1978- the year of the firefighters' strike, Ford strikes, bakers' strike, IRA bombings, the Yorkshire Ripper, football hooliganism, rampant graffiti, punk, National Front, hushed-up paedophilia, casual racism, The Sweeney, rising unemployment and the winter of discontent- d'you mean *that* kinder Britain? Modern life has its problems- but the past was no picnic.
Even with all the things you mention it was still a better time, we were still free to speak the truth then for the most part. And the country overall was less over regulated.
@@scattygirl1 - By "casual racism" I expect you mean when people could still laugh a themselves and we weren't dictated to by insane litards in a constant state of indignation. Programmes like Love Thy Neighbour for instance, highlighted the stupidity of racism rather than promoted it, but subtleties like that seem lost on the f-wits we've in control now.
@James Henderson - the butt of the joke in LTN wasn't the colored couple, they were the smart ones. It was the stupid racist white guy. Unless everyone watching that show completely missed the point.
You mean protecting her be saying he had an affair because she had an a affair with a younger man and if that had come out it would have ruined her career. Even during her This Is Your Life appearance.
I met him too. We went and had some fish and chips. Then had a good ole cup of tea. He paid for it and danced in the middle of the greasy spoon. All just as true like what you said.
nigelcarren I didn't expect him to be so 'Wilson' in real life! How much was he 'acting'! One of my favourite contributions from him in Dad's Army was when Mainwaring asks him to get the men to fall in line, and he says something like 'Would you mind just falling in line please, chaps?' Such an archetypal Englishman and a true gent! Sadly missed.
@@nicklewis1882 I recall my parents telling me they were at the cinema one time and John le Mesurier was also in the audience with a lady companion sitting a couple of rows in front of them. Though they didn't meet him, they couldn't help overhearing him chatting to his lady before the film began, and they told me he sounded exactly like his character Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army !
A proper gent, and from an era of classic comedy that is sadly gone from our tv screens today, ..dad's army was brilliantly written , wonderfully acted ,...and done with a warmth and realism that's sadly lacking from modern comedies of today.....miss those great times.
A charming man and in real life you could have been speaking to Sgt Wilson! I met him by chance while he was proping up the bar in the Foy Boat hotel Ramsgate when I was working for Wimpey on construction of a multi-story block of flats in the early 1970s. That chance meeting I will never forget because he was such an impressionable character.
Knickertwist Copperby. How interesting Knickertwist. Working for a largely Irish company where the "Black Stuff" ruled, The Foy Boat became our daily watering hole! At that time Hughy Green and Monica Rose were living on a houseboat in Ramsgate Harbour.
X Ruttles. Thanks for that. I didn't go into detail about Monica Rose because what I said was simply a point in passing. You are absolutely right. I well remember Hughy Green "spotting" her as a contestant on his show but I wasn't aware she comitted suicide.
X Ruttles. Your last comment prompted me to follow your lead and I did a Google search. Following her 8 minute appearance as a contestant she progressed to hostess on Hughie Green's "Double Your Money" and "The Sky's the Limit."
@Delta Fox I think the symptoms have been illustated in your previous diatribes(some might say diarrhea but I coulnt possibly comment) but ime always interested in new things so if you have a link to your WS i'll chck it out? PS is the beautiful wife made of these artificial body parts?
Hard to imagine Dad's Army without Wilson but I'm glad that the interviewer talked about the many other roles this gifted and charming gentleman played. Thanks for making this available
i just watched this wonderful film, and thanks for a lovely comment and I have always thought it was terrible that he experienced bad treatment, this true gent deserved only the best
@@dadparker_9011 ...He may well have done, only he knows that. His third wife Joan Long did the dirty on him with Tony Hancock (Hancock just as guilty as they were good friends). John accepted her back so I suppose he must of truly loved her. Like I said he was treated appallingly by both Jaques and Long. Some may say he was weak, but I thought he was a true gent and both of them abused his kindness.
We had a manager that was less than competent in many matters. One day came a crisis and a decision of some importance had to be made and one of our junior members uttered the Sgt Wilson phrase of " Do you think that's wise Sir?" Silence then guffaw of laughter!! His competence improved immediately. Thank you Sgt Wilson.
