User Reviews

This was the first 'Some Mothers' I can recall ever seeing. It opens with a 'Billy Liar' style sequence in which Frank ( complete with handle bar moustache ) dreams he is a dashing R.A.F. Group Captain, bravely rescuing Betty from drunken G.I.'s in a dimly-lit tavern to the strains of 'Lili Marlene'. Good stunt work by 'Havoc'.

Then we are back in the real world as Frank hurtles over a settee in the middle of the night. He is excited because of a forthcoming R.A.F. reunion, which he attends every year. Air Commodore Drew ( Desmond Llewelyn ), the guest of honour, wonders aloud just who Frank is and what he did in his R.A.F. days: "I don't suppose we will ever the know the truth!".

He might not know, but we soon will. Frank is, as you would expect, absolutely hopeless. The men don't like him. During kit inspection by Pilot Leader Baker ( David Quilter ), he manages to tumble downstairs while inside a locker. During physical training, Frank is put in charge of a team, and they have to carry out an exercise which involves swinging by rope over a floor. Each time, they try this ( using Frank's ideas ) they fall off. Finally, Frank is submitted to an aptitude test by Fowler ( Fulton Mackay ) and completely fails to grasp the meanings of the questions...

Smashing episode, and one with more than a passing resemblance to the I.T.V. sitcom 'Get Some In!', hardly surprising seeing how it was also produced by Michael Mills and also features David Quilter as an officer ( he played 'Flight Lieutenant Grant' in the Esmonde and Larbey show ). The dream sequence at the start is somewhat out of place, one suspects it was put in simply to increase Michelle Dotrice's presence in the episode.

Spot The Mistake - Frank telling Betty: "There could be a Second World War...". Michael Crawford quickly corrects himself: "Or even a third one!". Then again, knowing Frank, perhaps it was not a mistake at all.

The year this went out, Fulton Mackay landed the role for which he is best remembered - as prison officer 'Mackay' in 'Porridge'. Desmond Llewelyn is immortalised in cinema history as 'Q', James Bond's tetchy gadget master, a role he played from 1963-99.

Funniest moment - Frank botches the aptitude test by putting the wrong shapes in the wrong holes. Despairingly, Fowler tries to pull them out, only to rip the board from the wall!