Man of Action
Encyclopedia
Man of Action is the second episode of the seventh British
comedy series Dad's Army
that was originally transmitted on Friday 22 November 1974.
Once there they discover Walmington is in the grip of a crisis. The town has been heavily bombed, leaving the water, telephone and other vital services damaged. Walmington is, in effect, totally cut off. In light of this an emergency meeting has been called by the town elders. Realising that the bickering committee
are not providing effective leadership, Mainwaring orders his men to fix bayonets and steps in, effectively performing a coup d'etat
and putting the town under martial law
. He begins issuing a number of stringent edicts, including all looters being shot, rumourmongers being imprisoned and for no liquor to be sold without a permit. Then gathering his men behind him, he marches on the town hall, refuting accusations that he is behaving like "the dictator
of some South American Banana republic
".
Pike is still stuck in the gates, and several passers-by wrongly assuming this is some form of harsh punishment by Mainwaring. Despite the confident manner he had departed in, Mainwaring returns from his attempt to seize the town hall, indignantly explaining it was shut by the town clerk. He assures people that he will "deal with him in the morning". He again denies that he is behaving like a tyrant, and usurping the power of the land.
However when an officer from GHQ
arrives to take command over from him, implementing much the same policies as he had, Mainwaring is himself outraged and the episode ends with him being locked outside his own office.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy series Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
that was originally transmitted on Friday 22 November 1974.
Synopsis
There may be trouble ahead: a landmine has ripped up 100 yards of railway track, gas and water supplies have been cut, the telephone wires are down and Pike has got his head stuck through the bars of a gate. Mainwairing declares martial law.Plot
The episode opens with Jones and Pike out on patrol. While recreating a childhood prank, Pike gets his head stuck in the park gates. Mainwaring is in the church hall, conducting an interview and photo session with a member of the local press. Alerted by Jones, Mainwaring comes and rescues Pike - unable to free him, they lift the gates off their hinges and carry them back to the church hall (with Pike still trapped).Once there they discover Walmington is in the grip of a crisis. The town has been heavily bombed, leaving the water, telephone and other vital services damaged. Walmington is, in effect, totally cut off. In light of this an emergency meeting has been called by the town elders. Realising that the bickering committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
are not providing effective leadership, Mainwaring orders his men to fix bayonets and steps in, effectively performing a coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
and putting the town under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
. He begins issuing a number of stringent edicts, including all looters being shot, rumourmongers being imprisoned and for no liquor to be sold without a permit. Then gathering his men behind him, he marches on the town hall, refuting accusations that he is behaving like "the dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
of some South American Banana republic
Banana republic
In political science, the pejorative term Banana Republic denotes a politically unstable country dependent upon limited primary productions , which is ruled by a plutocracy, a small, self-elected, wealthy group who exploit the country by means of a politico-economic oligarchy...
".
Pike is still stuck in the gates, and several passers-by wrongly assuming this is some form of harsh punishment by Mainwaring. Despite the confident manner he had departed in, Mainwaring returns from his attempt to seize the town hall, indignantly explaining it was shut by the town clerk. He assures people that he will "deal with him in the morning". He again denies that he is behaving like a tyrant, and usurping the power of the land.
However when an officer from GHQ
GHQ
GHQ from General Headquarters, may refer to:*a high level military command center, see headquarters**GHQ India - headquarters of the British India Army...
arrives to take command over from him, implementing much the same policies as he had, Mainwaring is himself outraged and the episode ends with him being locked outside his own office.