I'm surprised that there are so few messages on this board. What's not to love about this film? Classic Abbott & Costtello. The Andrews Sisters at their best. The underrated Jane Frazee. And a refreshingly untypical ambiguous resolution to the romantic subplot.
shareYeah, this is certainly one of their greatest films. I particularly love the "Drill Routine". It is excellent!
shareMost of A&C routines are made up of word games and based on the Innocent Soul (Costello) being abused or taken advantage of by the Wise Guy (Abbot). I never saw the humor is this sort of physical abuse.
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The comedy in it is so we can take a moment from the difficulties of real life, to laugh at the problems of the comedian, which are always largely exaggerated so it's not like laughing at a real problem. It'd be hard to laugh at a comedy that was serious and dull. The way Abbott always gets Costello in trouble, the way Hardy always blamed Laurel for their mishaps when it was clearly Hardy's fault, the people that the Marx Brothers always picked on endlessly, it's just the classic form of laughing at the expense of a fictional character.
"Do you mind if I don't smoke?" ---Groucho Marx
Most of A&C routines are made up of word games and based on the Innocent Soul (Costello) being abused or taken advantage of by the Wise Guy (Abbot). I never saw the humor is this sort of physical abuse
Believe it or not most of the people I know don't know anything about Abbott and Costello. I've referenced them many times amongst different groups of people and almost always get a unanimous '?'. Maybe it's the lamo people I hang around. ;) I was lucky enough to have been exposed to all the classics as a kid since they were usually the only things our parents allowed us to watch without any censorship. Even as young as six or seven I loved these guys. As an adult I only appreciate them more. Why are so few people on this board?...Lack of exposure would be my guess, because every single individual I've ever introduced to Bud and Lou love every bit of their routines. We must be disciples of A+C spreading the laughter and comedic genius throughout our tortured, modern, tunnel-visioned society. I'll begin with a little A+C good word...
"Didn't you go to school stupid?"
-"Ya, but I come out the same way."
I was pleasantly surprised when a much-younger colleague asked me if I had any A&C material he could watch. He had just discovered Martin and Lewis and was interested in comedy teams of the past (do comedy teams exist now?) He loves the manic wordplay, though I suspect he knows little about the burlesque that spawned A&C.
"We're fighting for this woman's honor, which is more than she ever did."
I think the reason so many people don't know about them is because so many other comedy teams get more exposure. I doubt there's anybody who doesn't know who the Three Stooges are. There may be people who can't name all of the Marx Brothers, but most people have at least heard of them. But it seems to be teams like Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy that most people just don't know about until you expose them to it. Pretty sad, really.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho
My favourite A&C movie; for the great music, the timeless routines and brilliant production values. I loved it 50 years ago and my love has never diminished.
sharePersonally love them, every once in a while I pull out the box set and have a little marathon of A&C.
shareI wasn't around for WWII but for whatever reason, this one evokes wartime America more than any other film I can think of. Maybe it has something to do with the Andrews Sisters in uniform singing those songs. Probably.
cinefreak
I first saw this movies when I was 12 in 1970 and just saw the new restored version and love it more than ever. The best tunes of any A&C Universal picture and featuring Patty, Maxine, and Laverne with 3 of their best songs from the early forties. Lee Bowman and Allen Curtis, two of the handsomest costars in any Universal film as well. Thank you Universal for keeping this classic alive and well. My 89 year old mother can relive the joy all over again watching this just like new print.
shareI'm one of the top Laurel and Hardy fans on the planet, but I don't hesitate to say that Buck Privates and Hold that Ghost are two of my favorite pictures. Fast paced, good songs, wonderfully photographed, and with both the Drill Routine and Dice Routine. Hard to go wrong with these.
shareI believe that this was supposed to be a vehicle for The Andrews Sisters and other actors. Bud and Lou had success in their previous film (they stole the show)
If I'm not mistaken, and I might be, they rewrote this film to showcase more of the comedy of Abbott & Costello.
"I hear this place is restricted, Wang, so don't tell 'em you're Jewish, okay?"
A&C are my favorite comedy team. I love all the old classic teams but A&C holds a very special place in my heart. I was introduced to them back in the late 70's (maybe 1980) listening to the Dr Demento Show.
He played "Who’s on First" one night. I used to tape his show every week and I wore the tape out listening to Who’s on First over and over until I had it memorized. I probably drove my parents crazy for the next few months i went around performing both parts myself every chance I got.
I then discovered that a local station would regularly show old A&C comedies on the Saturday and Sunday afternoon movie. They also showed other old comedies and I discovered Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Martin and Lewis and even the Bowery Boys (Three stooges I already knew and watched regularly).
That must have scarred me for life, because ever since then I have preferred the comedies of the 40’s and 50’s over most any other era.
My collection contains copies of all the movies of these great old teams. But A&C are still my favorite, and Buck Privates is my favorite movie of theirs.
I'd like to mention that A&C appearances on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" of the 1950s can now be seen. "Colgate" on NBC was a live variety show and A&C alternated as hosts with Martin & Lewis, Bob Hope and Eddie Cantor. There 's plenty of ad-libbing and really strenuous slapstick (in one sketch, Lou, having placed Bud's head inside a real turkey, tries to stuff Bud into an oven. Don't ask.) I have to keep reminding myself that both obviously middle-aged men were suffering from all sorts of health problems and probably weren't even speaking to each other offstage.
May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?