IMDb >
Buck Privates (1941)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsBuck Privates (1941) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
31 January 1941 (USA)
more
Plot:
Bud and Lou enlist in the army in order to escape being hauled off to jail, and soon find themselves in boot camp...
more
| add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Army
|
Boxing
|
Con Artist
|
Dancing
|
Military Maneuver
more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
more
User Comments:
Excellent Wartime Comedy
more (32 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Lee Bowman | ... | Randolph Parker III | |
| Alan Curtis | ... | Bob Martin | |
| Bud Abbott | ... | Slicker Smith | |
| Lou Costello | ... | Herbie Brown | |
| The Andrews Sisters | ... | Patty, Maxene, LaVerne | |
| Jane Frazee | ... | Judy Gray | |
| Nat Pendleton | ... | Sgt. Michael Collins | |
| Samuel S. Hinds | ... | Major General Emerson | |
| Harry Strang | ... | Sgt. Callahan | |
| Nella Walker | ... | Mrs. Parker II | |
| Leonard Elliott | ... | Henry | |
| Shemp Howard | ... | Chef | |
| M.J. Frankovich | ... | Announcer (as Mike Frankovitch) | |
| Dora Clement | ... | Miss Durling - Camp Hostess (as Dora Clemant) | |
| Jean Brooks | ... | Camp Hostess (as Jeanne Kelly) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Rookies (UK)
more
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
84 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's drill routine ran only two-and-a-half minutes in the script, but was allowed five minutes of screen time because of their ad-libbing. In fact, much of their dialogue in the film was ad-libbed.
more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," during Patty Andrews' solo, she claps her hands at the end of the line, "He can't blow a note 'til the base and guitar's playing with him," but the slap sound effect misses her gesture by full beat.
more
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!
[...]
more
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!
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Monster A-Go-Go (#5.21)" (1993)
more
Soundtrack:
When Private Brown Becomes a Captain
more
FAQ
List: Wacky boxingmore
more (32 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Buck Privates (1941)Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Miracle of Morgan's Creek | From Here to Eternity | East Side Kids | Deadly Is the Female | The Galloping Ghost |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |


I have seen only a few of the Abbott and Costello films, and find in most of them that the films themselves are but an excuse for them to do their (hilarious) routines, with some uninteresting story added in for padding. Since they made no bones about this, and it generally worked, because they did not disguise it (unlike Laurel and Hardy). With many of A&C's pictures, their scenes are always great. I find their TV show to be the purest representation of their humor. BUCK PRIVATES must surely rank not only as the best Abbott and Costello movie, but also as one of the best comedy films of all time. On top of this, it is like an 84-minute slice of American history. The romantic sub-plot in this film is very relevant to audiences of the day and is not trivial or silly (like those in the films of the Marx Bros. and Laurel and Hardy). Lou Costello is hilarious as ever here. Abbott is in full form too. The supporting cast is perfect, especially Nat Pendleton, not to mention a brilliant series of music numbers by the great Andrews Sisters. Their main number, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," is truly a historical moment, and it's a great performance to boot. It's easy to see how this was the most popular comedy of it's day. All in all, I was very impressed by this film. I hope it gets shown more often on TV so new audiences can enjoy this rousing and hilarious movie.