Yes I just read he passed last year at age 88 living in France. he was married since 1957. He lost his wife just 4 months before. but its ok, he's with her now. God bless him, he really made me laugh so much
As an ex squaddie of RNZIR, AND a 'leftie" I bloody loved this show. Windsor Davies interpretation of an NCO brought chills down my spine, of basic intake for me in 1987. Spot on.
@@robleary3353honestly, he was for the standards of the time a kindly and lenient SgtMaj who was well aware he wasn’t dealing with crack troops and treated them accordingly. You want real shock and awe, go see the SgtMaj in “Guns at Batasi.” The amount of backtalk SgtMaj Williams tolerated on this show… 🤣
This show was and IS hilarious! I'm American, so I always love the British accent. Thinking of world war 2, when thinking about British soldiers I always got the feeling that no matter how bad the situation was, you would always have some British Sargent such as this being sturdy all the way. They were strong in the face of danger. so when you add comedy to it like this with that British lingo.. which half the time I have to research to find out what it means, I really laugh. This show and this man were a riot!
My father did his National Service in the British Army. He always said Sgt Major Williams was exactly like the sgt majors he'd met during his service. The writers and actor based the character on their own experiences - writer Jimmy Perry was in a concert party in India, and said his own sgt major was just like Williams.
@General Melchett Yup. Actor and creator both based it on their service time. As one of them said - all the sargeant majors were like that! (I'm sure there must have been exceptions, but my Dad agreed with them, the ones he met were like that too!)
Killing lack of PC, but then you could still shout those things out at the time. I am still nursing my aching ribs!! Sterling stuff. Thanks for the post!
They literally killed Benny Hill. Sacked him out of the blue after he earned them millions, gave him a thanks and goodbye. A few months later he died alone.
That pattern of humour always works. God alone knows what that pattern is but I know it and I sort of know whats coming. But those little changes turn it into a masterclass. It's on a stage for them and a show on at a theatre somehwere in Britain from the Victorian age of theatre up until people like this and Dads army who were the last players. Excellent. Of course it can be done again but with so many players and writers brought up in the tradition. Of course it can.
With the loss of Windsor Davies half the cast is dead now. The surviving men are all in their 70s and 80s. (Don't know much about Bhabar Bhatti the punkah wallah, he might be a bit younger but he left acting to become an insurance agent).
It could not be made nowadays because it is not suitably PC. The humour was 'delightfully 1950's' even when it was made in the 70's ... the comments about the locals would be considered racist (and in todays world they would be) and the jibes about 'poofery' certainly would not be considered acceptable. Just enjoy it for the masterpiece of traditional British humour that it is.
I would have loved to see Windsor Davies in the some of the British military mini series’s they made in the 90’s…such as Sharpe’s rifles or the Hornblower series. I know he was a bit older by that time, but he would have been a great addition, he plays the Senior enlisted man so well.
This is such a great scene. I love British comedy from the seventies. There is not much left to laugh with these days. They destroyed comedy. Bunch of p.....
No TV channel has got the guts to show anything like this now because no matter how hilarious it is there will always be someone who will want to make a name for themselves and say they were "offended". So the TV channels will bow to the 1 out of 100,000.
I know, I recently read about some Netflix show being under attack because some viewers didn't like that the show did not addressed the issues they think it should... it isn't entertainment any more - it's PC hypocrisy madness
Fire Sky Cam: Then tell all your mates in the LGBTQ movement that and to stop with their agenda of presenting themselves as people who should have special privileges and rights because they are gay or lesbian. Life is hard for everyone, without having to do with all this PC nonsense. If gay men or woman like yourself, stood up and said what you have said, then things would turn around quickly. It would make life easier for everyone all round. I gave you a thumbs up on your comment.
at 5:01 it's not stamp on your knees (lol) it should be 'stand properly at ease'......sorry for being a bit picky! Fantastic series full of great quotes! It should be compulsory viewing for all you british! As an Englishman I find the entire series fantastic entertainment.......no offence.
