Knights of Madness

"Knights of Madness"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no.	Series Nine Episode 077
Directed by	David Croft
Story by	Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Produced by	David Croft
Original air date	16 October 1977 (recorded 22 July 1977)
Running time	30 minutes

Knights of Madness is the third episode of the ninth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on 16 October 1977.

Synopsis

To support the "Wings for Victory" week, the platoon restages the Battle of Saint George and the Dragon. This does not go down well with Hodges and his ARP wardens, however, as they have been planning the same thing.

Plot

At the town meeting, the council are trying to organise the events that will take place in order to celebrate Saint George's Day. After a vote, it is decided that the Home Guard and the ARP will share the grand finale. Both Mainwaring and Hodges are reluctant to reveal what they each will be doing for the event.

Later that day, Mainwaring is in his office with Wilson and Pike. Mainwaring tells them of his plan to celebrate St. George's day by staging a fight between St. George and a dragon, representing Britain's fight against Hitler. Mainwaring reveals that he will be playing St. George.

During the rehearsal of the fight, Mainwaring is finding it quite difficult to manoeuver in a real suit of armour, but is persistent stating "that if out ancestors could wear it, so can I." After falling off the horse a number of times, he eventually gives up and agrees to let Godfrey's sister knit him a suit of armour. Meanwhile Pike is told to dress up as a Squander Bug using a costume his mother made him, but finally gets out of this.

As the platoon are about to get their staged fight underway, the ARP interrupt them, as they too are staging the historical fight scene. As things take a turn for the worse, Hodges challenges Mainwaring to a duel, which he accepts. The two dragons also face off, with Jones at the head of one and the Vicar at the head of the other. Wilson tells Pike that they "Ought to do something" and with that, Pike shoots Hodges with his pea shooter, causing him to fall off. The Home Guard dragon eventually defeats the ARP dragon, and Mainwaring salutes the cheering crowd from his horse.

Notes

The episode references the popular story of St George and the Dragon. However it throws a peculiar twist on it by having St George fight St George and the dragon fight the dragon.

Quotes

Mainwaring: "a man in my position can't be seen fighting a dragon in cardboard armour"

Cast

• Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring
• John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson
• Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones
• John Laurie as Private Frazer
• Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey
• Ian Lavender as Private Pike
• Janet Davies as Mrs Pike
• Bill Pertwee as ARP Warden Hodges
• Frank Williams (actor) as The Vicar
• Edward Sinclair as The Verger