His partnership with Arthur Lowe was comedy gold i would have loved to have seen them in more things but alas they came together late in there respective careers, but what a body of work they left us with
it is a pleasure not only to watch this wonderful gentleman in this great clip, never before have I seen, but to read all the super words and feel the happiness in the comments here for all those folks who loved this lovely actor and enjoyed his lovely personality and his wonderful acting, Thank you for this post
What beautiful comments on here, made me smile and sad in equal measure; an actor that was of his time, a real English gentleman that I can only aspire ever to be. Many people in SE Asia think we are all like this - if only...he represents Englishness personified...RIP John - a true role model.
A pure gent! John and Hattie Jacques had a son Robin. Robin became an accomplished guitarist and was part of Rod Stewart’s band back in the 80’s. Sadly he too is no longer with us .
James Henderson funny you don’t mention anything about the Ottoman Empire or genghis khan (who slaughtered millions, also no mention of the needless Vietnam war , or even the Rwandan genocide , seems like you’ve also forgot that Dads army is based on the home guard who in a FICTIONAL town called Walmington on sea, you seem like a person who makes it an embarrassment to be British and proud.
James Henderson - er no, it’s a COMEDY based on those men that were willing to fight the Nazis (the real racists) should they reach British shores , the person they were fighting against was indeed a racist and anti Semite , do you not have something to say about him...???????
He seemed like a big star the way he is dressed, glasses and cigarettes. He was a great actor, always watch whatever he is in. He sounds exactly as his character in Dads Army.
Mainwaring in Dad’s Army. “....typical public school..they’re an ambling, muddle headed lot...! “. He loved insulting poor old Wilson. Greatest comedy of all time!
John could say everything with just a look, He knew when no words were needed. I always remember it was mentioned in an episode of Dad's that he looked like Jack Buchanan. As soon as I saw one of his movies I realised he did.
I saw the poor old guy a few times, usually at the bar of the Barons Keep or on one occasion at Raymond’s Revue Bar, drinking alone, always seemed very sad
I always thought he was one of the mainstays of british cinema and in numerous films. He had a really nice quiet personality. His son Robin is well known in French rock as he was a close friend and guitarist to Johnny Hallyday.
The irony in WWII he was the highest ranked member of the cast of Dad's Army, as a Captain in a tank regiment. I’m sure I’ve heard of someone else recently who held a similar position.
@@ianhowlett4682 That’s quite possibly it. So many entertainers served with distinction, Rupert Davies, David Niven, Raymond Baxter, my dad (he entertained me and my siblings anyhow).
@@knickertwistcopperby6066Good grief, It was in 1964 that our chief flour-grader, Fred, was introduced and made our brand and our product iconic. homeprideflour.co.uk/pages/our-heritage
Any good actor knows exactly the power and effects of a good story , scene , dialogue writing and choosing of words in a scenario because before giving credit to themselves for the good acting performance and without it ...... an actor is nothing ! R.I.P........ Mr.John Le .
What an elegant gentleman he really was, such style and he was the perfect foil for Mainwarring's pompous Poe faced Captain. He has a lot of the Brian Ferry here lol
You wouldn't expect him to play a murderer - but he did. Twice. Once, in 1963, in the Edgar Wallace Mystery episode "Flat Two" and, ten years later, in the Thriller episode "File It Under Fear". In each case, he was as laid back as ever.
If this reassures you, I’m 21 and Dad’s Army is my favourite show of all time. It is due in no small part to John Le Mesurier’s talents, as well as many other factors. Hopefully this gives you a glimmer of hope.
His performance in 'Traitor' - loosely based on Kim Philby - was an absolute masterpiece, even though JLM was reported to be absolutely terrifed of doing it and thought it would be a disaster. Afterwards he said that in his opinion it was the best role he ever had on television. In my opinion he was right. I'm taking away nothing from the comedy career for which he's best known, but 'Traitor' proves what a criminally underrated serious actor he was, and what he might have done if everything else hadn't been eclipsed by Sgt. Wilson. If you get the chance to see it - for God's sake watch it.
I remember him well, always a favourite in our household during the seventies & early eighties. Even my crusty, conservative father loved him. He served in India during the war & instead of being all secretive & dramatic he is quoted as saying that he had a “rather comfortable war” He was called up, but his rented house was bombed destroying his call up papers, in the same raid the theatre he was working in was hit as well. He ended up as a captain ( much to his surprise, he couldn’t of cared less) before being demobbed in 1946. His private life wasn’t to be envied, but is that my business?
