Museum Piece

Museum Piece

Museum Piece is the second episode in the first series of the British comedy series Dad's Army, originally transmitted on Wednesday 7 August 1968.

Contents

TV Episode

"Museum Piece"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no. Series One
Episode 002
Directed by David Croft[1]
Story by Jimmy Perry and David Croft[1]
Produced by David Croft[1]
Original air date Wednesday 7/8/68 7.00pm[1]
(recorded Monday 22/4/68[1])
Running time 30 minutes
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Man and the Hour"		 Next →
"Command Decision"

Synopsis

Mainwaring and Wilson come up with an idea for getting the platoon some much needed weapons: "Operation Gun Grab". The plan is to requisition any firearms from the local museum of Historic Army Weapons - but to do so the platoon must first find a way to outwit the 88-year old caretaker, who happens to be the father of Lance Corporal Jones.

Plot

It is not long after the platoon's first parade, and Mainwaring and Wilson discuss a recent exercise which involved crossing a 'demolished bridge' to cross a river. Unfortunately, Pike fell in, flat on his face. Mainwaring confides in Wilson that he doesn't think he has the unthinking obedience required to make an efficient fighting unit, and is sure that one of his men told him to "get stuffed".

Wilson asks Mainwaring about the weapons situation, and Mainwaring reluctantly informs him that it will be a further six weeks before the weapons and uniforms arrive, so they must make do with one shotgun, seventeen carving knives, Jones' assegai, and Bracewell's number three iron. They receive a letter from the Peabody Museum of Historical Army Weapons, informing them that they'll have to close their account for the duration because the curator has joined the navy.

Mainwaring's ears prick up at the name of the museum, and deduces they might be able to use some equipment that could be used by his Local Defence Volunteers. Wilson isn't so sure, but Mainwaring organises "Operation Gun Grab", and tells Miss King to write a letter to give to the caretaker in charge.

On parade, Jones informs Mainwaring that he won't be able to get anything from the museum, because the caretaker in charge is Jones' 88-year-old father. True to form, the cantankerous old man refuses to let the platoon in, so they decide to try force, using scaling ladders and battering rams, but to no avail. When they try to scale the museum, George Jones puts a damper on their plans by soaking them in cold water.

Mainwaring decides to take a more tactical approach, and Jones says a bottle of whisky will do the trick. Walker gives Frazer, who will be disguised as an ARP Warden, the bottle to tempt him with, if he doesn't respond to Frazer's insistence that there's a light showing.

All goes well, and the platoon sneak into the museum. Jones finds a halberd and breastplate, Pike and Walker find an elephant-shooting musket, and Godfrey finds a case of .303 carbines, which unfortunately are being used by ENSA. The platoon prepare to leave, defeated, until Jones and Walker find a Chinese rocket gun, and wheel it back to the church hall.

Their driver, a boy scout is asked by Jones and Walker to try to get it going. Mainwaring calls the duo over and says that he praises their initiative, but the weapon is too antiquated - even for them. As they prepare to make petrol bombs, the boy scout gets the weapon working, and it fires rockets everywhere.

Notes

  1. The exterior of the museum was actually Oxburgh Hall, a National Trust property in Norfolk.

Cast

Cast Characters
Arthur Lowe Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie Private Frazer
James Beck Private Walker
Arnold Ridley Private Godfrey
Ian Lavender Private Pike
Janet Davies Mrs Pike
Support Cast Characters Nationality
Caroline Dowdeswell Janet King England
Leon Cortez Henry, the Milkman England
Eric Woodburn George Jones
the Museum Caretaker		 England
Michael Osborne Boy Scout England

Radio episode

"Museum Piece"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no. Series One
Episode 002
Story by Harold Snoad & Michael Knowles
Produced by John Dyas
Original air date Monday 4/2/74 6.15pm[1]
(recorded Thursday 7/6/73[1])
Running time 30 minutes
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Man and the Hour"		 Next →
"Command Decision"

Synopsis

Plot

Cast

Cast Characters
Arthur Lowe Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie Private Frazer
Ian Lavender Private Pike
James Beck Private Walker
Eric Woodburn George Jones

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army. Orion. p. 144. ISBN 0-75284-637-X. 

References

v · d · eDad's Army
Characters
Television episodes
Spin-offs

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • museum piece — museum pieces N COUNT If you describe an object or building as a museum piece, you mean that it is old and unusual. It is virtually a flying museum piece, a descendant of the World War Two Lancaster bomber …   English dictionary

  • museum piece — ► NOUN Brit. ▪ an old fashioned or useless person or object …   English terms dictionary

  • museum piece — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms museum piece : singular museum piece plural museum pieces 1) humorous someone or something that is considered to be very old fashioned, especially a machine or a piece of equipment 2) an interesting or… …   English dictionary

  • museum piece — noun 1. : an object of lasting interest or value (as an antique) suitable for or preserved in a museum early pie plates, now museum pieces American Guide Series: Connecticut a museum piece volume Claudia Cassidy some classics, no longer… …   Useful english dictionary

  • museum piece — 1. something suitable for keeping and exhibiting in a museum. 2. something very old fashioned or decrepit: That car he drives is a museum piece. [1900 05] * * * …   Universalium

  • museum piece — mu seum ,piece noun count 1. ) HUMOROUS someone or something that is considered to be very old fashioned, especially a machine or piece of equipment 2. ) an interesting or important object that is appropriate for a museum …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • museum piece — mu seum .piece n 1.) something or someone that is very old fashioned often used humorously ▪ Some of the weapons used by the rebels are museum pieces. 2.) an object that is so valuable or interesting that it should be in a museum …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • museum piece — noun (C) 1 often humorous a very old fashioned piece of equipment: Some of the weapons used by the rebels are museum pieces. 2 an object that is so valuable or interesting that it should be in a museum …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • museum piece — muse′um piece n. 1) something suitable for keeping and exhibiting in a museum 2) something very old fashioned or decrepit • Etymology: 1900–05 …   From formal English to slang

  • museum piece — Synonyms and related words: abnormality, anomaly, art object, brainchild, bric a brac, classic, composition, conversation piece, creation, curio, curiosity, design, exception, grotesque, improbability, kitsch, master, masterpiece, masterwork,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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