Buck Privates

While clearly intended to popularize the US Army and the Draft program during a time of impending world war, this film offers the classic Abbott & Costello humor but more importantly to me, several absolutely fabulous tunes performed by the Andrews sisters. The songs alone make this a MUST HAVE for your DVD collection. I also love the tank scenes during the war games maneuvers; a bit of exciting real army action in the middle of a musical funfest helps turn a so-so script into a so-so fun to watch film. While Buck Privates is not the best war film to come out of Hollywood, nor the best boot camp comedy, nor the best musical by far, it is still one of my favorite films to watch on a lazy afternoon. It's just FUN!!!, and I would have gladly stood in line and paid to watch it at the theater as the many, many thousands did in 1941 when Universal found what a surprise hit they had just released.

source: Buck Privates

Trailer—Buck Privates

Buck Privates

If you've seen enough Abbott and Costello movies, then you should know that the actual plot is unimportant; the whole movie is really just an excuse for Bud and Lou to get into embarrassing situations and be silly. You'd better believe that they do that in "Buck Privates". They play a pair of street vendors who inadvertently end up in the army. To make matters worse, their drill sergeant is the cop who went after them. Once on the military base, Abbott tries to be serious, while Costello somehow manages to do everything wrong, often incurring their drill sergeant's wrath. Aside from Abbott's irritation and Costello's gaffs, there's some extra entertainment by the Andrews Sisters, as they sing "Boogie Woogie Boy in Company B", among other songs. But like I said, the whole movie is really all about Costello making a mess of everything. Just how many movies can there be about some goof-ball joining the army and raising Cain?

Predictable cute farce about life in the army. To avoid capture by the police, Abbott and Costello unintentionally join the army. Lee Bowman plays a play-boy who is too busy with the women to be part of this man's army. The Andrews Sisters belt out their familiar 1940 songs. The boys are zany and generally a good time is had by all. Bowman shows himself to be good at the rifle range. When he ducks out of a shootout,in order to be with a female, the guys rightfully turn on him. Naturally, Bowman has a change of heart. When he turns down Officers Candidate School to remain in the outfit, he shows himself to be a true American. It's all mom and apple pie after that.

While the U.S. wouldn't enter the war for a few months, there was conscription. The guys end up in the Army to get out of trouble and find themselves in a kind of vanilla military base. There are simple shenanigans and soft pedaled patriotism. There are the Andrews Sister sing "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and a couple others. Not much really happens. If someone saw this they'd think, "This war stuff ain't half bad." Certainly it's a propaganda film. The isolationists were holding their breath until the Japanese changed the game in December. There are some of the usual bits with Costello getting all hyper and Abbot (whom I think was a consummate jerk in real life) treating him badly. This is just a real routine film and it did very well in its time.

Slicker Smith (Bud Abbott) and Herbie Brown (Lou Costello) are two sidewalk petty con men selling neckties. A policeman chase them to arrest them. They hide in a line thinking that it's a cinema but in reality, it's enlistment in the army. This movie turned Abbott and Costello into big time stars. It's also a patriotic wartime movie featuring The Andrews Sisters. The guys are doing great bits like owing $10. They are a part of the collective cast but not necessarily its leaders. There is a main story about a playboy recruit. It's nothing interesting. Abbott and Costello really steal the show. The girls provide some musical breaks. Suddenly, Shemp Howard shows up in one scene. This is a funny part of the war effort if only the legendary comedy duo be the story leads.

This movie contains the famous bantering and mind games that Bud Abbott always pulled on Lou Costello...this adds to the entertainment value and it is great to watch a movie that is just plain entertaining! This movie also contains the Andrews Sisters, who are so great! I love singing in a movie and the use of it is very well done. This movie also gives you a pretty accurate account of "going into the service" for that time era.The military point of view of "Buck Privates" shows the innocence of so many of our young men and women that enter the service of Uncle Sam.It is very interesting to see how things have changed in the last 60 years,as well,not only in T.V and movies, but in the service, too. Abbott and Costello bring humanity to the stiffness of military regimen in "Buck Privates". The cast that was chosen shows a great chemistry with the comedians. A "must- see" for movie buffs that appreciate the old black & white movies.

BUCK PRIVATES (1941) **** Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in their first starring film (their debut in "One Night in the Tropics" were supporting comic foils) catapulted them into the stratosphere of movie stardom as the premiere comedy team of the 1940s and this film was the lifesaver for their home studio Universal which was precariously close to bankruptcy until the release of this comic masterpiece with the boys in over their heads as unknowing volunteers in the US Army. Uproariously funny particularly their drill instruction scenes with Bud and Lou improvising ("What time is it?" "None of your business!") Look for frequent co-stars the musical singing siblings The Andrews Sisters (who sing the smash "The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy") and also look for Shemp Howard, of The Three Stooges, in the mess sequence with Lou.