Blackadder Goes Forth

Infobox Television
show_name = Blackadder Goes Forth


caption = Title screen of "Blackadder Goes Forth" featuring Rowan Atkinson.
format = Situation comedy
camera =
picture_format = PAL 4:3
audio_format = Stereo
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
developer =
producer = John Lloyd
executive_producer =
starring = Rowan Atkinson
Tony Robinson
Hugh Laurie
Stephen Fry
Tim McInnerny
theme_music_composer = Howard Goodall
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = United Kingdom
location =
language = English
network = BBC One
first_aired = September 28, 1989
last_aired = November 2, 1989
num_series =
num_episodes = 6
list_episodes =
preceded_by = "Blackadder's Christmas Carol"
followed_by = ""
related =
website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/episodes/four/
imdb_id = 0096548
tv_com_id =

"Blackadder Goes Forth" is the fourth and final series of the BBC situation comedy "Blackadder", written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from September 28 to November 2, 1989.

The series placed the recurring characters of Blackadder, Baldrick and George in a trench during the First World War. The episodes featured a darker, more satirical edge with more realistic writing and stronger character development than the earlier series. The series was particularly strong in its criticism of the British Army leadership during the campaign, and also referenced a number of famous figures of the age. In addition, the series is remembered for the poignant ending of the final episode.

The series was well regarded at the time, winning the British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Series in 1989 and in 2000 was placed 16th by industry professionals in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes compiled by the British Film Institute.

Plot

The series is set in 1917, on the Western Front in the trenches of the First World War. Another "big push" is planned, and Captain Blackadder's (Rowan Atkinson) one goal is to avoid being killed. The series thus follows his attempts to escape the trenches through various schemes, most of which fail due to bad fortune, misunderstandings and the general incompetence of his comrades. The aforementioned comrades present themselves in the form of the idealistic Edwardian twit Lieutenant George (Hugh Laurie), and Private S. Baldrick (Tony Robinson), introduced as "the world's worst cook". The first initial "S" is taken from the first episode of "Blackadder the Third", in which Baldrick says he can't remember his first name, but assumes it must be "Sodoff", as when he introduced himself to other children when he was growing up, they generally said "Yes, we know, sod off Baldrick". [cite video | people = M.Fletcher
title = Blackadder the Third episode 1 "Dish and Dishonesty"
medium = DVD
publisher = BBC Worldwide
location = United Kingdom
date = 5 Feb 2001 ]

Rather than the Germans, who remain unseen (apart from two exceptions), Blackadder's nemeses come in the form of his superior, the eccentric General Melchett (Stephen Fry) who rallies his troops from a French château thirty-five miles from the front, and his bureaucratic assistant, Captain Darling (Tim McInnerny). Darling is of equal rank to Blackadder, yet his relatively safe job "folding the general's pyjamas" is a cause of contempt between the two men. In particular, Blackadder is adept at using Darling's surname for maximum comedy value. Captain Darling's name was originally intended to be Captain Cartwright, until Stephen Fry remembered a boy at his school called 'Darling', whose name was a constant embarrassment to him. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096548/trivia Trivia] at the Internet Movie Database, URL accessed February 12, 2007]

The final episode of this series, "Goodbyeee...", is known for being extraordinarily emotive for a comedy—especially the final scene, which sees the main characters (Blackadder, Baldrick, George, and Darling) finally venturing forward and charging off to die in the fog and smoke of no man's land. (Melchett remains at his office but blithely orders a reluctant Darling to fight with the others.) Blackadder's final line is poignant, offered after Baldrick claims to have one last cunning plan to save them from the war:cite video | people = R.Boden
title = Blackadder Goes Forth episode 6 "Goodbyeee..."
medium = DVD
publisher = BBC Worldwide
location = United Kingdom
date = 22 Oct 2001 ]

Episodes

The series aired for six episodes broadcast on BBC One at 9.30pm between September 28 and November 2, 1989, appropriately ending nine days before Remembrance Day.Lewisohn, Mark, [http://web.archive.org/web/20050411175722/www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/blackaddergoesfo_7770785.shtml "Blackadder Goes Forth"] at the former BBC Guide to Comedy, URL accessed February 12, 2007] The titles of the first five episodes, "Captain Cook", "Corporal Punishment", "Major Star", "Private Plane" and "General Hospital" are puns based on the pairing of a military rank and another word related to the episode's content. The final episode, "Goodbyeee...", was the title of a period song. [Goodbye-ee, Goodbye-ee,
Wipe the tear, baby dear, from your eye-ee
Tho' it's hard to part, I know,
I'll be tickled to death to go,
Don't cry-ee, don't sigh-ee,
There's a silver lining in the sky-ee!
Bon Soir, old thing! Cheerio! Chin-Chin,
Nah-Poo, Toodle-oo, Goodbye-ee]

