The Army Game

Back in my boyhood and black and white telly, we used to love this show. Just as conscription was taking place in the 50s. I think it gave rise later to "Bootsie and Snudge" who worked in a hotel.

This was essential family viewing on a Friday night. My dad loved it, being ex army, and the success of the series over so many years is a tribute to the quality of the writing and the actors skills. I well remember Geoffrey Palmer making his occasional cameo appearances. As popular in its day as the later Dad's Army, and for similar reasons.

Oh dear - no-one has commented so far on a TV show with over 150 episodes!!! I hope that someone (newly retired?) comes to the rescue soon. Maybe someone who worked in its production can fill things out a bit!

Unfortunately I am too young to remember any details - I only have impressions left. One strong impression is how the show revolved around "Bootsie and Snudge"! (Was that just because there was a series of those two characters after they "left" the army?) One thing I am sure of is that Alfie Bass (series 1 to 4) and Bill Fraser (series 2 to 4) must have done well over 100 episodes each - not the 3 listed! I do hope someone from Granada sets the record straight sometime soon! Apparently the surviving episodes are now available on DVD. I wonder if the show, so much of its period, would make much sense to modern viewers.

Some trivia - its theme tune, accompanied by singing from its cast, reached no5 in the UK singles chart!

I'm happy to say that I well remember the Army Game, especially the later episodes. By that time, as the previous reviewer says, the show revolved largely round Bootsie and Snudge, which is not to say that there were no other very talented members of the cast. The personnel changed a good bit over time but one noteworthy feature was the allocation of catchphrases to cast members, rather in the manner of 'Allo 'Allo more recently. Thus, a generation grew up saying 'still, ne'er mind, eh?' in the manner of Bootsie or making Snudge-like references to a 'proper nana'. It was a great show in its time but shunting Bootsie and Snudge into a spin-off and the approaching end of National Service ensured its cancellation.

I have just finished watching the DVD set of the remaining episodes of this series.I remember it very well. Its a shame that there is only one episode with Bernard Bread law.His catchphrase s were "Well I only asked" and "He's a nutcase". The later becoming very commonly used in the playground.William Hartwell was not a great feed man for comedy.I preferred Bill Fraser and his confrontation with Alfie Bass.Probably it was so popular because of National Service.It is still quite funny.I noticed Barry Took and Marty Feldman as writers on one episode.