violence once again - or for Mainwaring to receive yet another black eye.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
that was originally transmitted on BBC 1 on Wednesday 7 November 1973.
Synopsis
Following Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, the Americans have, at last, decide to join the fight against Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, and the first small contingent of troops arrives in Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea is a fictional seaside resort where the BBC Television sitcom, BBC radio series and film Dad's Army was based.Located on the channel coast of England in the county of Kent, the national "front line" following the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk during...
. Mainwairing tells them to make themselves at home, which they promptly do - with the platoon's girlfriends. When the British are told they don't know the right temperature to serve beer, and the Americans are told they don't know when to enter a war, a fight breaks out. A photographer from the local paper is on hand to record the special relationship...
Plot
The Walmington-on-SeaWalmington-on-Sea
Walmington-on-Sea is a fictional seaside resort where the BBC Television sitcom, BBC radio series and film Dad's Army was based.Located on the channel coast of England in the county of Kent, the national "front line" following the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk during...
Home Guard
British Home Guard
The Home Guard was a defence organisation of the British Army during the Second World War...
unit has received exciting news; as Captain Mainwaring puts it, the long dark tunnel is now illuminated by a bright light shining for all to see. He is not, as Pvt. Pike initially believes, referring to the blackout
Blackout (wartime)
A blackout during war, or apprehended war, is the practice of collectively minimizing outdoor light, including upwardly directed light. This was done in the 20th century to prevent crews of enemy aircraft from being able to navigate to their targets simply by sight, for example during the London...
, but to the arrival of the Americans in the war (and not before time, according to certain members of the platoon). A detachment of American troops will be arriving in Walmington-on-Sea within the week, and the Home Guard intend to treat them to a traditional British welcome. It is Lance Corporal Jones who has the brilliant idea (arrived at following a characteristically long-winded anecdote about a spear-throwing contest during his military service in the Sudan
Mahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
) of treating their visitors to a darts
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
match in the local pub, to which the platoon will bring their girlfriends along.
All initially goes well with the meeting of two nations. Mainwaring is surprised by the informality of the American Colonel Schultz (who greets the British officer with a cheery "Howdy partner, put it there!"), and the Colonel is somewhat nonplussed by both Pvt. Frazer's unique rendition of a Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
poem (with strategic updating and references to Hitler) and Jones' complicated explanation of where the term 'limeys
Alternative words for British
Alternative names for the British include nicknames and terms, including affectionate ones, neutral ones, and derogatory ones to describe the British people and more specifically English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish/Irish people.- Ang Moh :"Ang Moh" is a term to describe British and other...
' originated, but all seems to be going well, with a number of pleasing propaganda photos taken. It starts to go wrong, of course, when the American soldiers are told to make themselves feel at home - and thus immediately start flirting with the Home Guard soldier's girlfriends, who all promptly forget about their boyfriends when faced with the attention of the glamorous, sexy young Americans. Matters are not helped by the ungracious American response to warm beer and the lack of scotch due to war privations, and when Warden Hodges struts in and begins telling the Americans that their late entry into both the First and Second World War is not greatly appreciated, it doesn't take long for a fight to break out.
The next day, Mainwaring (having earned a black eye as the first person to get hit in the fight) is ordered by his superiors to make a formal apology to the Americans, and thus restore Anglo-American relations and offset any potential German propaganda value out of the fight. Resentful at being made the scapegoat
Scapegoat
Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
, he intends to make a formal statement detailing how his platoon were not responsible for the violence; but as every member of the platoon (even, surprisingly, Pvt. Godfrey) was a more than willing participant in the fight, it soon becomes a moot gesture.
Mainwaring is surprised, however, by the arrival of the Colonel Schultz - who, having learnt the extent of British hardship during the war, and somewhat ashamed of his earlier ungraciousness, has arrived to offer his own apologies on behalf of his unit, and to give the men a gift of chocolate. This would seem to be repairing the friendly relations - but then, the Home Guard learn of a dance in the American mess to which their girlfriends are all invited. It doesn't take long for Jones to provoke the Colonel to violence once again - or for Mainwaring to receive yet another black eye.
