Buck Privates (Blu-ray + DVD) (1941)

Okay, there're plenty of reviews for this film--on VHS-cassette; DVD; 12"-LASER-disc, but, those are like TEN years old...

here's a NEW one:

Okay, this isn't a one-hundred year old movie, but it is one of Abbott & Costello's first--and finest movies.

This 1941 movie is a mere seventy-one years old.

It made millions (that ain't hay!*) when THAT was lots of money.

So popular it prompted a film for the other branches: IN THE NAVY, and KEEP 'EM FLYING.

These three, and another one were all filmed the S-A-M-E YEAR the Pearl Harbor attack led us into World War II.

But that wasn't a big deal as "A'" & "C'"[also my favorite vitamins] o-f-t-e-n made at least two [of their (36)] films a

year.

I'm retired from the military, all of my older relatives fought in that war except two of them, and, t-h-e-y were in The

Cival War and The Spanish-American War. I was only in that Vietnam thing.

My dad grew up when they were popular. After I was born, 1949, this and AFRICA SCREAMS (not nearly as good, but ALSO

features Shemp) are the first few movies I can remember seeing on our small roundish black and white TV.

"The boys"---as some of us refer to A & C---raised millions of dollars for the War Bonds & Stamps effort, not to mention

saving Universal from going bankrupt.

Imagine, WWII is in full swing, and three of the movies you're likely to see star THESE guys IN/OUT/AROUND uniforms...

entertaining AND supporting the troops.

This duo was in the top-ten box office favorites for plenty of the '40s, and kept on keepin' on right through the '50s...

their movies were re-re-released for many years.

I feel it is my duty to tell you this movie is SUPER. It's got Boogie Woogie Rhythm [Bugle Boy] by the Andrews Sisters.

It's got Shemp(Stooge) Howard--brother of Moses and Jerry... You know, Moe, and Curly!

This film is SO old there ISN'T even an AIRFORCE yet, but the Army is doin' the best they can with those bi-planes and

tanks not much bigger than a modern HUMVEE.

Buy it; you'll LIKE it.

This folks will show you how it was when your older folks went to war.

This is on BLU-RAY fer crizakes!

And it's a two-disc set...

extras out the Bazookas:

40-page book... this SHOULD be what is known as a Blu-ray Book--I hope!

The extras include:

==> The theatrical trailer

==> It is restored from 35mm film stock.

==> "ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET JERRY SEINFELD"(televised special).

==> "100 YEARS OF UNFORGETABLE CHARACTERS"

==> "100 YEARS OF RESTORING THE CLASSICS"

==> "100 YEARS OF CARL LAEMMIE"[after just 9 years in the film business, he opened UNIVERSAL STUDIOS in 1915]

*= denotes an A&C film from 1943.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bud Abbott was born in 1897.

Lou Costello , born in 1906.

Universal Studios opens 1915. Where's this 100-year thing come from? Ooooo Ooooo Ooooo I know, I know...

The Universal Studios , 1912-1928 made 900 films.

THAT, my friend, is one-hundred years ago. Now, let's show tremendous support for this lest we forget that Universal owns

the rights for all the, so called UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS... all of 'em, and wouldn't all of these look GREAT in blu-ray?

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection [Blu-ray]

{SON OF FRANKENSTEIN... I've seen [home] film footage of Boris in COLOR (great extra THERE!)

Thank you, thank you very much... "Big Mac" has left the theatre.

***************************************************************************************************

Made for peanuts, BUCK PRIVATES was a tremendous hit for Universal studios and firmly established Abbott and Costello as movie stars. Bud and Lou's routines are among their best; indeed, the film is really not much more than a string of burlesque routines held together by a simple plotline. "The Dice Game," "The Drill Routine," "You're 40, She's 10," and several others burlesque bits are here to keep you laughing. The romantic triangle plot is rather forgettable, although one can certainly understand why both Lee Bowman and Alan Curtis are pursuing lovely Jane Frazee. The Andrews Sisters contribute some great songs, including the immortal "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Dated but still very entertaining, BUCK PRIVATES delivered just what the movie going public needed in 1941. And it still delivers today.

