Actor best known for playing the officious Arp warden William Hodges in Dad's Army
In his early days as a cabaret artist, the actor Bill Pertwee, who has died aged 86, did a manic cricket revue sketch at a fashionable club in central London. A haughty and inebriated diner kicked over his stumps and shouted: "How's that?" Pertwee punched him in the stomach and was escorted out by the head waiter, who informed him that the customer was always right. "As far as I'm concerned, he isn't!" retorted Pertwee.
This bubbling belligerence was successfully incorporated into the bossy character that made Pertwee famous: Arp Warden William Hodges in the celebrated BBC television series Dad's Army (1968-77), written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. As Hodges, he perpetually clashed with Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) of the Home Guard.
The inspiration for the way Pertwee played the warden came from his boyhood during the second world war,...
In his early days as a cabaret artist, the actor Bill Pertwee, who has died aged 86, did a manic cricket revue sketch at a fashionable club in central London. A haughty and inebriated diner kicked over his stumps and shouted: "How's that?" Pertwee punched him in the stomach and was escorted out by the head waiter, who informed him that the customer was always right. "As far as I'm concerned, he isn't!" retorted Pertwee.
This bubbling belligerence was successfully incorporated into the bossy character that made Pertwee famous: Arp Warden William Hodges in the celebrated BBC television series Dad's Army (1968-77), written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. As Hodges, he perpetually clashed with Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) of the Home Guard.
The inspiration for the way Pertwee played the warden came from his boyhood during the second world war,...
- 5/27/2013
- by Dennis Barker
- The Guardian - Film News
The Bollywood actor's early films are fondly remembered because, in their day, they offered a triumphant alternative version of what it meant to be Asian
I was probably 12 years old the first time I saw an Amitabh Bachchan film. It was the early 80s and video players were relatively rare. My family did not own one so my father would, like many Asians at the time, hire a machine, which he would pick up on a Friday evening and return on Sunday. The cost of the video hire was, I recall, £5, and my dad and I would also select three or four films to watch on the Friday and Saturday evening. Invariably, these films would star Amitabh Bachchan.
Bollywood movies – especially those released in the 70s and 80s – are today often viewed as gaudy kitsch, but the pleasure I derived from titles such as Coolie, Naseeb and Sholay was entirely unironic.
I was probably 12 years old the first time I saw an Amitabh Bachchan film. It was the early 80s and video players were relatively rare. My family did not own one so my father would, like many Asians at the time, hire a machine, which he would pick up on a Friday evening and return on Sunday. The cost of the video hire was, I recall, £5, and my dad and I would also select three or four films to watch on the Friday and Saturday evening. Invariably, these films would star Amitabh Bachchan.
Bollywood movies – especially those released in the 70s and 80s – are today often viewed as gaudy kitsch, but the pleasure I derived from titles such as Coolie, Naseeb and Sholay was entirely unironic.
- 10/25/2012
- by Sarfraz Manzoor
- The Guardian - Film News
London, Sept 28: British television's most successful comic writer
David Croft passed away yesterday at the age of 89.
Croft's partnership with Dad's Army co-writer Jimmy Perry produced one of the country's most successful scriptwriting duos.
He was the genius behind some of the best loved moments in 'Dad's Army', 'Are You Being Served'? and 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'.
"David invented a whole genre of comedy that was all his own," The Daily Star quoted Ex-bbc head of comedy, Jon Plowman as saying.
Croft died peacefully at home in Portugal.
His family said: "He would be.
David Croft passed away yesterday at the age of 89.
Croft's partnership with Dad's Army co-writer Jimmy Perry produced one of the country's most successful scriptwriting duos.
He was the genius behind some of the best loved moments in 'Dad's Army', 'Are You Being Served'? and 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'.
"David invented a whole genre of comedy that was all his own," The Daily Star quoted Ex-bbc head of comedy, Jon Plowman as saying.
Croft died peacefully at home in Portugal.
His family said: "He would be.
- 9/28/2011
- by Arun Pantit
- RealBollywood.com
London — Television writer David Croft, who helped create much-loved British sitcoms such as "Dad's Army" and "Are You Being Served?," died Tuesday. He was 89.
Croft's agent Tim Hancock, said the writer died at his holiday home in Portugal. Croft's family said in a statement that he "died peacefully in his sleep," but did not give a cause.
