A Brush with the Law

"A Brush with the Law"
Dad's Army episode
Episode no.	Series Five Episode 051
Directed by	David Croft
Story by	Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Produced by	David Croft
Original air date	15/12/72 (recorded 26 November 1972)
Running time	30 minutes

A Brush with the Law is the eleventh episode of the fifth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on 15 December 1972.

Synopsis

Mainwaring is charged with showing a light and is taken to court by a cheerful Warden. As if that wasn't enough, the magistrate is none other than his old nemesis Captain Square. The Verger tries to warn off the Warden, but the Warden will not back down.

The platoon tries to help by testifying as witnesses to Mainwaring's innocence, but things go from bad to worse when Jones messes up his story under oath. As both Square and Hodges proceed to push Mainwaring towards what could be a sticky end, Walker steps in and reveals he was out delivering 'supplies' to a 'nearby customer', putting some pressure on Square by reminding him of his own illegal activities involving some blackmarket whiskey. Just as Square is about to dismiss the trial, the Verger confesses it was he who showed the light, having used the office after the platoon had left on patrol to write his memoirs, much to the fury of Hodges who has lost his chance to end Mainwaring.

The case is dismissed and Mainwaring is allowed to leave the court "without a stain on his character". He attributes his acquittal to "honesty, fair play and the integrity of British justice".

Cast

Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie as Private Frazer
James Beck as Private Walker
Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey
Ian Lavender as Private Pike
Bill Pertwee as ARP Warden Hodges
Geoffrey Lumsden as Captain Square
Frank Williams as The Vicar
Edward Sinclair as The Verger
Stuart Sherwin as Junior Warden Reg Adamson
Jeffrey Gardiner as Mr Wintergreen
Marjorie Wilde as Lady Magistrate
Chris Gannon as Mr Bone, the Clerk of the Court
Toby Perkins as Usher

Notes

Mainwaring is prosecuted under the Emergency Powers Act 1940, which had been rushed onto the statute book by the government under a wave of popular pressure. Under its rules, Mainwaring could have been sentenced to several months in jail had he been found guilty as charged.
After Mainwaring is proved innocent Pike says "it's just like that film with John Garfield", a reference to the 1939 film They Made Me a Criminal.

References

Dad's Army by Jimmy Perry & David Croft

Characters

Episodes

Adaptations

Merchandise

Other articles

Episodes

Series 1	The Man and the Hour Museum Piece Command Decision The Enemy Within the Gates The Showing Up of Corporal Jones Shooting Pains

Series 2	Operation Kilt The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker Sgt. Wilson's Little Secret A Stripe for Frazer† Under Fire

Series 3	The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones Battle School The Lion Has Phones The Bullet is Not for Firing Something Nasty in the Vault Room at the Bottom Big Guns The Day the Balloon Went Up War Dance Menace from the Deep Branded Man Hunt No Spring for Frazer Sons of the Sea

Series 4	The Big Parade Don't Forget the Diver Boots, Boots, Boots Sgt – Save My Boy! Don't Fence Me In Absent Friends Put That Light Out! The Two and a Half Feathers Mum's Army The Test A. Wilson (Manager)? Uninvited Guests Fallen Idol

Series 5	Asleep in the Deep Keep Young and Beautiful A Soldier's Farewell Getting the Bird The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones If the Cap Fits... The King was in his Counting House All is Safely Gathered In When Did You Last See Your Money? Brain Versus Brawn A Brush with the Law Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel Time on My Hands

Series 6	The Deadly Attachment My British Buddy The Royal Train We Know Our Onions The Honourable Man Things that Go Bump in the Night The Recruit

Series 7	Everybody's Trucking A Man of Action Gorilla Warfare The Godiva Affair The Captain's Car Turkey Dinner

Series 8	Ring Dem Bells When You've Got to Go Is There Honey Still for Tea? Come In, Your Time Is Up High Finance The Face on the Poster

Series 9	Wake Up Walmington The Making of Private Pike Knights of Madness The Miser's Hoard Number Engaged Never Too Old

000!!Specials	Santa On Patrol Resisting the Aggressor Down the Ages Cornish Floral Dance Battle of the Giants! Broadcast to the Empire My Brother and I The Love of Three Oranges

Episodes in italics are missing
† Episode has been reconstructed for release using animation.

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