bhowells

I watched two episodes of a compilation of The Army Game. Slightly before my timeit started in 1957 and finishded its run the year I was born. I do however remember Bootsie and Snudge and its sequel Foreign Affairs.

The two episodes of The Army Game I saw must have been from some of the later seasons as they star Harry Towb and Harry Fowler and Frank Williams. I couldnt say that I found it funny but its defintely a show with a fascinating history.

The entry for The Army Game in the excellent Guide To Tv Comedy from Radio Times by Mark Lewisohn was very informative.

I had not realised how many cast changes occurred during the programmes history. I had no idea previously that Bernard Bresslaw was only the first couple of series.

The other interesting fact about the show that it was produced along the same lines as American comedies with seasons consisting of twenty six episodes and diifferent writers.

Indeed The Army Game has almost as many episodes as U.S. show that would have run for the same length of time.

With regard to Bootsie and Snudge I had forgotten about the poorly received revival in 1974.

Dame Starry

You can watch episodes of The Army Game on-line at: TV Classics as well as a lot of other old TV programmes.

DS x.

David Brent

I remembered the Army Game as being a highlight of the TV week when I was a young kid.

Based on that memory I bought the DVD of the first series - and was hugely disappointed. The laughs are very thin on the ground.

Shame because there were some really good comedy actors in the series.

Dave.

Dame Starry

Same here - we used to sit down as a family to watch it.

Unfortunately, because times have changed and our tastes change as we get older, few of those programmes we laughed at then seem to raise a titter these days - but I think it's still worth watching, even part of an episode, just for the nostalgia.

DS x.

TomDaws

The Army Game was the first TV comedy programme I can remember enjoying : I must have been 7 or 8. Michael Medwin, Norman Rossington and the extraordinary-looking Ted Lune are some of the other actors who appeared.

alan french

Hi.
1.The Army Game also featured somewhere along the line, a pre Dr. Who, William Hartnell.

2.The programme's popularity also stimulated a cinema spin-off.

Alan French.

Panavision

I saw the filming of a Bootsie & Snudge episode at Granada in 1974-ish. They had an impressive prop: a Rolls-Royce sliced cleany in two (don't ask me why - I've forgotten!). Apparently, the car had to be strictly returned to RR, I suppose in case anyone made a cut & shut out of it!

:- ) Johnny

716Jones

If I remember rightly, William Hartnell was the original Sergeant-Major, character was called Sergeant-Major Bullimore. Don't know why he left but was replaced by Bill Faser as CSM Snudge.

ollie

Bootsie and snudge is definatly my fave of the two excused boot's

cheers Ollie

"Bullseye !!"

bhowells

Thanks D.S. I certainly will.

CHEERS

B.H.

bhowells

Yes I know what you mean about the laughs being a thin on the ground, I have only seen two episodes so far , the dvd belongs to my brother and I was watching it in his house, I need to watch the rest of it to get more of a flavour of the series, but I cant see me laughing out loud at any of it.

I think the curiosity value is going to overide anything else, interesting to spot a cameo in the one episode I saw by William Mervyn a.k.a. Mr Rose or The Old Gent from the Railway Children.

alan french

Hi 716jones.
Just seen your comments regarding The Army Game. I believe you to be correct. In fact although William Hartnell played sometimes unsavoury characters, he was possibly type cast as tough sgt. majors or or some officer in the army or any other service. It was possibly this is why he starred in the title role of the first Carry On film, Carry On Seargeant. He took these roles superbly. In fact I think I prefer him as a tough officer than Doctor Who.
Alan French.