Cast

* Rowan Atkinson as Captain Edmund Blackadder
* Tony Robinson as Private S. Baldrick
* Hugh Laurie as Lieutenant George
* Stephen Fry as General Melchett
* Tim McInnerny as Captain Kevin DarlingThe fourth series enlarged the cast from the third series to include Fry and McInnerny, who had appeared in guest roles in "Blackadder the Third" and had appeared regularly in "Blackadder II". This cast appeared together in every episode of the fourth season, although the only episode to feature no guest appearances was "Captain Cook". Miranda Richardson, who had played Elizabeth I in the second series, appeared in a guest role in one episode (as she had in the third series). In their guest performances, actors such as Rik Mayall and Gabrielle Glaister reprised characters they had played in earlier series. Other performers, such as Bill Wallis and Lee Cornes, who had played minor roles in prior series, appeared briefly again in the fourth series as well. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096548/fullcredits Cast] at the Internet Movie Database, URL accessed April 19, 2008]

Titles and music

The theme melody was a variation on the "Blackadder" theme by Howard Goodall, here played by a military band (in this case the Band of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment) over opening title images of Blackadder and George parading their men past Melchett and Darling, while Baldrick plays the triangle. [ [http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/tvthemes/tv.htm Official Howard Goodall website] , URL accessed February 12, 2007] The music starts with the opening bars of "The British Grenadiers" before segueing into the familiar "Blackadder" theme.

In the closing credits, the full "Blackadder" theme plays over visuals of armed men marching on a parade ground. The titles are presented as static captions instead of being rolled as in the previous three series. The crew credits are also presented in pseudo-military fashion: for example, the designer is credited thus: "Dgr – 404371 Hull, C". [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096548/crazycredits Credits] at IMDb, URL accessed February 12, 2007] Also of note is that the opening sequence is filmed in colour, while the closing sequence was treated in post production to appear grainy, streaky, and sepia toned in imitation of newsreels of the era.

"Goodbyeee..." had no closing titles, simply fading from the protagonists charging across no man's land under fire, to a field of poppies in the sunlight, a reference to the poem "In Flanders Fields". The music was also changed to a slow, echoey solo piano arrangement, in the relative minor of the theme, finishing with three strong bass-drum notes, interposed with sound effects of gunshot, and later birdsong.

Awards

The series won the British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Series in 1989.cite web|title= Television Nominations 1989|url= http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=1989|publisher= British Academy of Film and Television Arts|accessdate= 2007-11-10] In addition, for his performance as Captain Blackadder, Rowan Atkinson won Best Light Entertainment Performance. In 2000, the series was placed 16th by industry professionals in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes compiled by the British Film Institute. [http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/list/list.php British Film Institute TV100] URL accessed February 12, 2007] In 2004, championed by John Sergeant, the whole "Blackadder" series came second in the BBC poll to find Britain’s Best Sitcom with 282,106 votes, with the advocate citing the end of the final episode as a main reason for the series' success. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/winner.shtml The final top-ten of Britain’s Best Sitcom] , URL accessed June 4, 2006]

Production

"Blackadder Goes Forth" is more satirical in tone than the previous three Blackadder series, taking the opportunity to present an anti-war message. [" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/advocate_blackadder.shtml Britain's Best Sitcom - Blackadder] ", 2004 BBC Television documentary, presented by John Sergeant] The dialogue is marked throughout by satirical musings about the nature of the war, its origins, and the effects on the soldiers who suffered over its course.

Richard Curtis has said that the First World War was a particularly apt subject for a situation comedy. Before writing the series, the writers read a number of books about the war and found that

...actually, all the lead up to the first world war was very funny, all the people coming from communities where they'd never bumped into posh people...and all being so gung ho and optimistic...the first hundred pages of any book about the world war are hilarious, then of course everybody dies. ["I Have a Cunning Plan - 20th Anniversary of Blackadder", BBC Radio 4 documentary broadcast 23rd August 2003. Excerpts available at [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/interviews/ bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/interviews/] ]

Rowan Atkinson stated during filming that despite the 20th century setting, the trenches were particularly apt for the "Blackadder" series:

We wanted a place and a time that could reproduce to a certain extent the claustrophobia and the sordidness of medieval England, and the best way to do that is to set it in the middle of a war. ["The Entertainment Show", BBC 1989. Excerpts available at [http://www.blackadderhall.com/blog/?p=61 Blackadder Hall] ]

