Buck Privates (1941)

Bud and Lou enlist in the army in order to escape being hauled off to jail, and soon find themselves in boot camp. To their dismay, the company's drill instructor is none other than the cop... See full summary »

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

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

Stars:

Lee Bowman, Alan Curtis, Bud Abbott

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

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	...	Andrews Sisters
Jane Frazee	...	Judy Gray
Nat Pendleton	...	Sgt. Michael Collins
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Maj. Gen. 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)

Storyline

Bud and Lou enlist in the army in order to escape being hauled off to jail, and soon find themselves in boot camp. To their dismay, the company's drill instructor is none other than the cop who was all set to run them off to the hoosegow in the first place! The boys end up having a whale of a time getting under the skin of their humourless nemesis.

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Plot Keywords:

army | marching band | famous song | hostess | romantic rivalry | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ordinário, Marche!

Filming Locations:

Providencia Ranch, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$180,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$4,000,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The train whistle blows Lou Costello's catchphrase, "I'm a bad boy".

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Herbie Brown: What time is it?
Slicker Smith: None of your business!
[completely ad-libbed during the drill routine. Abbott didn't know it was coming but delivered his response flawlessly]

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Connections

Featured in The World of Abbott and Costello (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Don Raye
Music by Hugh Prince
Performed by The Andrews Sisters

User Reviews

Slick, well-made comedy which stands the test of time.

Like other reviewers, I've acquired the remastered DVD version of 'Buck Privates'. Bud and Lou fit into the story pretty well, far better than their stint in 'One Night in the Tropics'. The story rolls along at a breakneck pace and I especially enjoyed the steam loco shots as the train transported the boys to boot camp. The Andrews Sisters as usual are fabulous with some great songs.

What really impressed me was the photography, perhaps not something people would normally comment on in an A & C movie. Previous copies I've viewed have been grainy and washed out whereas this new print is visually great to look at. It was interesting for the first time to be able examine characters in the background, see facial expressions more clearly and especially, watch Lou 'working' both Bud and the crew off screen.

Clearly, Lou, like Stan Laurel and Buster Keaton, was a genius of comedy timing, the likes of which we may never see again.