Dad's Army remake.

Author
Discussion

LuS1fer

41,085 posts

244 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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Dad's Army is probably the pinnacle of British sit coms, Only Fools coming close. The whole thing is timeless and immortal in execution.

Remaking it is an impossibility, it simply cannot be equalled. Arther Lowe was Dad's Army, his portrayal incomparable. All the supporting characters made the roles their own and brought an individual character to life from that era.

A film can only destroy the reputation of it. That's quite a risk.

I draw upon experiences with big creen versions of sitcoms in the 70s - On The Buses, Bless this House and any number of others using the original characters - all pretty dire really.

Even the big screen version of Dad's Army was not as good as the 30 minute gems on the TV. That is the whole srength of the sitcom formula. it would be like trying to turn Friends, Cheers or Frasier into a full length film, pointless.

zeb

3,193 posts

217 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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^^^^^ exactly 100% correct

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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I'm guessing Danny Dyer as Sgt Wilson, Julian Clarey as the Vicar, Jack Whitehall as Pike and Ray Winstone as Capt Mainwaring...

I can see it now... "Facking Stupid Boy!!!!!!"

M.

nicanary

9,750 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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The Don of Croy said:
Another vote against.

My son has the boxed set of originals which I'm subjected to now and again...never appreciated before just how good Pte Frasier was - he has some of the best lines by far, and delivers them brilliantly.

However, it did provide some entertainment last night working out a cast list (as above);

David Haigh - Manwaring

John Laurie's delivery was brilliant because he was a trained and experienced thespian. He is quoted as saying "I've played every major role in Shakespeare's catalogue, but I'm best remembered for that crap".

I'm sure it paid his mortgage off, though.

PS - I agree with everyone else here - let it lie. Who'd go and pay to see it anyway?

PPS - With Arthur Lowe it was his timing. I know it's an old cliche whenever people are talking about comedy, but I reckon it's true. It's all about the timing, and that man was a master of his craft.

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
I draw upon experiences with big creen versions of sitcoms in the 70s - On The Buses, Bless this House and any number of others using the original characters - all pretty dire really.
It could be worse, the American's could give it ago. They tried it with Fawlty Towers but decided Basil was too offensive and wrote him out of the script. Strangely enough it didn't last long http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda's

HumbleJim

26,957 posts

182 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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V8 Fettler said:
FourWheelDrift said:
How about (medical insurance and availability for filming dependent) just for fun.

Sean Connery to play Pte Frazier.
Anthony Hopkins to play Pte Cheeseman.
Roger Moore as Pte Godfrey.
Michael Caine as Pte Walker
Michael Gambon as Cpl Jones.
Leslie Philips as Sgt Wilson.
Rowan Atkinson as Cpt Mainwaring (he has gone grey and is the right age now)


Plus someone who looks younger than they are to play Pike, Daniel Radcliffe?
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie as HQ staff.
Loving the fantasy Dads Army cast.

Emma Thompson as Mrs Pike

V8 Fettler

7,019 posts

131 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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HumbleJim said:
V8 Fettler said:
FourWheelDrift said:
How about (medical insurance and availability for filming dependent) just for fun.

Sean Connery to play Pte Frazier.
Anthony Hopkins to play Pte Cheeseman.
Roger Moore as Pte Godfrey.
Michael Caine as Pte Walker
Michael Gambon as Cpl Jones.
Leslie Philips as Sgt Wilson.
Rowan Atkinson as Cpt Mainwaring (he has gone grey and is the right age now)


Plus someone who looks younger than they are to play Pike, Daniel Radcliffe?
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie as HQ staff.
Loving the fantasy Dads Army cast.

Emma Thompson as Mrs Pike
Alan Rickman as the U-boat captain.

Marty63

2,347 posts

173 months

Tuesday 29th April 2014
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then again

it might be just as good as the current 'last of the summerwine'


getmecoat

LuS1fer

41,085 posts

244 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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According to the BBC, Toby Jones is slated to be Mainwaring

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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LuS1fer said:
According to the BBC, Toby Jones is slated to be Mainwaring
And this is the thing.....they appear to be casting people to play the actors who played the original parts, not casting for the actual characters.

Jader1973

3,942 posts

199 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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I think one of the original characters sums the whole thing up rather nicely:


Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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Crossflow Kid said:
And this is the thing.....they appear to be casting people to play the actors who played the original parts, not casting for the actual characters.
Indeed. Oh dear...what is even the point?

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

151 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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Bill Nighy the rumoured Wilson too.

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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Crossflow Kid said:
LuS1fer said:
According to the BBC, Toby Jones is slated to be Mainwaring
And this is the thing.....they appear to be casting people to play the actors who played the original parts, not casting for the actual characters.
Toby didn't particularly convince me as Percy Alleline in 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy', a character who has similarities with Mainwaring.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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Air raid warden.....vonhosen?

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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Joe Walker....Sir Lord Superspiv Alan Sugar.

A new career and perfect casting...hehe

FourWheelDrift

88,376 posts

283 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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mybrainhurts said:
Joe Walker....Sir Lord Superspiv Alan Sugar.

A new career and perfect casting...hehe
"What have you got there Walker?"

"well, Captain Mainwaring, it's this new thing see. It's a combined phone and email machine"


"what's an email machine Walker?

".................er...............it's a sort of phone but with words on a screen instead"

"Why don't you just speak to people on the phone? You do live in the realms of fantasy sometimes Walker"

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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hehe

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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There are a great man reboots/remakes that never should have seen the light of day, if this abomination gets made, it'll top them all by a huge margin.
What are they gonna do? Do impressions of the actors doing the characters?

And then there is this. Hamish McColl, yeah he's a talented fker ain't he.....Jesus H titty fking Christ on a pedalo.

"The film script has been written by Hamish McColl, who wrote the hit British films Jonny English Reborn and Mr Bean’s Holiday. Director Oliver Parker, who made the two St Trinian’s movies, has also been lined up for the project."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614565/Re...

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
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Quality stuff then. Though I did like Johnny English...boxedin