Adolf Hitler - My Part in His Downfall

Jim Dale - Spike Milligan
Arthur Lowe - Maj. Drysdale
Tony Selby - Bill
Bill Maynard - Sgt. Ellis
Geoffrey Hughes - Larry
Spike Milligan - Leo Milligan
Pat Coombs - Mrs. Milligan
Windsor Davies - Sgt. MacKay
Stephen Yardley - Lt. Martin
Bob Todd - Referee
Anthony Booth - Tommy Brettell

Zany World War II comedy based on the cynical wartime memoirs of acerbic comedian Spike Milligan. Norman Cohen’s undemanding screen adaptation is comprised of amusing anecdotes but lacks the anarchic humour or pathos that could have been extracted from the films premise. Milligan steals many a scene playing his own father, whilst Jim Dale is patently too old to portray the youthful conscript Spike.

Young jazz trumpeter Spike (Jim Dale) is enjoying a carefree existence when news arrives that Germany has invaded Poland and war is a distinct possibility – and thus it follows that Spike is enlisted when war breaks out. The story chronicles the adventures of Spike and his motley pals during his time as a naive conscript, as their rigorous basic training with the Royal Artillery at Bexhill gradually degenerates into a chaotic free-for-all. Spikes adventures include gunnery practise with an ancient artillery piece, witnessing his first dead German, a farcical inter-company boxing match and slapstick military manoeuvres.