Buy Buck Privates (Blu-ray + DVD) (1941) Now

Absolutely outstanding Picture and Sound upgrade in Blu-ray. Of course the dynamic duo of Abbott and Costello will gather a few laughs but the Hi-Lights are the Andrew Sisters. They swing like no others back in 1941. Two thumbs up and 5 stars for this Blu-ray, regular DVD, Book and Extras the DVD provides.

Read Best Reviews of Buck Privates (Blu-ray + DVD) (1941) Here

This old Abbott and Costello movie is a lot of fun to watch. It is a classic film with 2 of the best ever.

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Bud Abbott (1895-1974) and Lou Costello (1906-59) were comedy giants for two decades, wowing the public on screen from 1940 to 1956 and on TV from 1951 to 1953. They were the true successors to Laurel and Hardy. "Buck Privates" was their second film, and the one that propelled them onto the A list. They followed this with nearly 40 films, the best of which were such classics as "Hold that Ghost" (1941) and "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). The "A & C Meet..." films alone spawned 7 films. By the mid 50s the comedic style of Martin and Lewis gained the upper hand and personal disputes between the partners brought the comedy to an end. As they had eclipsed Laurel and Hardy, Martin and Lewis stole their thunder, but even today one can't help but laugh at the gags.

"Buck Privates" is probably their best film, aided in no small part by the terrific songs and dances of the Andrew Sisters, who would join them in two more films ("In the Navy" and "Hold that Ghost") that same year. LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty not only worked with Abbott and Costello, but also with The Ritz Brothers ("Argentine Nights") and Crosby and Hope ("Road to Rio") and also appeared with the top musicians of the 40s and 50s. At the time of "Buck Privates" the sisters had already established a name for themselves with such big hits as "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", "Hold Tight", "Roll out the Barrel", "Ferryboat Serenade", and "Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar". They perform four songs in the film "You're a Lucky Fellow Mr. Smith", "Apple Blossom Time", "Bounce me Brother with a Solid Four", and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Boogie Woogie" was nominated for an Oscar as Best Original Song.

Abbott and Costello were originally a vaudeville act, and what they did was to bring their act to the big screen. Films were a series of smaller bits strung together with a plot. In this they copied the style of the Marx Brothers (even though their pedigree makes them look like successors to Laurel and Hardy, who used a completely different motif for their films) right down to the minor love plot, the menacing heavy, and the musical numbers.

There are so many funny bits in this film it's hard to list them all. Lou initiates his "I'm a bad boy" catchphrase that would last for more than a decade. The drill routine was originally scheduled for a few minutes but went nearly 5 due to the ad-libbing (watch closely for the reactions from the actors who participate). The verbal patter between the boys is priceless, as Bud convinces Lou that if he marries a younger woman she will eventually be older than he is. Here's a sample -

Bud 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?

Lou Not unless I come from the mountains.

Nat Pendleton (1895-1967) plays the heavy who pursues the boys. Pendelton was famous for the "slow burn" and he appeared in over 100 films. He reprieved his role in 1947's "Buck Privates Come Home" his last film.

Look for Shemp Howard (1895-1955) for a minor role as a cook. Shemp had been acting since 1932 when he broke away from "Ted Healy and His Stooges". He appeared with W.C. Fields, Fatty Arbuckle, Lon Chaney, and even John Wayne, but was making no real headway. In 1946 when brother Curly had a stroke he re-joined the Three Stooges and they made 73 short films together.

1941 was a terrific year for films "Citizen Kane", "The Maltese Falcon", Sergeant York", "How Green Was My Valley", Meet John Doe", "They Died with Their Boots On", "The Sea Wolf" "High Sierra", "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", and "A Yank in the RAF". With such an impressive list, "Buck Privates" came in at #9 at the box office.

The NY Times called it "an hour and a half of uproarious monkeyshines." The film grossed a record $4 million, although some placed it as high as $10 million. It received 2 Oscar nominations but no wins "Boogie Woogie" lost to "The last time I saw Paris" from "Lady Be Good" for Best Song and "Dumbo" won for Best Music. The film was so popular it generated a radio show later that year on the Lux Radio Theater. The Japanese were so impressed they showed the drill scene to their troops to demonstrate how poorly trained US soldiers were.

This is a great film from a great comedy team.

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