Post by kg redhead on Dec 5, 2005 10:01:57 GMT -5
As was the case with many British sitcoms of that era, Dad's Army was in 1970 made into a feature film. Backers Columbia Pictures imposed what seemed arbitrary changes (such as recasting Mavis Pike - Liz Frazer took the role - and filming outdoor scenes in Chalfont St Giles rather than Thetford), which made the cast unhappy. The director Norman Cohen, who was also responsible for the original idea to make the film, was nearly fired by the studio.
Jimmy Perry and David Croft wrote the original screenplay. This was expanded by Cohen to try to make it more "cinematic"; Columbia executives made more changes to plot and pacing. As finally realised, two-thirds of the film consists of the creation of the platoon - this was the contribution of Perry and Croft - and the final third shows the platoon in action, rescuing hostages from the church hall where they'd been held captive by three German pilots.
Neither the cast nor Perry and Croft were particularly happy with the result. Perry spent some time arguing for changes to try to reproduce the style of the television series, but with mixed results.
Filming took place between August 10 and September 25, 1970, at Shepperton Studios and various locations. After filming the movie, the cast immediately returned to working on the fourth television series.
The film's UK premiere was on March 12, 1971 at the Columbia Theatre in London. Critical reviews were mixed, but it performed well at the UK box office.
Jimmy Perry and David Croft wrote the original screenplay. This was expanded by Cohen to try to make it more "cinematic"; Columbia executives made more changes to plot and pacing. As finally realised, two-thirds of the film consists of the creation of the platoon - this was the contribution of Perry and Croft - and the final third shows the platoon in action, rescuing hostages from the church hall where they'd been held captive by three German pilots.
Neither the cast nor Perry and Croft were particularly happy with the result. Perry spent some time arguing for changes to try to reproduce the style of the television series, but with mixed results.
Filming took place between August 10 and September 25, 1970, at Shepperton Studios and various locations. After filming the movie, the cast immediately returned to working on the fourth television series.
The film's UK premiere was on March 12, 1971 at the Columbia Theatre in London. Critical reviews were mixed, but it performed well at the UK box office.