Yes, but almost impossible to find in these straitlaced days. Also quite stimulating literature -- and also scarce -- are: >The Amazing Adventures of Captain Gladys Stoatpamphlet and her Intrepid Spaniel Stig Among the Giant Pygmies of Beccles (Volume Eight) >Olsen's Standard Book of British Birds (the unexpurgated original edition -- the one *with* the gannet) -- and, lastly the very rare indeed, but supremely worth the search (nudge-nudge, wink-wink): >Ethel the Aardvark Goes Quantity Surveying ("One day Ethel the Aardvark was trotting down the road when she saw a nice quantity surveyor...")
Only one person on earth could have stepped into Gunnery Sergeant Hartman's part in Full metal jacket if Lee Ermey fell ill, and it would have been windsor davies.
Excellent writing, tight direction, brilliant ensemble character acting and equal opportunities satire. Nobody gets off unscathed from the Colonel to the punkah wallah. Very sharp.
The best joke in the entire bit is "violent exercise" being the cure for all ills, along with the devilish grin. It didn't need the unPC stuff to be honest... although in context it's hardly offensive.
I’d like to see a remake of this show with Rhod Gilbert as Sgt Major. Dunno if he can scream like this one, though. It did become part of what made the character funny.
This clip has undergone a very subtle Mandela Effect since the last time I saw it, a long, long time ago. The script is the same, but the acting is ever-so-slightly different. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it thing. The scene where he's inspecting the books. I remember Windsor Davies holding each book by the top, looking down at it like it was contaminated. Now, he holds them from the sides. Very odd.
or maybe you just remember it differently after long, long time - it happens one of my favorite Bond jokes, when woman points a gun at Roger Moore and says "I could have shot you!" and he replies "even kill if the safety was off", years later turned out to be slightly different - Roger Moore wasn't part of that dialogue... so, it happens
Great, a real mans man lol. Oh I love the good old days, What has gone wrong and where have all those wonderful social values of the seventies gone as well? Bring back the golly wogs, Alf Garnet, Capatain pug wash Roger the cabinboy and seamen stains. Young people today don't know what they are missing
no, and I don't think there ever will be - it's too non-PC for today BBC... I remember some people were offended back in 1980s by Michael Bates' darkened skin (even though he was chosen for that part because he was born in India and spoke fluently hindi). so don't expect anyone will now show series, where there word poof is in almost every episode (if not every)
The look Windsor Davies gives when saying ‘violent exercise’ and that demonic laugh always cracks me up 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
yeah, he was perfect for that part
instablaster...
I have met many Sergeant Majors who get the same look in their eye and make that same laugh at PT 😂
Brilliant. Last seen over 40 years ago. Glad someone has put it on YT. Priceless.
THIS is comedy BBC, not the shite you serve up now. After all these years this still makes me chuckle.
Not a month goes by where I don't use the classic expression "Oh dear..."ow sad....never mind!"
They don't make them like these anymore. British humor at its finest. I really enjoyed this a lot as a kid.
They can't cuz the poofs nowadays will say it's racist
"You mean you've been run over by a tube?"
I died.
Rest in Peace old Shut Up 😢
Yes I just read he passed last year at age 88 living in France. he was married since 1957. He lost his wife just 4 months before. but its ok, he's with her now. God bless him, he really made me laugh so much
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Loved this programme. A great shame there's nothing to match it these days.
"so, that leaves us with violent exercise....muuharharharhar"
It always funny when Sergeant Major imitating Gunner Graham voice.
“It always funny when Sergeant Major imitating Gunner Graham voice…..”
YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU 😂😂😂😂
As an ex squaddie of RNZIR, AND a 'leftie" I bloody loved this show. Windsor Davies interpretation of an NCO brought chills down my spine, of basic intake for me in 1987. Spot on.
Was wondering if his character was a bit over the top!. You cleared that up, I'll go back to whitening the stones!. 🤣
@@robleary3353honestly, he was for the standards of the time a kindly and lenient SgtMaj who was well aware he wasn’t dealing with crack troops and treated them accordingly. You want real shock and awe, go see the SgtMaj in “Guns at Batasi.” The amount of backtalk SgtMaj Williams tolerated on this show… 🤣
Windsor Davies was born for this role!! 😊👍
R. I. P. He was awesome.
4:36 This just about sums up the reaction of every drill I've ever know when the opportunity to punish some poor bugger presents itself
Just got Useless by James Joyce for christmas. can't wait to read it.
