Spike Milligan plays his own father in this autobiographical and highly comedic account of a British army recruit during World War II, whilst Jim Dale is patently too old to portray the youthful conscript Spike.
Young jazz trumpeter Spike (Dale) is enjoying a carefree existence when news arrives that Germany has invaded Poland and war is a distinct possibility – and thus it follows that Spike is enlisted when war breaks out.
The story chronicles the adventures of Spike and his motley pals during his time as a naive conscript, as their rigorous basic training with the Royal Artillery at Bexhill gradually degenerates into a chaotic free-for-all.
Spikes adventures include gunnery practise with an ancient artillery piece, witnessing his first dead German, a farcical inter-company boxing match and slapstick military manoeuvres.
Spike Milligan
Jim Dale
Leo Milligan
Spike Milligan
Major Drysdale
Arthur Lowe
Bill
Tony Selby
Sgt Ellis
Bill Maynard
Larry
Geoffrey Hughes
Mrs Milligan
Pat Coombs
Sgt MacKay
Windsor Davies
Lt Martin
Stephen Yardley
Referee
Bob Todd
Tommy Brettell
Anthony Booth
Director
Norman Cohen
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