1971 Christmas Special: Battle of the Giants!

[Katie]

Christmas Special 1971: Battle of the Giants!

Broadcast on 27/12/71

There's a ceremonial church parade on Sunday and Mainwaring's new hat has arrived just in time, but during bayonet practice Pike puts his bayonet straight through it. Just as Mainwaring has gone home, Captain Square and Sergeant Parkins arrive. Square wanted to check his memo arrived confirming all medals should be worn on parade. But Mainwaring had discarded the memo because he didn't want to be shown up as not having any medals himself, so Captain Square tells Wilson to order the rest of the platoon to wear theirs.

At the next parade, Mainwaring inspects the platoon, he's embarrassed to find everyone wearing medals, except Pike, of course, who's displaying his scout badges! The platoon is dismissed and Mainwaring confronts Wilson in his office, angry at him for going against his orders.

On the morning of the parade, with the men proudly wearing their medals, Mainwaring arrives in his business suit and bowler hat. He says he wont be able to parade with them because his wife sent his uniform to the cleaners. But when Pike turns up carrying the uniform, Mainwaring knows he can't wriggle out of it.

After the parade everyone has a drink at a pub where Captain Square jokes about the Walmington on Sea platoon's inept drilling; he also thinks some of them had trouble marching. Mainwaring is annoyed and says his men are better led, better trained and fitter than the Eastgate platoon. With the Vicar, Verger and Hodges as umpires, the Eastgate and Walmington platoon challenge each other to a series of initiative and shooting tests, including bursting balloons, carrying feathers to barrels and a water exercise.

At the firing range the men from Walmington finish first and sprint to a nearby tower to raise their flag and be judged the winners, but they experience difficulties with the flagpole, allowing Captain Square's platoon to nip in and fly their flag first; but Mainwaring's men get a pleasant surprise thanks to Private Walker.

Also appearing: Bill Pertwee (ARP Warden), Frank Williams (Vicar), Edward Sinclair (Verger), Geoffrey Lumsden (Captain Square), Robert Raglan (Colonel), Charles Hill (Sergeant Parkins), Collin Bean (Private Sponge) and Rosemary Faith (Shirley the Barmaid).

[Dave Homewood]

I think this is one of the all time great episodes. It has everything. I just love it. So many great scenes, and a wonderful story involving all the gang plus Hodges, the Vicar, the Verger and Captain Square. Wonderful. It most definately makes the film that came out the same year pale by comparison.

The scene with the feathers is hilarious. And the one with the boats. Plus the chase in the vans and Hodges falling off the bridge. I gave it 10/10.

[jonboy]

A great episode that fits in anywhere, none of the specials have a different theme so they can slot in with the rest of the series, I have just been listening to the radio hour long special Present Arms which merges this episode with Shooting Pains from series 1 - lots of laughs, poor Wilson takes the flack for the platoon wearing their medals and showing Mainwaring up at the church parade, nicely done and great acting as usual.

[Midsomerlover]

I've just been watching this one and it's already on my list of favorites. I like the episodes which are mostly shot on location. Though I have to admit, I can't stand Hodges' attempts to sabotage the HG, makes me soooo angry...

I've got another music question by the way - during some of the chase scenes, there's a familiar bit of music playing which I can't place. Anyone who knows?

[Dave Homewood]

The bayonet practice scene at the beginning of this episode is priceless, when Pike misses the dummy and runs his bayonet through the door and through Mainwaring's brand new hat. Hilarious.

Also when Mainwaring tells Wilson to pull himself together, stand up straight, stomach in, chin out, etc, and when Wilson complies and asks, "Is that better", Mainwaring's replya of, "Not really, no," is very funny.

Captain Square giving military orders to his butler when he goes to sit, "Prepare to sit: Sit". Brilliant.

The inspection where Mainwaring asks about each man's medals is one of the best inspection scenes in the series.

[verytastyverysweet]

Its one of the finest episodes of any sit com. I love this episode.

Best bit? 'Good heavens!!!!'

[stephen68]

Great all the way through, funny top class situation comedy, absolutely no complaints, Walker's finest moment for me, having the same flag made up, so either way they were going to win.

[buffsdad1]

Check out my location pictures ,elsewhere on this forum,of the Tower used in the finale of this episode !!

[dontpanic101]

classic episode, it is also in this one we learn Jonesy suffer from malaria he picked up, loved it

[stephen68]

Re watched this tonight, and still funny from start to finish, from Mainwaring having his nose put out of joint, Jones' malaria attack, and Godfrey's ointment for wasp stings.

Good heavens, as Mainwaring shoots the last balloon, top rank comedy.

[Molly]

I love this episode too, and it seems an extra treat that it's longer than most of the other episodes.

Can anyone tell me please why a previous bout of malaria meant you didn't pass an army medical? I understood it wasn't contagious anyway. Was it perhaps because of the risk of medical complications during a flare up or something?

[tlyne]

Watching this episode now. Pike just brought Mainwaring his uniform. This is a great scene. I love Wilson telling Mainwaring, it's 20 minutes until the parade, and we don't mind waiting.

[stephen68]

I assume this would be the reason yes Molly, although it is not curable right now it can be controlled, but sufferers are prone to relapse.

I sometimes feel sorry for Mainwaring here, as it appears to be an attempt to humiliate him, which judging by Frazers reaction would give him no end of pleasure at Mainwaring's downfall.

[mariska]

Bringing up a very old topic...have watched this episode a few times now and I love it..perhaps also because of the longer duration, it gives them so much more opportunity to show their characters to the fullest..however, I recently noticed something and was wondering if anybody else did..
When in the churchtower, the men rescue Jones who is balancing on the flagpole and drag him in. Jones falls to the floor with some of the men trying to pull him up. Mainwaring orders the men to strip(?) from their battledress...nobody seems to do it but you can see Walker suddenly grabbing his collar and his face turning into a grimace as if he is in pain. He then unbuttones his jacket and seems a bit "panicky"; after that he stands at the balcony and you can see him sweating and panting as if he ran a long distance..it seems a bit weird to me and not acted.
Perhaps I am making a big deal out of something that isnt a big deal at all but it struck me as not acting but really feeling not well. And I know this was 1971, so 2 years before his sudden passing. But it puzzled me so I thought I'd put it here, maybe someone has an explanation?

[Dave Homewood]

It is not the church tower they are on, it's just a local folly tower.

And as for Walker, I just looked, and I'm afraid I do not see anything in it. He's reacting to Square's mob suddenly arriving and that is all I see.

[mariska]

Sorry, I assumed it was "a" church tower.
No, it's before Square's mob arrives. I didn't notice it before but one of the last times watching it I thought it was a rather strange move and looks like its not acted. But ofcourse it can be my imagination.