In the episode "Corporal Punishment", Blackadder justifies the shooting for food of a carrier pigeon (which turns out to be Melchett's pet) by saying, "With 50,000 men killed a week, who's going to miss a pigeon?" This episode sees Blackadder being sentenced to death by firing squad for the said act (which Melchett is far more upset about than Blackadder's disobeying of orders), although he escapes following a reprieve, reflecting on the harsh punishments dealt to deserters under the laws of war. [cite video | people = R.Boden
title = Blackadder Goes Forth episode 2 "Corporal Punishment"
medium = DVD
publisher = BBC Worldwide
location = United Kingdom
date = 22 Oct 2001 ]

The reputation of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig (who appears in the show's final episode played by Geoffrey Palmer), whose orders are alleged to have resulted in hundreds of thousands of British deaths (particularly at Passchendaele and the Somme) [Paul Fussell. 1975. "The Great War and Modern Memory"] are continually referenced and criticised by the characters. Blackadder himself describes Haig's attempts at an advance as no more than "another gargantuan effort to move his drinks cabinet six inches closer to Berlin", his master plans as "everyone climbing out their trenches and walking very slowly towards the enemy" which he claims is to be repeated "until everyone is dead except for Field Marshall Haig, Lady Haig and their tortoise Alan". [cite video | people = R.Boden
title = Blackadder Goes Forth episode 1 "Captain Cook"
medium = DVD
publisher = BBC Worldwide
location = United Kingdom
date = 22 Oct 2001 ]

In "Goodbyeee...", a scene parodies Haig's professional abilities by depicting the General playing with toy soldiers, which he sweeps nonchalantly from trench to trench, and then onto the floor while listening to Blackadder's plea to get out of the final push on the phone.

In "Private Plane", after receiving word that Blackadder and Baldrick may have been killed when shot down over German lines, Melchett tries to cheer George up by showing him a life-size model (measuring seventeen square feet) of land recaptured by the British ("It's superbly detailed - look, there's a little worm," remarks Darling). This is followed by Melchett asking "So the amount of land we've captured is?" After measuring it with a tape measure Darling reveals the amount to him. "So you see George, Captain Blackadder did not die horribly in vain after all", a commentary on the high human cost and small physical gains achieved by attacks in the middle years of the war. Later in the same episode, Blackadder describes the Great War as: "a war which would be a damn sight simpler if we just stayed in England and shot fifty thousand of our men a week." [cite video | people = R.Boden
title = Blackadder Goes Forth episode 4 "Private Plane"
medium = DVD
publisher = BBC Worldwide
location = United Kingdom
date = 22 Oct 2001 ]

The series also referenced a number of famous historical events of the war, such as the Christmas truce of 1914. Blackadder recalls the event: "Both sides advanced further during one Christmas piss-up than they did in the next two and a half years of war."

Many references are made to the popular culture of the era, as well as the previous series. The episode "Private Plane", sees the return of the character of Lord Flashheart and also an appearance of the famous flying ace Baron von Richthofen. A plot thread in the third episode, "Major Star" (featuring the return of Bob), involves Blackadder's dislike of the silent film star Charlie Chaplin, who he finds "as funny as getting an arrow through the neck, and then finding there's a gas bill tied to it". [cite video | people = R.Boden
title = Blackadder Goes Forth episode 3 "Major Star"
medium = DVD
publisher = BBC Worldwide
location = United Kingdom
date = 22 Oct 2001 ] The final episode "Goodbyee" was the title of a popular song during the First World War. Bob can be heard singing a snippet of this song off-camera in the episode "Major Star". It also sounds similar to Queenie's "Byeee" in her letter to Ludwig (in the second series episode "Chains") in which she refuses to pay the ransom to release Melchett and Blackadder. [cite video | people = M.Fletcher
title = Blackadder II episode 6 "Chains"
medium = DVD
publisher = BBC Worldwide
location = United Kingdom
date = 6 Nov 2000 ]

Atkinson stated in an interview with Michael Parkinson that the poignant ending of the final episode was in part written to counter the possibility of criticism that the subject was inappropriate for a comedy, but that no such criticism was recieved. [Rowan Atkinson interview on "Parkinson", available on BBC Worldwide's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gr0Fa_QPNU&feature=related YouTube page] .]

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0096548|title=Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050411175722/www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/blackaddergoesfo_7770785.shtml "Blackadder Goes Forth"] at the former BBC Guide to Comedy (archive)
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackaddergoesforth/ "Blackadder Goes Forth"] at the new BBC "Comedy Guide"