In 1941, Abbott & Costello made a huge splash when they starred in "Buck Privates" for Universal. Now, a year later, a film that is essentially "Buck Privates II" was released...but without Abbott & Costello! Many of the stars associated with the first film are back and are forced to carry the film. The Andrews Sisters are back and since there is no Bud or Lou, they are given more musical numbers. Shemp Howard, a minor character in the original, is a major character here. A few additions are the band leader Harry James, Ernest Truex, Mary Wickes and some cutesy kid. Dick Foran stars in the film, and while he was not in "Buck Privates", he co-starred in Abbott & Costello's other service pictures "In The Navy" and "Keep 'Em Flying".
As a result of Foran, James and the Andrews Sisters, there are many, many musical numbers--too many if you ask me. I think Universal did this because without major comedians to anchor the film, they appeared to think that adding more songs would take up the slack. In other words, Shemp was pleasant but he was NOT an adequate replacement for a comedy team! There are two main plots to the film. One involves Shemp and his comedic situations--all of which seem pretty slight. The other involves Foran and it frankly made no sense at all...none. Foran is a complainer and when he balks at doing many of the things needed in basic training, the base Commander gives him permission to refuse to do anything he doesn't want to do--making the other soldiers do it in his place. This is apparently supposed to teach him some sort of lesson about teamwork, but there is no way ANY army would do such a stupid thing---at least not on this planet! When you think about it, any army that would make Shemp a sergeant and tell Foran he could ignore any order he didn't want to follow are both pretty insane notions! My assumption is that they wanted a plot similar to Lee Bowman's slacker from "Buck Privates" but this new idea just didn't work.
So how is the film? Well, not unexpectedly, without Abbott & Costello the movie seems flat---like it's missing something. For example, instead of having some sort of reasonable resolution to the plots, the film just ends in a long series of musical numbers by Foran, The Andrews Sisters and Harry James...as well as some dance numbers. Not a satisfying ending, that's for sure. Overall, it's an okay film...but nothing more. And, as a result, I can understand why the studio allowed this film to slip into the public domain.
As a result of Foran, James and the Andrews Sisters, there are many, many musical numbers--too many if you ask me. I think Universal did this because without major comedians to anchor the film, they appeared to think that adding more songs would take up the slack. In other words, Shemp was pleasant but he was NOT an adequate replacement for a comedy team! There are two main plots to the film. One involves Shemp and his comedic situations--all of which seem pretty slight. The other involves Foran and it frankly made no sense at all...none. Foran is a complainer and when he balks at doing many of the things needed in basic training, the base Commander gives him permission to refuse to do anything he doesn't want to do--making the other soldiers do it in his place. This is apparently supposed to teach him some sort of lesson about teamwork, but there is no way ANY army would do such a stupid thing---at least not on this planet! When you think about it, any army that would make Shemp a sergeant and tell Foran he could ignore any order he didn't want to follow are both pretty insane notions! My assumption is that they wanted a plot similar to Lee Bowman's slacker from "Buck Privates" but this new idea just didn't work.
So how is the film? Well, not unexpectedly, without Abbott & Costello the movie seems flat---like it's missing something. For example, instead of having some sort of reasonable resolution to the plots, the film just ends in a long series of musical numbers by Foran, The Andrews Sisters and Harry James...as well as some dance numbers. Not a satisfying ending, that's for sure. Overall, it's an okay film...but nothing more. And, as a result, I can understand why the studio allowed this film to slip into the public domain.