What's your favorite military comedy? - Down Periscope (1996) Discussion

[–] madkaugh 15 years ago

Kelly's Heros

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I got to have breakfast and lunch with Sgt Oddball, the Tank Driver.

I met Donald Sutherland in '87 when he was in San Antonio researching an upcoming part.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

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[–] amazon423 15 years ago

All my favorites except for a few have been listed.
Good Morning Vietnam!
No Time for Sergeants
4 Jills in a Jeep
Anything with Francis the Talking Mule(Frances Joins the WACS, Francis Joins the Navy e.g.)
Anything with Abbott and Costello in it

Post military with military buddies getting together:
Donovan's Reef

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[–] Broadsman 14 years ago

Any film where America claims to have won the second world war single handed.
having been shot at more times by trigger happy American marines that the enemy.
I am surprised they have the cheek to make war films at all.

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[–] Kraal93 14 years ago

Down Periscope
In the Army Now
Major Payne
Stripes
Sgt. Bilko
M*A*S*H (The 1970 movie)

Cosby: "GET OUTTA HERE, CHICKEN HEART! YOU WON'T COME NEAR SMOKE AND FIRE AND JELL-O!"

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[–] amazon423 14 years ago

To the poster that mentioned Sgt Bilko: That movie was a joke compared to the original show with Phil Silvers and therefore, in my estimation, not even worth mentioning.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] EtaoinShrdlu001 9 years ago

Oddly enough my first thought was a TV show as well: "Hogan's Heroes".
Being a boy of 9 to 11-12, that show had everything.
Broad Slapstick, Sarcastic one-liners that made me feel like I was "in on the joke", espionage, action, danger and dames! Secret caves and coffee pots that were radios! It was like a funny "Man from U.N.C.L.E." for ten year olds.

The OP doesn't ask for movies specifically, but I think it's pretty well implied.
I agree that the Bilko movie was abysmal compared to the TV show, and I am no great fan of Phil Silvers.

So favorite military comedy. ....

Can't disagree with to many choices; some are Broad (Stripes, Abbott & Costello, [where's Lewis and Martin?]), some a little more esoteric/satiric (Catch 22, M*A*S*H, Teahouse...?).

But the is one I'll watch everytime and that is "NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS".

Griffith never plays his "fish out of water, just aimin' to please" feller as a the stupid "country bumpkin" the rest of the characters take him for. Smartly, Andy never plays for laughs and lets all around him shine. Just like his TV show.
By the way, Gomer Pyle ring any bells?

P.S. May I nominate "The General" starring Buster Keaton? Awesome silent set during the Cival War (U.S.)

You Fill Me with Inertia

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[–] d_homen 9 years ago

I agree that the "Bilko" movie was really, really bad..... But I watched a biography of Phil Silvers and according to those who knew him say he was nothing like the character he invented. Nearly everybody said he was much more introverted in real life and most other actors liked to work with him.

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] EtaoinShrdlu001 9 years ago

You're probably right d-h, it is the abrassiveness of the character that rubs me the wrong way (HA! npi)

But I think more that he's always the same char, fast-talking burlesque bully-boy, obsequesly backpedaling as soon as someone tuffer comes along. Ex: Bilko, Mad Mad World, Forum, etc.

Other Vaudeville to Radio to Early TV characters come to mind that I... uh... "don't appreciate" as much as the vast majority. All seem to fit the same bill: Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, [dare I say it?] Bud Abbott; (ducks flying tomatoes.)
(Cards on table - I love Abbott & Costello.)

It's the lack of growth in the character that makes it painful for me to watch. (Gleason, Lewis)

Two who made it through all the changing media while retaining their Burlesque Personas (IMHO) are
Jack Benny and George Burns. But they were "good guys", and may not be relevant to this conversation.

Nice Guy whose personae got old real quick: Buster Keaton (sadly).
Seeing Keaton on "Laugh-In", or Beach Movies was just sad; like watching Karloff, Lorre and Chaney Jr. on a Halloween episode of "Route 66".

Well, now that I've made everyone thoroughly PO'd at me I think I'll stop digging deeper holes for me to crawl out of. Really got yakkin' there, sorry!, but it was fun.
I'm not really old enough to know Vaudville and Old-Time Radio, but somehow it's in my brainpan.

PS: If any replies, please tell me how to write a Message WITHOUT having to Reply to someone?

You Fill Me with Inertia

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[–] GeorgiaDixie 9 years ago

Guess I'm the only one who liked the movie version of Sgt. Bilko as much, if not better, than the show. Maybe it was b/c I saw the movie first.

As for the question, I thoroughly enjoy "Down Periscope" and have it on both VHS & DVD!

I also really like both the movie and TV versions of "McHale's Navy"; I own both the movie and all 4 seasons of the show on DVD, just to show you how much ;)
Pretty much all of the military comedies I'd list have already been mentioned, so I'll just second everyone else!

"Courage is being scared to death- and saddling up anyway"

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[–] lferrigon-1 9 years ago

Here are my choices:
Hogan Heroes
Major Dad
Major Payne
Major Benjamin

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[–] bishop-69757 8 years ago

Deerhunter

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[–] Seth_Rogue_One 7 years ago

Major Payne (1995) for sure... Jarhead is def not a comedy

Seth Rogue One: A Star Weed Story http://i.imgur.com/DvGLO38.jpg

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[–] liscarkat (16576) 2 years ago

Mr. Roberts
No Time for Sergeants
Stripes
Down Periscope
Operation Petticoat
Private Benjamin

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