Repeat viewings of "Buck Privates" deliver a warm nostalgia for a time gone by when things were simpler and patriotism was a cherished ideal. After a supporting role in their first movie "One Night in the Tropics", Abbott and Costello scored in a big way in this 1941 film, and Universal Studios had a comedy machine on their hands. The boys jump right into their comic bits including a crap game, a money change routine and a military rifle drill, all with flawless comic timing.

And there's a lot going on around them as well. There's a love triangle involving socialite Randy Parker (Lee Bowman),his ex-chauffeur Bob Martin (Alan Curtis) and Judy Gray (Jane Frazee). Nat Pendleton serves as comic foil, first as a cop on the beat and later as the hapless sergeant who can't control Costello's antics. Shemp Howard is also on hand in a comic mess scene. But the real entertainment is provided by the joyous Andrews Sisters, showcasing an array of popular tunes including "You're a Lucky Fellow Mr. Smith", "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time", and their signature song - "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy".

The "Buck Privates" theme worked so well that Abbott and Costello eventually found their way into other branches of the military, their next film was "In the Navy", followed by "Keep 'Em Flying" and "Buck Privates Come Home" a few years later.

Jane Frazee proved to be a versatile entertainer, doing a song of her own in this film - "Gee But I Wish You Were Here". She made movies in a number of different genres including Westerns, along with five Roy Rogers titles in the late 1940's.

"Buck Privates" is a great starting point whether you're just getting familiar with Abbott and Costello, or a long time fan wishing to relive their memory. If your tastes go for the classic Universal horror characters, their best offering is "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein". Whatever the venue, the boys always entertain, and remain one of the best and most successful comedy teams of all time.

BUCK PRIVATES was the second movie with Abbott and Costello. In the first, ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS, the boys were purely there for comic relief and played a very small part in the film. They didn't even bother creating characters for them, as each went by their real names. While in BUCK PRIVATES their roles are thankfully bigger, they still are in supporting roles--though the studio stuck their names at the top of the credits to capitalize on their success in the last film. Despite the billing, Lee Bowman and Alan Curtis played the real leads in the film. This, combined with lots of singing and a romance in which neither Abbott nor Costello is involved with is why BUCK PRIVATES really can't be among the team's best films. It's very good, but far from perfect.

The film begins with rich blow-hard Bowman getting a draft notice. Since he's so spoiled, he assumes his family will pull some strings to get him either out of the military altogether or into officer's training school. But, his father sees things differently--boot camp and serving as an enlisted man will be a great chance to teach him character. Along the way, he and Curtis vie for the same girl and are rivals throughout the film.

Abbott and Costello join the army--mostly because they are running from the cops. Naturally, Costello ends up being the lamest excuse for a soldier there is and if the US military REALLY had accepted such cretins in the service, they would have undoubtedly lost WWII! There were several good skits involving the boys and while not their best work, it still is pretty fresh and well worth watching.

In addition to all this, the Andrews Sisters are on hand to sing. Some may love their songs, such as the famous "Boogie, Woogie Bugle Boy", but as for me, I thought the music was a huge distraction and I sped through these numbers--I'd already heard them when I'd seen the movie when I was a kid--and I'd already suffered enough! Why, oh why, did studios insist on saddling comedies with singing in the 30s, 40s and 50s?! Overall, a much better script than the last film but the duo still take a backseat to the action. Good, but they were capable of better.

By the way, in the comedy boxing scene, Lou Costello probably had to work hard to look bad, as in real life he had been a boxer in his youth--and a pretty good one from what I've read.

Slicker Smith (Bud Abbott) and Herbie Brown (Lou Costello) are two sidewalk petty con men selling neckties. A policeman chase them to arrest them. They hide in a line thinking that it's a cinema but in reality, it's enlistment in the army.

This movie turned Abbott and Costello into big time stars. It's also a patriotic wartime movie featuring The Andrews Sisters. The guys are doing great bits like owing $10. They are a part of the collective cast but not necessarily its leaders. There is a main story about a playboy recruit. It's nothing interesting. Abbott and Costello really steal the show. The girls provide some musical breaks. Suddenly, Shemp Howard shows up in one scene. This is a funny part of the war effort if only the legendary comedy duo be the story leads.