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Private Frazer
Dad's Army character
John Laurie as Private Frazer
First appearance"The Man and the Hour"
Last appearance"Never Too Old"
Created by
Portrayed by
In-universe information
OccupationPhilatelist shopkeeper (Series 1–2)
Undertaker (Series 3–9)
RelativesBlodwen (niece)
Affiliated withHome Guard

Private James Frazer is a fictional Home Guard platoon member and undertaker, first portrayed by John Laurie in the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army. He is noted for his catchphrases "We're doomed!"[1][2][3] and "Rubbish!"[2]

Characterisation

It is mentioned that Frazer was born in 1872 and is portrayed as a dour, trouble-stirring, exaggerating, wild-eyed Scottish undertaker (formerly the keeper of a philatelist's shop with a hobby of making coffins[1]), who possesses a curious fascination with women who have "big, strong thighs."[4] He hails from the "wild and lonely"[5] Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides,[1][6] an apparently desolate and bleak[7] place that appears to have informed most of his pessimistic, dark tendencies.[citation needed]

It is stated that during the First World War, Frazer served as Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, and was a cook on board HMS Defiant during the Battle of Jutland.[1][6] A fine marksman, he served as a member of the crew of a minesweeper, being responsible for shooting mines with a rifle from the ship.[8] Following the First World War, he moved to Walmington-on-Sea, becoming the town's undertaker.

Private Fraser is characterised as a notoriously miserable and miserly soul,[9] he is known for his bleak, pessimistic outlook on life.[1][3] He makes no secret of his desires for increased rank and power within the platoon. To that end, Frazer is frequently negative and hyper-critical of his superior officers and their decisions, and clearly considers Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson and Lance Corporal Jones barely fit for command. When given any form of power, he becomes overconfident, arrogant, and tyrannical. A notable example of this is seen in the episode "If the Cap Fits...", when Frazer is temporarily given command of the platoon for a few days as an exercise in the difficulties of leadership.[4]

To reach his ends, Frazer is somewhat two-faced; he has a Machiavellian tendency to doubt people and their situations. His main rivalries are with the other ageing members in the platoon, notably Corporal Jones and Private Godfrey, though he has a more amenable relationship with Private Walker, who jokingly gives Frazer the nickname "Taffy" (a slang term for Welsh people, used by Walker as a playful dig at Frazer's Scottish heritage). Occasionally, Frazer does show a more generous side to his character, such as when he saves Private Godfrey's cottage from being demolished to make way for a runway, though in typical Frazer style, he does not let on that it was he who saved the cottage.[10]

Medals

Although Private Frazer rarely wore his ribbons[11] he was awarded the usual trilogy of First World War campaign medals (commonly known as "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred"),[Note 1] as a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy during the First World War, in addition to his Polar Medal for the Shackleton Expedition of 1904–1907.[12]

Other portrayals

John Laurie believed that taking part in the Dad's Army stage show would prove to be too exhaustive for him,[13] so the part of Frazer was played by Hamish Roughead in the 1975–76 stage production.[3]

Bill Paterson played Frazer in the 2016 feature film,[14] while David Hayman portrayed Private Frazer in Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes in 2019.[15]

References

Notes

  1. ^ The 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, nicknamed Pip, Squeak and Wilfred after a trio of popular cartoon characters of the period.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e "Dad's Army characters - British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide. 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Webber, Richard; Perry, Jimmy; Croft, David (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad's Army. London: Orion Books. pp. 288, p.75. ISBN 0-7528-4637-X.
  3. ^ a b c Lewisohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Worldwide. pp. 204–205. ISBN 0563487550.
  4. ^ a b Webber, Perry, Croft, p. 75
  5. ^ A phrase he uses during the episode "Battle of the Giants!"
  6. ^ a b Webber, Perry, Croft, p. 228
  7. ^ He suggests this himself in the episode "No Spring for Frazer".
  8. ^ Perry, Jimmy; Croft, David (11 September 1968). "Shooting Pains". Dad's Army. Series 1. Episode 6.
  9. ^ McNeil, R. (2023). John Laurie: How Shakespearian actor was doomed to play a dour, wild-eyed Scot. [online] The Herald. Available at: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23413499.john-laurie-shakespearian-actor-doomed-play-dour-wild-eyed-scot/ [Accessed 5 Dec. 2023].
  10. ^ Perry, Jimmy; Croft, David (19 September 1975). "Is There Honey Still for Tea?". Dad's Army. Series 8. Episode 3.
  11. ^ Only in the episodes "Battle of the Giants!" and "Never Too Old".
  12. ^ "Battle of the Giants!". Though not made clear in the episode, where reference is made only to 'the Shackleton expedition', it must be this rather than the later, more famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, as Frazer could not have been at Jutland and on the latter expedition.
  13. ^ Pertwee, Bill (2009). Dad's Army: The Making of a Television Legend. London: Conway Publishing. p. 148. ISBN 9781844861057.
  14. ^ "Gambon and Courtenay to star in Dad's Army film - BBC News". BBC. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  15. ^ "David Hayman Interview - Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes - Gold". Gold. 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
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