Dad's Army

Rating:
Summary: A Joy to Revisit Old Friends
Review: I was excited to get hold of this book. I loved Dad's Army as a kid -- indeed I still do. I fondly remember watching the TV show whenever it was on, and even listening to the wireless adaptations on Sunday nights on New Zealand's National Radio.

McCann devotes the first chapter of the book to an historical account of the Home Guard during the Second World War, its percieved role, the political and military wrangling surrounding its creation, and its eventual disbandment.

The rest of the book deals with the genesis of this most beloved British comedy, from the first idea by Jimmy Perry and its refinement by David Croft, through its developments over the following years.

The book is liberally illustrated with black and white photographs of cast and crew. It also benefits from interviews with survivors of the show both behind and in front of the camera, giving this very much an "insiders" view of the production.

Tracing the various players' careers post-Dad's Army is a nice touch, and there is a comprehensive bibliography as well as excellent endnotes with each chapter. As a bonus, there is also a full episode guide for every episode filmed.

This book is a must read for every Dad's Army fan, and is a welcome addition to my home library.