The son of actors, Croft served with the Royal Artillery during World War II before starting a showbiz career, eventually moving into TV as a producer, director and writer.
Several of his comedies had military settings, including "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" – set in wartime India and Burma – and "Dad's Army," about a hapless World War II Home Guard unit.
Co-created with Jimmy Perry, "Dad's Army" is considered a comedy classic, and is still frequently rerun more than 40 years after its debut.
Croft and Perry had another long-running hit with "Hi-de-Hi!" set in a 1950s holiday camp.
Croft's agent Tim Hancock, said the writer died at his holiday home in Portugal. Croft's family said in a statement that he "died peacefully in his sleep," but did not give a cause.
The son of actors, Croft served with the Royal Artillery during World War II before starting a showbiz career, eventually moving into TV as a producer, director and writer.
Several of his comedies had military settings, including "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" – set in wartime India and Burma – and "Dad's Army," about a hapless World War II Home Guard unit.
Co-created with Jimmy Perry, "Dad's Army" is considered a comedy classic, and is still frequently rerun more than 40 years after its debut.
Croft and Perry had another long-running hit with "Hi-de-Hi!" set in a 1950s holiday camp.
- 9/27/2011
- by AP
- Huffington Post
British comedy writer David Croft has died at the age of 89.
The famed writer and producer, who was behind BBC comedy classics including Dad's Army and 'Allo 'Allo!, passed away in his sleep at his home in Portugal on Tuesday.
A statement from his family reads, "The family of comedy legend David Croft OBE are sad to report that David died peacefully in his sleep at his house in Portugal earlier today. He was a truly great man, who will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing and loving him. We know that he would have been proud that you had all been watching."
Croft's career began in the army after he enlisted during World War II and his experiences in the military went on to provide much of his inspiration for popular sitcoms Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum, which were written with collaborator Jimmy Perry.
He was also behind shows including 'Allo 'Allo!, Hi-de-Hi, Are You Being Served and its 1990s spin-off Grace and Favour.
Croft retired from work at Britain's BBC in 1993 and he was made an Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 for his services to television. He was also honoured with the 1981 Desmond Davis award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
The famed writer and producer, who was behind BBC comedy classics including Dad's Army and 'Allo 'Allo!, passed away in his sleep at his home in Portugal on Tuesday.
A statement from his family reads, "The family of comedy legend David Croft OBE are sad to report that David died peacefully in his sleep at his house in Portugal earlier today. He was a truly great man, who will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing and loving him. We know that he would have been proud that you had all been watching."
Croft's career began in the army after he enlisted during World War II and his experiences in the military went on to provide much of his inspiration for popular sitcoms Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum, which were written with collaborator Jimmy Perry.
He was also behind shows including 'Allo 'Allo!, Hi-de-Hi, Are You Being Served and its 1990s spin-off Grace and Favour.
Croft retired from work at Britain's BBC in 1993 and he was made an Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 for his services to television. He was also honoured with the 1981 Desmond Davis award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
- 9/27/2011
- WENN
British TV actor Donald Hewlett has passed away at the age of 90.
Best known for his role in long-running BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hewlett died in London on Saturday after a lengthy battle with ill health, according to his wife Therese.
Hewlett fell in love with acting while studying at Britain's revered Cambridge University, and began his career in 1954 alongside Peter Sellers and Sid James in Orders Are Orders.
He went on to land a series of roles in shows such as The Saint, Doctor Who and The Avengers before winning the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Reynolds in It Ain't Half Hot Mum. The role was followed by You Rang M'Lord?, in which he played Lord Meldrum.
Hewlett appeared in a series of movies including A Touch of Class with Glenda Jackson. He last appeared on TV in The Upper Hand in 1995.
He is survived by five children.
Best known for his role in long-running BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hewlett died in London on Saturday after a lengthy battle with ill health, according to his wife Therese.
Hewlett fell in love with acting while studying at Britain's revered Cambridge University, and began his career in 1954 alongside Peter Sellers and Sid James in Orders Are Orders.
He went on to land a series of roles in shows such as The Saint, Doctor Who and The Avengers before winning the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Reynolds in It Ain't Half Hot Mum. The role was followed by You Rang M'Lord?, in which he played Lord Meldrum.
Hewlett appeared in a series of movies including A Touch of Class with Glenda Jackson. He last appeared on TV in The Upper Hand in 1995.
He is survived by five children.
- 6/6/2011
- WENN
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