What I also loved about this comedy was they joked about India, but also made asses of themselves as well.
And that is something this "Woke" lot get all hissy fit and hot and bothered about.
This is one of the funniest clips of IAHHM. brilliant script wonderfully performed.
I first saw this 40 years ago and man it's still fucking good.
Very best of British comedy rest in peace
"Blatant Poofery"
Bwahahahhaha!
shutttuppp!!
...in all my life!!!!
This show was and IS hilarious! I'm American, so I always love the British accent. Thinking of world war 2, when thinking about British soldiers I always got the feeling that no matter how bad the situation was, you would always have some British Sargent such as this being sturdy all the way. They were strong in the face of danger. so when you add comedy to it like this with that British lingo.. which half the time I have to research to find out what it means, I really laugh. This show and this man were a riot!
My father did his National Service in the British Army. He always said Sgt Major Williams was exactly like the sgt majors he'd met during his service. The writers and actor based the character on their own experiences - writer Jimmy Perry was in a concert party in India, and said his own sgt major was just like Williams.
"British" accent?
@@dunruden9720 He means English accent
@General Melchett Yup. Actor and creator both based it on their service time. As one of them said - all the sargeant majors were like that! (I'm sure there must have been exceptions, but my Dad agreed with them, the ones he met were like that too!)
@@fluorosco For the record, Windsor Davies and Sgt Major Williams are not English. British yes, but not English.
Killing lack of PC, but then you could still shout those things out at the time. I am still nursing my aching ribs!! Sterling stuff. Thanks for the post!
yeah, PC killed many great shows :(
Adam Barczynski Definately did.
They literally killed Benny Hill. Sacked him out of the blue after he earned them millions, gave him a thanks and goodbye. A few months later he died alone.
Just ordered the box set of this and Dad's Army as a Christmas present for my father.
good idea, I think I'll rewatch it this Christmas :)
Got them as well 😃😃🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👍
In one of the episodes he tells loffty: you is the only garden gnome in the british army’. Ha ha. Couldnt stop laughing. Poor Lofty.
What a legend, Windsor Davies
That pattern of humour always works. God alone knows what that pattern is but I know it and I sort of know whats coming. But those little changes turn it into a masterclass. It's on a stage for them and a show on at a theatre somehwere in Britain from the Victorian age of theatre up until people like this and Dads army who were the last players. Excellent. Of course it can be done again but with so many players and writers brought up in the tradition. Of course it can.
All that screaming. Makes me feel . . . all warm inside.
I really hope the winne the pooh was ad lib because that was amazing. The look on his face when it was said.
about ad lib - doubt it, Perry and Croft were just great writers and Windsor Davies was made for that part
Best comedy ever... :D
RIP Sergeant Major
Simply brilliant!
Brilliant!
so funny, great comedy, thank you England 😉
He is Welsh and would not have thanked you for calling him English. lol.
how on earth did they keep straight faces...........tears of laughter running down mine :)
"You filthy little devil."
Absolutely brilliant, they should bring it back for another season, or at least a reunion.
With the loss of Windsor Davies half the cast is dead now. The surviving men are all in their 70s and 80s. (Don't know much about Bhabar Bhatti the punkah wallah, he might be a bit younger but he left acting to become an insurance agent).
Windsor , thanks ! You were a brillant sgt.Mayor. R.I.P. my hero !!!
It could not be made nowadays because it is not suitably PC. The humour was 'delightfully 1950's' even when it was made in the 70's ... the comments about the locals would be considered racist (and in todays world they would be) and the jibes about 'poofery' certainly would not be considered acceptable. Just enjoy it for the masterpiece of traditional British humour that it is.
Useless by James Joyce.
That's great, isn't it?😁
Im looking that book up, cos of this sketch!
I would have loved to see Windsor Davies in the some of the British military mini series’s they made in the 90’s…such as Sharpe’s rifles or the Hornblower series. I know he was a bit older by that time, but he would have been a great addition, he plays the Senior enlisted man so well.
