‘THE ROAD TO BANNU’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

This is another fun ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’ episode to check out from Series 1. Like ‘The Jungle Patrol’, we move away from the Royal Artillery Depot in Deolali, India, as the Concert Party make for Bannu to put on a show. First they go by train and then by jeep, which breaks down in the desert. 😀

It was funny when the Concert Party characters were putting their luggage aboard the train and the Sgt-Major was shouting at them as well as the Indians to get aboard. Colonel Reynolds and Captain Ashwood aren’t like that, especially when they’re being so pleasant to the Concert Party in the story.

I found it funny when the Sgt-Major lost his voice whilst he was in the train carriage with Reynolds and Ashwood. Must be from all that shouting, I guess. Or perhaps it’s the heat, especially when he’s offered a drink by the officers. It’s also amusing when Rangi Ram provides lunch for his mum-in-law.

Yeah, Zohra Sehgal guest stars as Rangi’s mother-in-law in the episode and doesn’t speak much English in this. Rangi’s mother-in-law has to travel on the roof of the train like some of the Indian characters do, compared to the Concert Party and the officers travelling nicely inside their carriages.

And yes! Rangi has to push cups of water as well as lunch up to his mother-in-law through the roof whilst she’s on top of his and the Concert Party’s train carriage. It must be pretty dangerous and messy indeed. 😀 Anyway, when the Concert Party’s jeep has broken down in the desert, they must try to find help.

Unfortunately, ‘Lofty’ Sugden is the one selected to go, but he comes back after meeting some tribesmen. Apparently, tribesmen in the remote part of the North West Frontier used to kill British soldiers many years ago, which doesn’t inspire much confidence. Gloria becomes frightful about it here.

Soon, the Concert Party meet a group of tribesmen, led by Rafiq Anwar as their chief. Rangi acts as the interpreter for the officers and the Concert Party. It was funny when the chief wanted to meet Bing Crosby after misinterpreting they’re doing a ‘road show’ and thinking there are film stars with them.

I like how Solly comes to the rescue by impersonating Bing Crosby. Gloria gets to impersonate Dorothy Lamour as well when the Concert Party puts on a show for the tribesman. The chief wants to keep Dorothy Lamour, which the Sgt-Major is pretty amused by. It’s amusing how it concluded. 😀

‘The Road to Bannu’ rating – 8/10