Series 2 Episode 6: Under Fire

[Alan Hayes]

Series 2 Episode 6: Under Fire

Broadcast on 05/04/69

The platoon arrest a suspect agent, who insists on being a British citizen, despite his accent, and the fact that he has a dog called Fritz. He attempts to help them put out a fire in the church hall, and is then revealed to be a British subject who was married to Warden Hodges' Auntie Ethel. He comments that he doesn't know how Britain will win the war, and Wilson agrees.

Also appearing: Geoffrey Lumsden (Corporal-Colonel Square), Janet Davies (Mrs Pike), John Ringham (Captain Bailey), Queenie Watts (Mrs Keen), Gladys Dawson (Mrs Witt), Ernst Ulman (Sigmund Murphy), Bill Pertwee (the ARP Warden), June Peterson (The Woman).

[Alan Hayes]

Surprised to find that there was no episode discussion thread here, so I've added one, complete with a poll.

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Basing my comments here on the script and The Lost Episodes recreation (which I viewed in B/W to fit into the mood of the Series 2 run), but trying to divorce my comments from focusing on the success or otherwise of the Lost Episodes show... Rather I am using it as a way of imagining the original.

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This is an enjoyable episode that rounds off a very strong second series in fine style. It addresses the issues surrounding the suspicion of naturalised British citizens who were born in enemy countries, though it does so with humour and a lightness of touch.

After his appearance late on in the previous episode, A Stripe for Frazer, we see Corporal-Colonel Square in full flow in Under Fire and he's good value - and gives Wilson an opportunity to surprisingly show his mettle, when the sergeant puts Square in his place feeling that he is seeking to undermine Mainwaring's authority. A great moment, and even Mainwaring is impressed.

There's a fascinating scene on the church rooftop in which Frazer and Godfrey discuss the brutality of war and the latter admits that he is not cut out for killing. These are early signs of what will come to the fore in Branded, later on in the series.

A 7/10 for me, as I bid a fond farewell to the B/W era.

[Dave Homewood]

Wait, what? Sigmund Murphy was Hodges' uncle? I don't recall that, and I have read the script, and watched the remake. In the radio version he's related to Mavis Pike, I think he was married to her Aunty Ethel?

[Alan Hayes]

Checking this out in the original script for the television episode, it's accurate. Hodges says that Murphy was formerly married to his Auntie Ethel.

I will amend the reference in the original post to give the added detail.

[Dave Homewood]

I shall have to pay closer attention.

Trust Hodges to be related to a suspicious character.