Cast
| Cast | Characters |
|---|---|
| Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:... |
Captain Mainwaring |
| John Le Mesurier John Le Mesurier John Le Mesurier was a BAFTA Award-winning English actor. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army.-Career:... |
Sergeant Wilson |
| Clive Dunn Clive Dunn Clive Robert Benjamin Dunn OBE is a retired English actor, comedian and author, best known for his role as Lance-Corporal Jack Jones in the BBC sitcom Dad's Army.-Early life:... |
Lance Corporal Jones |
| John Laurie John Laurie John Paton Laurie was a British actor born in Dumfries, Scotland. Although he is now probably most recognised for his role as Private James Frazer in the sitcom Dad's Army , he appeared in hundreds of feature films, including films by Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Powell and Laurence Olivier... |
Private Frazer |
| James Beck James Beck Stanley James Carroll Beck was a British actor best remembered for his role as Private Joe Walker, the cockney spiv in the popular BBC sitcom Dad's Army. The cast was mainly composed of older actors, but Beck was one of the younger members.-Early life:Beck was born in Islington, North London and... |
Private Walker |
| Arnold Ridley Arnold Ridley Major William Arnold Ridley, OBE was an English playwright and actor, first notable as the author of the play The Ghost Train and later in life for portraying the elderly Private Charles Godfrey in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army .-Early life:Ridley was born in Walcot, Bath, England where... |
Private Godfrey |
| Ian Lavender Ian Lavender Arthur Ian Lavender , better known as Ian Lavender, is an English stage, film and television actor, best known for his role as Private Frank Pike in the BBC comedy series Dad's Army.-Early life and career:... |
Private Pike |
| Bill Pertwee Bill Pertwee William Desmond Anthony Pertwee MBE is a British comedy actor. He is best known for playing the part of antagonist ARP Warden Hodges in the popular sitcom Dad's Army.-Early and personal life:... |
ARP Warden Hodges |
| Alan Tilvern Alan Tilvern Alan Tilvern was a British film and television actor. He is best known for his role as R.K. Maroon in the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit.-Television appearances:* Doctor Who serial, Planet of Giants... |
Colonel Schultz |
| Edward Sinclair Edward Sinclair Edward "Teddy" Sinclair was a British actor most famous for his role as the verger Maurice Yeatman in Dad's Army. He also made appearances in Z Cars and Danger Man.Edward's father was the son of a stage actor who died when he was 14... |
The Verger |
| Frank Williams Frank Williams (actor) Frank Williams is an English actor.Williams was educated at Ardingly College. He starred in The Army Game and as the Vicar in Dad's Army. In 1970, he starred in the short-lived sitcom As Good Cooks Go... |
The Vicar |
| Janet Davies | Mrs Pike |
| Wendy Richard Wendy Richard Wendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders... |
Shirley |
| Pamela Cundell Pamela Cundell Pamela I. Cundell is a British character actress. Her best known role was Mrs Fox in the long-running TV comedy Dad's Army.... |
Mrs Fox |
| Verne Morgan | Landlord |
| Talfryn Thomas Talfryn Thomas Talfryn Thomas was a British character actor, best known for supporting roles on British television in the 1970s.-Biography:Talfryn Thomas was born in Swansea on 31 October 1922.... |
Mr Cheeseman |
| Suzanne Kerchiss | Ivy Samways |
| Robert Raglan Robert Raglan Robert Raglan was a British actor best known for his semi-regular role in Dad's Army, as Colonel Pritchard. He also starred in a number of other television series and films such as Fabian of the Yard and The Haunted House of Horror... |
The Colonel |
| Blain Fairman | US Sergeant |