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
John Francis Lane writes: When I was Rome correspondent of the News Chronicle, I didn't earn much, so was happy to accept offers to play cameos in films. I had the good luck to be signed up for Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor (obituary, 24 March), to play Bacchus in the spectacular sequence on Cleopatra's barge when she gave a banquet in honour of Mark Antony. I had signed the contract and been fitted with the costume. Then, I was suddenly summoned to the office of the producer, Walter Wanger. He asked if it were true that I was a newspaper man. I had to admit it was. So he said he was obliged to cancel my engagement. He told me that Mr Burton and Miss Taylor didn't want journalists on the set.
It would so happen that on the very day that "my" scene was to be shot, Liz's husband...
It would so happen that on the very day that "my" scene was to be shot, Liz's husband...
- 3/28/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.