Due to the popularity of the TV series, David Croft
and Jimmy Perry were asked to write a feature
length version by a young director/producer called
Norman Cohen (1936-83) who would then pitch
the idea to film backers.
They also provided two episodes on film in
advance, these being ‘The Battle of Godfrey’s
Cottage’ and ‘Operation Kilt’.
After a few rejections, the idea was taken up by
Columbia Pictures who agreed to Norman being
the director. In his autobiography, Jimmy Perry
states that he was taken on as ‘technical advisor’.
“David Croft,” he says, “kept well and truly out of it.”
It was not a pleasant experience for either of them,
although the success of the film prompted them to
work on another full-length storyline. If this had
come to fruition one suspects David would have
elected to produce or at least direct it himself.
The two episode film reels would later be found
and rescued from a skip by an employee at one of
the film companies. They were stored, unopened
in his home for many years until discovered and
returned to the BBC by a family member following
the ‘Lost Episodes’ plea by David Croft.
The increased budget allowed for the recreation
of Walmington-on-Sea on location. The village of
Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire was selected
for this and suitably dressed for the occasion.
This decision opened out the film giving a more
cinematic feel rather than just an extended TV
episode.
A backdrop of Chalfont St Giles High Street can be
seen through Mainwaring’s bank office window in
the episode ‘The Battle of Godfrey’s Cottage’, which
pre-dates the film.
Plot Synopsis
Britain 1939, Walmington-on-Sea on the south
coast of England. George Mainwaring, Manager of
Martins Bank, has to refuse credit to a customer
who wants to cash a cheque. The man, a Major-
General Fullard, is angered by this and storms
off. Later that morning, Mainwaring and his two
subordinates - Arthur Wilson and Frank Pike - hear
the Rt. Hon. Anthony Eden’s call for a national
network of Local Defence Volunteers. They go to
the Police Station to sign on, only to find chaos.
Mainwaring decides to take charge and reconvenes
the meeting at the Church Hall, where he forms the
Walmington-on-Sea Platoon of the L.D.V.
The first section of the film mirrors the first episode
with the addition of the Fullard incident.
From
here, all scenarios are unique to the film.
The men meet again that evening and as
Mainwaring gives a lecture on their aims - despite
virtually no means of defence - the Germans across
the English Channel are drawing up plans to invade
our island shores. One evening, as Mainwaring
demonstrates the construction of petrol bombs,
two workmen arrive at the Church to remove
all but one of the Church Bells, so that they can
be melted down for the war effort. The Vicar, an
enthusiastic campanologist, cannot resist one
last ringing of his beloved bells before they are
taken away. Unfortunately, Mainwaring and his
L.D.Vs misinterpret this as a warning of imminent
invasion by the Germans and proceed to construct
a blockade with all manner of household items.
After a short wait, they hear the sound of gunshots
coming from the town. Instead of Germans, they
discover that the shots are caused by the faulty
exhaust of the bell workers van.
Members of the Platoon come up with various
ingenious weapons for the now re-named
Home Guard. These include Jones’ dive bomber
rocket gun, Walker’s one-man bullet proof tank
constructed from an old bath and finally Frazer’s
anti-vehicle device, which, in the event of
invasion, could flood roads with oil, making them
impassable. However, due to gross negligence
on the part of Jones, the machine is activated
prematurely, floods the road and causes the staff
car of Major General Fullard to skid wildly almost
writing it off. Fullard is furious - in fact, even more
so when he recognises Mainwaring as the ‘bloody
Bank Clerk’ who would not cash his cheque.
The Platoon, now with full uniforms, go on their
first weekend manoeuvres in Jones armoured
Butchers van. After sleeping in the open, due to an
incident with a steam roller.
Their exercise is to guard a pontoon bridge on
the river. Unbeknown to the Platoon, part of the
pontoon has been sabotaged by another group.
Private Walker notices the cut rope and Jones
and the others try to hold the structure together.
Just at this point, Major General Fullard rides his
horse, unawares, onto the loose section of the
bridge and insists on a salute from Jones and his
men. They reluctantly do so, letting go of the rope
causing Fullard and horse to drift off slowly down
stream. Mainwaring and the Platoon manage to lift
Fullard off the horse onto an overhanging bridge,
but in the process Jones falls onto the horse and
pontoon section himself. He, in turn, is rescued by
Mainwaring, Wilson and Frazer, who unwittingly
become stranded themselves until later that
evening when they run aground in the shallows. It
is therefore unsurprising when, the next morning,
Fullard informs Mainwaring that his position as
leader of the Platoon is in serious doubt after the
weekends mishaps.
That same day, a German observer HE111 plane
crew have to bail out over the town. They land
near the Church Hall, where the Mayor is fronting a
meeting, and shortly the townspeople present are taken hostage. Chief ARP Warden Hodges manages
to escape and warn Major General Fullard of the
situation.
The Home Guard arrive back in the Church grounds
at this time, and Hodges informs them of the
events. Fullard tells Mainwaring and his men to go
home as this is a job for the regular Army. However,
Jones has the idea that the Platoon could enter
the Church via the crypt and surprise the Germans.
They do so and once in the Church, disguise
themselves as choir members, enter the room and
force the Germans to surrender their weapons. By
the time Fullard and the re-enforcements enter, the
situation is under control. Mainwaring later reveals
to Wilson reveals to Mainwaring that the German’s
weapon was not loaded. Mainwaring admits that
neither was his.
However, the whole Platoon are now heroes
in the town and his position as Captain of the
Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard is secure.
But daily life carries on in Walmington-on-Sea....
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