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Old 06-21-08, 02:23 AM   #53
Von Manteuffel
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To add a little further detail re. "Exhibit A"

The still is from the final episode of the 1989 BBC TV series "Blackadder Goes Forth" The previous three series of Blackadder were set:

1 - Medieval times
2 - Elizabethan times
3 - Regency times

The fourth and final series was set in 1917 during World War 1. The final episode has become legendary. In it, after managing to avoid combat for years, Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and the other regulars are finally forced to go " over the top" to certain death.

The still shows Capt. Edmund Blackadder's last attempt to avoid being uselessly slaughtered. On advice from General Haig ( who owes Blackadder a favour ) he pretends to have gone mad by wearing underpants on his head, putting two pencils up his nose and constantly saying "Wibble." It doesn't work , as mad General Melchett decrees that anyone pretending to be mad in this way will be instantly shot by firing squad.

And so we come to the iconic final scene, where Blackadder, Baldrick, Captain Darling, Lt. George ( Hugh Laurie of "House" fame ) and the troops leave the trench and start to cross no-man's land under withering fire. The scene freezes with them charging towards the camera in smoke and bursting shells to the sound of machine-gun fire; then dissolves into a huge sunlit field of poppies. It's notable that the still of the poppy field is held for over one minute with no end credits and in total silence.

Lots of people share the opinion that the final episode of Blackadder goes Forth ranks amongst the greatest pieces of television comedy/drama ever produced.
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