George and the Dragon (1966)

In the year best remembered for England winning the World Cup at Wembley, a new sit-com hit the screens. Sid James, already a household name from Hancock's Half Hour and a handful of Carry On films was the lead, and his nemesis was Peggy Mount. Peggy had been known for several stage shows and a few TV appearances but George and the Dragon was her biggest part to date.

So, the basic plot. Sid plays George, a chauffeur/general helper to a retired Colonel who also employs a gardener called Ralph and a cook/housekeeper. After Sid has caused 14 cooks to leave due to his wandering hands and advances, Peggy Mount is employed (Miss Dragon) who is more than a match for George's schemes and ideas. What follows is 4 series of George trying to get his own way, and Miss Dragon being the fly in the oinment and cutting him down to size.

..but it's more than that, and not as bland as other 60's sit-coms can appear. The classic comedies of the era have stood the test of time (Hancock, Steptoe etc) but the ones we still remember are because of the excellent script and writing. There are SO many that disappeared without trace. George and the Dragon is one of those that has vanished, but perhaps shouldn't have done. The script isn't always top notch, and the comedy relies largely on Sid James' comedy brilliance, but is that a bad thing?

One of the nice touches of this sit-com is that is doesn't cliche itself. In several episodes George and Miss Dragon actually work together to get what they want, which creates an unusual chemistry for the viewer. One that means you are keen to see what happens next week. Do they REALLY hate each other, or is there a touch of mutual respect?

A side note here about The Colonel. He is played by the wonderful John Le Mesurier, but not sure he quite gives it 100%. The problems in his personal life are well documented, and here it's almost as if he is happy to play a 2-dimensional character to provide the laughs for Sid and Peggy and then just pick up the pay-cheque. You must have seen his portrayal of Sgt Wilson in Dad's Army (you HAVE haven't you?) Well you know that sort of dreamy, far-away look and manner he always had? well the Colonel character here is just like that, only without the intelligence to back it up. Ralph the gardener isn't much better, another 2-D part to set up the punchlines for the two main stars.

However, I think therein lies the only main flaws with this comedy. After watching the first two or three episodes I thought it was going to be a run of the mill trashy 60's comedy, but by the time I had finished all 4 series I was gripped. It took me a full series to warm to Peggy Mount's character, but once I had, she was a perfect side-kick to Sid James. Neither of them steals the show, it's a perfect double act performance.

It's not A Galton and Simpson production, so it doesn't have the sharp script of Hancock or Steptoe, but it still stands up as a credit to the decade and it's a shame it doesn't get remembered as often as other shows from the era. This one gets a thumbs up (perhaps the opening few episodes get a thumbs down, but with a total of about 26 episodes made, that's not a bad percentage)