Private Buckaroo (1942)

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writers:

Edmond Kelso (screenplay) and
Edward James (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 June 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Romance | War

Tagline:

IT JUMPS! IT JIVES! It rocks with red hot rhythm! (original poster)

Plot Keywords:

Jeep | Gambling | USA | Bandleader | U.S. Army

Cast

The Andrews Sisters	...	Patty, Maxene, LaVerne
Dick Foran	...	Lon Prentice
Joe E. Lewis	...	Lancelot Pringle McBiff
Ernest Truex	...	Col. Elias Weatherford
Jennifer Holt	...	Joyce Mason
Shemp Howard	...	Sgt. 'Muggsy' Shavel
Richard Davies	...	Lt. Howard Mason
Mary Wickes	...	Bonnie-Belle Schlopkiss
Donald O'Connor	...	Donny
Peggy Ryan	...	Peggy
Huntz Hall	...	Cpl. Anemic
Susan Levine	...	Tagalong
The Jivin' Jacks and Jills	...	Vocal Group
Harry James and His Music Makers	...	Themselves
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laverne Andrews	...	Laverne - One of the Andrews Sisters
Maxene Andrews	...	Maxene - One of the Andrews Sisters
Patty Andrews	...	Patty - One of the Andrews Sisters
Harry James	...	Leader of His Music Makers

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (PCA #6147)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Movie Connections:

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

Soundtrack:

Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree

Wartime Musical

Private Buckaroo is one of those wartime musicals set in the army where the plot is barely noticeable among the musical numbers. In fact I'm not sure of what the plot was. In fact this one was another of those films to incorporate a top big band into the Hollywood studio system. In this it was Harry James and his Orchestra.

Harry's gets one of those letters from FDR that a lot of men between 18 and 45 were getting back in 1942. But his orchestra apparently thinking they'd have to go out hustle other jobs decides the one that Harry's getting is good enough for them so the whole band enlists. Including Helen Forrest and Dick Foran who are his vocalists.

Unlike the patriotic Foran who was a CPO in In The Navy, this Foran has an attitude similar to that of Lee Bowman in Buck Privates. Of course when you're drill sergeant is Shemp Howard it's kind of hard to take the army seriously. Foran's also pursuing Jennifer Holt who is Tim's sister.

Also in the film are the Andrews Sisters and Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan and that about covers the musical portion of the film. For a 69 minute film they had at least a dozen numbers so you can see the plot barely got in the way. Not to mention there was a triangle involving Shemp with Mary Wickes and Joe E. Lewis.

The film that Frank Sinatra made about Joe E. Lewis, The Joker Is Wild is infinitely better than Private Buckaroo. But this certainly is an opportunity to see the real Lewis perform.

So if you're a fan of any or all of these folks you might spend some time watching Private Buckaroo. All this Universal classic needed was Abbott&Costello.