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Buck Privates ()

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Two sidewalk salesman enlist in the army in order to avoid jail, only to find that their drill instructor is the police officer who tried having them imprisoned.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

70 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Slicker Smith
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Herbie Brown
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Randolph Parker III
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Judy Gray
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Bob Martin
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Sgt. Michael Collins
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Self
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Laverne Andrews (as The Andrews Sisters)
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Maxene Andrews (as The Andrews Sisters)
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Patty Andrews (as The Andrews Sisters)
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Maj. Gen. Emerson
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Sgt. Callahan
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Mrs. Parker II
Leonard Elliott ...
Henry
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Chef
M.J. Frankovich ...
Announcer (as Mike Frankovitch)
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Miss Durling - Camp Hostess (as Dora Clemant)
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Camp Hostess (as Jeanne Kelly)
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Camp Hostess (as Elaine Morey)
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Camp Hostess
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Camp Hostess
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Camp Hostess
The World Champion Boogie Woogie Dancers ...
Contest Dancers
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Tough Fighter - Maguire's Replacement (uncredited)
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Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
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Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
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Fighter (uncredited)
Bud Cokes ...
Soldier (uncredited)
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Edmunds (uncredited)
Tom Coleman ...
Army Officer (uncredited)
Dean Collins ...
Dancer (uncredited)
Frank Cook ...
Harmonica and Guitar Player (uncredited)
Pat Costello ...
Recruit Who Slugs Herbie (uncredited)
John Deering ...
Narrator (uncredited)
Frankie Dolan ...
Fighter (uncredited)
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Sergeant on Sidewalk with Sgt. Collins (uncredited)
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Officer (uncredited)
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Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Lloyd Ford ...
Fighter (uncredited)
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Pedestrian (uncredited)
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Sergeant Leading Recruits Through Train Station (uncredited)
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Recruiting Major (uncredited)
Frank Grandetta ...
Pvt. Maguire - Small Boxer (uncredited)
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Craps Player on Train (uncredited)
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Corporal (uncredited)
Buddy Harris ...
Train Porter (uncredited)
Jerome Harte ...
Corporal (uncredited)
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Fight Spectator (uncredited)
J. Anthony Hughes ...
Capt. Williams (uncredited)
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Capt. Johnson (uncredited)
Jerry James ...
Soldier (uncredited)
Charles King Jr. ...
Cadet (uncredited)
Joseph La Cava ...
Soldier (uncredited)
Jimmie Lucas ...
Corporal (uncredited)
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Patrol Car Driver (uncredited)
John Marlin ...
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Jewel McGowan ...
Dancer (uncredited)
Bud Mercer ...
Cadet (uncredited)
Lyle Moraine ...
Lt. Poole (uncredited)
Will Morgan ...
Lieutenant (uncredited)
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Medical Examiner (uncredited)
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Camp Hostess (uncredited)
Frank Penny ...
Sgt. Marks (uncredited)
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Conductor (uncredited)
Hugh Prince ...
Henry (uncredited)
Don Raye ...
Dick Burnette (uncredited)
Tom Reed ...
Lieutenant (uncredited)
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Conductor (uncredited)
John Rice ...
Officer (uncredited)
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Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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Corporal (uncredited)
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Secretary of State (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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Boxing Match Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Frankie Van ...
Second at Boxing Match (uncredited)
Robert Wayne ...
Lieutenant (uncredited)
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Randolph Parker II (uncredited)
Katherine Yorke ...
Camp Hostess (uncredited)
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Supply Sergeant (uncredited)

Directed by

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Arthur Lubin

Written by

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Arthur T. Horman ... (original screen play)
 
John Grant ... (special material for Abbott and Costello)

Produced by

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Alex Gottlieb ... associate producer

Cinematography by

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Jerome Ash ... director of photography (as Jerry Ash)
Milton R. Krasner ... director of photography (as Milton Krasner)

Editing by

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Philip Cahn ... film editor

Art Direction by

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Jack Otterson

Set Decoration by

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Russell A. Gausman ... (set decorators) (as R.A. Gausman)

Costume Design by

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Vera West ... (gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Gil Valle ... assistant director
Vernon Keays ... assistant director (uncredited)
Joseph E. Kenney ... first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Ralph M. DeLacy ... associate art director

Sound Department

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Bernard B. Brown ... sound supervisor
Paul Neal ... sound technician

Stunts

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Pat Costello ... stunt double: Lou Costello (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Eugene Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

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Ted Cain ... music supervisor
Charles Previn ... musical director
Vic Schoen ... vocal arrangements
Frank Skinner ... composer: title music (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Nick Castle ... dance director
Jack Voglin ... military advisor (as Capt. Jack Voglin)
Jaik Rosenstein ... unit publicity writer (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Bud and Lou enlist in the army in order to escape being hauled off to jail, and soon find themselves in basic training. 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. Written by Alfred Jingle

Plot Keywords
Taglines ...and 24 world-champion boogie-woogie boys and beauties! (original poster) See more »
Genres
Parents Guide Add content advisory for parents »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Rookies (United Kingdom)
  • Deux nigauds soldats (France)
  • Reclutas (Spain)
  • Komppanian syntipukit (Finland)
  • Kompaniets olycksfåglar (Sweden)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 84 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $245,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia Abbott and Costello's drill routine ran only 2-1/2 minutes in the script, but were allowed five minutes of screen time because of their ad-libbing. In fact, much of their dialogue in the film was ad-libbed. See more »
Goofs During the dice game, Lou's tie is on for the close-ups, but off for the long shots. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Buck Privates Come Home (1947). See more »
Soundtracks Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy See 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!
Slicker Smith: Why should she wait for you?
Herbie Brown: ...I was nice enough to wait for her!
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