British comedy of the highlest level
What fun they must have had doing this!
i would like to see the bloopers. there must be many times the could not hold a straight face ;-)
This is such a great scene. I love British comedy from the seventies. There is not much left to laugh with these days. They destroyed comedy. Bunch of p.....
'p'? You mean the 'c' of CNTS
@@Wayoutthere That too!!
Cudnt agree more mate
This is what made Britain great
I'm gay and I have always found this show funny.
The old SGT Major is hilarious.
yeah, pity no television will show it now...
No TV channel has got the guts to show anything like this now because no matter how hilarious it is there will always be someone who will want to make a name for themselves and say they were "offended". So the TV channels will bow to the 1 out of 100,000.
I know, I recently read about some Netflix show being under attack because some viewers didn't like that the show did not addressed the issues they think it should... it isn't entertainment any more - it's PC hypocrisy madness
@@fireskycam9889 yes correcct. cant take a joke
Fire Sky Cam: Then tell all your mates in the LGBTQ movement that and to stop with their agenda of presenting themselves as people who should have special privileges and rights because they are gay or lesbian. Life is hard for everyone, without having to do with all this PC nonsense. If gay men or woman like yourself, stood up and said what you have said, then things would turn around quickly. It would make life easier for everyone all round. I gave you a thumbs up on your comment.
What an actor! LOL
"A dress rehearsal Sergent Major" YOU!
Was not expecting Winnie the Pooh! LOL
“You filthy little devil”. What, did the major think he was a pedophile!?!
@@michaelwilliamybarra2409 giggle.. or liked to play with poo..
at 5:01 it's not stamp on your knees (lol) it should be 'stand properly at ease'......sorry for being a bit picky! Fantastic series full of great quotes! It should be compulsory viewing for all you british! As an Englishman I find the entire series fantastic entertainment.......no offence.
It's not at 5:01, but at 0:51.
Arjan And it's "Squad - 'shun!" Not "show". :-/
Thank you!
He said “ Stand property at ease”!
@@24694104 Yess yoré Writé
The Adventures of Erotic Edna sounds like a good read!
Yes, but almost impossible to find in these straitlaced days.
Also quite stimulating literature -- and also scarce -- are:
>The Amazing Adventures of Captain Gladys Stoatpamphlet and her Intrepid Spaniel Stig Among the Giant Pygmies of Beccles (Volume Eight)
>Olsen's Standard Book of British Birds (the unexpurgated original edition -- the one *with* the gannet)
-- and, lastly the very rare indeed, but supremely worth the search (nudge-nudge, wink-wink):
>Ethel the Aardvark Goes Quantity Surveying
("One day Ethel the Aardvark was trotting down the road when she saw a nice quantity surveyor...")
"MOVE YOURSELVES!?! HUP-HUP-HUP-HUP!?!"
Only nitpick with the subtitles: He's nopt talking about 'bits' he's talking about 'bints'.
Important difference
Only one person on earth could have stepped into Gunnery Sergeant Hartman's part in Full metal jacket if Lee Ermey fell ill, and it would have been windsor davies.
Fine sitcome you got there, BBC, show 'em off, show 'em off!
This remembers me of Colonel Mostoghiu , infantry trained, Hungarian born, a real and yet funny bastard !
Just brilliant....so nuanced.....
Sergeant: oooh nuanced!!
But seriously just makes you burst out with laughter
brilliant bring this. back
Windsor Davies, comedy legend
I watch this every now and then, and it gets better all the time. What is it with "we Brittish" that makes this so outstanding ? 👍👍
Excellent writing, tight direction, brilliant ensemble character acting and equal opportunities satire. Nobody gets off unscathed from the Colonel to the punkah wallah. Very sharp.
Awesome 👍
Winnie the Pooh lol
His evil laughter...ROFL
yeah, he was perfect man for that part
Just great.
Still so funny...
With his level of intellect, Gunner Graham could have been a high-ranking military officer.....
" ... Well Im glad someone's reading the classics!" Er ... Did the BSM *compliment* Graham?!
