Buck Privates

1941
Approved
1h 24m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

4.8K

YOUR RATING

Bud Abbott, Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, Patty Andrews, Lou Costello, and The Andrews Sisters in Buck Privates (1941)

Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Play trailer1:32

1 Video

66 Photos

Comedy Musical War

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

4.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 3 nominations total

Laverne Andrews
(as The Andrews Sisters)

Maxene Andrews

Maxene Andrews
(as The Andrews Sisters)

Patty Andrews

Patty Andrews
(as The Andrews Sisters)

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)

Director
- Arthur Lubin
Writers
- Arthur T. Horman
- John Grant
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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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.

Goofs
During the dice game, Lou's tie is on for the close-ups, but off for the long shots.

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!

Connections
Featured in Frances Farmer Presents: Buck Privates (1958)

Soundtracks
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Lyrics by Don Raye
Music by Hugh Prince
Performed by The Andrews Sisters (uncredited)

User reviews62

Review

Featured review

Excellent Wartime Comedy

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.