Buck Privates (1941)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

Arthur T. Horman (screenplay)
John Grant (special material for Abbott and Costello)

Release Date:

31 January 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Bud and Lou enlist in the army in order to escape being hauled off to jail, and soon find themselves in boot camp...

Plot Keywords:

Army | Boxing | Con Artist | Dancing | Military Maneuver

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Bud Abbott	...	Slicker Smith
Lou Costello	...	Herbie Brown
Patty Andrews	...	Herself (as The Andrews Sisters)
Maxene Andrews	...	Herself (as The Andrews Sisters)
Laverne Andrews	...	Herself (as The Andrews Sisters)
Lee Bowman	...	Randolph 'Randy' Parker III
Alan Curtis	...	Bob Martin
Jane Frazee	...	Judy Gray
Nat Pendleton	...	Sgt. Michael Collins
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Maj. Gen. Emerson
Harry Strang	...	Sgt. Callahan
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Randolph Parker II
Leonard Elliott	...	Pvt. Henry Sloan
Shemp Howard	...	Chef
M.J. Frankovich	...	Himself (radio announcer) (as Mike Frankovitch)

Also Known As:

Rookies (UK)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #7029)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

A sneak preview was held in late January 1941 for soldiers at Fort MacArthur, California.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the dice game, Lou's tie is on for the close-ups, but off for the long shots.

Quotes:

Slicker Smith: You're 40 years-old and you're in love with this little girl that's 10 years-old. You're four times as old as that girl and you couldn't marry her, could you?
Herbie Brown: Not unless I come from the mountains.
Slicker Smith: All right- you're 40 years-old, you're four times as old as this girl, and you can't marry her, so you wait five years. By that time the little girl's 15 and you're 45. You're only three times as old as that little girl. So you wait 15 years and when the girl is 30, you're at 60. You're only twice as old as that little girl.
Herbie Brown: She's catching up.
Slicker Smith: Yes, yes. Now here's the question. How long do you have to wait until you and that little girl are the same age?
Herbie Brown: Now what kinda question is that? That's ridiculous!
Slicker Smith: Ridiculous or not, answer the question.
Herbie Brown: If I wait for that girl she'll pass me up. She'll wind up older than I am.
Slicker Smith: What are you talking about?
Herbie Brown: She'll have to wait for me!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Biloxi Blues (1988)

Soundtrack:

Taps

Bud, Lou, and the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B.

I think it is churlish to bring up such things as slanted propaganda for a film like this, it is what it is, a firmly enjoyable romp from the comic gold of Abbott & Costello. Perhaps back in the day it was appropriate to analyze the film for it's portrayal of the soldier at war, or the fact that they didn't mention so many bad things that were happening at that time, erm hello, wake up and smell the comedy and focus on that please.

Bud & Lou mistakenly join the army when trying to avoid arrest on the street, this sets us up for them to flip the army upside down with a series of sequences that are refreshing in what was obviously troubling times out in the big bold world. From new skits to delightful musical numbers this film stands up as one of the better entries the boys would do in there considerable output.

Footnote:Jane Frazee has one of the most delicious smiles you could wish to see, and if you ain't tapping your feet as the splendid Andrews Sisters belt out Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B, well you are beyond help, move along please.

8/10