The best joke in the entire bit is "violent exercise" being the cure for all ills, along with the devilish grin. It didn't need the unPC stuff to be honest... although in context it's hardly offensive.
that's what most of the SJW miss in their tirades - context is everything
Brilliant
when my daughter was about 2, i enjoyd reading winne the pooh withher. i enjoyed it myself...
jessie james You filthy little devil.
Crying with laughter ..... ROFL!
2:00 - Of all the shut ups, this one is gold!
I've never heard of that saying Blantant poofery but it's a good saying.
A soldier, trained to kill on command, was reading Winnie the Pooh in his spare time. I found that entertaining. :)
Lofty? A trained soldier? Bwaa haa haa
Yeah he looks like a real killer😏
i saw that dance segment in another youtube clip with larry grayson. it was hilarious but expertly done. v nice
I’d like to see a remake of this show with Rhod Gilbert as Sgt Major. Dunno if he can scream like this one, though. It did become part of what made the character funny.
I think Phil Jupitus would be better :) but they will never make a remake - PC has gone mad since 1970s, so there is no chance
Adam Barczynski Phil’s too fat to be a Sgt. Major. He might could do Sugden, tho.
perhaps he is too fat, but he is intimidating and has crazy eyes like Windsor Davies did
Adam Barczynski Greg Davies, if we’re gonna allow someone with a bit of plump on them.
yeah, Greg Davies would certainly do, but I don't think he is not much of a shouting type :) but certainly intimidating
Oh God, they don't make comedy like this anymore...
Rip
windsor davis Rip
Never before have I seen such a blatant display of poofery!
People tend to look a bit puzzled when I use that phrase in real life 😁
Sometimes, one of the hardest things to do in the army was to keep a straight face...
Froggy Copper LOL!!!
Useless just about sums you up😂😂
that laugh at 4:36 LOOOOOOL
Dude is trying so hard not to laugh hahaha
It's not Mom it's MUM we're British. Get it right Sargent Major Williams would not be happy.
He is Taff; it is mom!
Well now, you may be right if you say so lovely boy !!
all due respect, Cinesound !
Us Brits say mum; but the Taffs use MOM. My friends uses it, and they are from the valleys.
Get it right, it's sergeant not sargent.
It is so funny.
Winnie the pooh .. how do they come up with it 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Shhuuudduup haha
Useless by James Joyce!!??? Ha ha, Golden moment, what could the book be about????
One of my favs as a boy.....now we have abe women trying to be funny on...live at the apollo...zzzzz
I have made many of my friends laugh by mimicking o'l shut up's disgusting at 0:58
Windsor Davies was great
SHAAAAAADAAAAAAP!!!!!!
WorderFULL!!
what the fudge is 'poofery' ?
Gay stuff.
This clip has undergone a very subtle Mandela Effect since the last time I saw it, a long, long time ago. The script is the same, but the acting is ever-so-slightly different. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it thing. The scene where he's inspecting the books. I remember Windsor Davies holding each book by the top, looking down at it like it was contaminated. Now, he holds them from the sides. Very odd.
or maybe you just remember it differently after long, long time - it happens
one of my favorite Bond jokes, when woman points a gun at Roger Moore and says "I could have shot you!" and he replies "even kill if the safety was off", years later turned out to be slightly different - Roger Moore wasn't part of that dialogue... so, it happens
Boom in shot at 0:05
Great, a real mans man lol. Oh I love the good old days, What has gone wrong and where have all those wonderful social values of the seventies gone as well? Bring back the golly wogs, Alf Garnet, Capatain pug wash Roger the cabinboy and seamen stains. Young people today don't know what they are missing
"Mum" not "Mom" jeez
Fine, I corrected it! Jeez... :)
Well said that man!
pretty sure most of these guys are pissing themselves laughing...
Mom, wtf?
Winnie the Pooh
Every Saturday there’s reruns of dads army on BBC2, but not this great show.
no, and I don't think there ever will be - it's too non-PC for today BBC... I remember some people were offended back in 1980s by Michael Bates' darkened skin (even though he was chosen for that part because he was born in India and spoke fluently hindi). so don't expect anyone will now show series, where there word poof is in almost every episode (if not every)
Is that Mike the pub landlord from Only Fools and Horses?
yes, Kenneth MacDonald played both characters