Tanks a Million

Starting in the late 1930s, Hal Roach Studios began making less and less one and two-reel shorts (such as those of Laurel and Hardy, the Little Rascals and Charley Chase) and began making short feature-length films (about 60 minutes each). This seemed to be what the public wanted, so Roach made some changes. Additionally, his old money-makers (Laurel and Hardy) went independent--working for Fox and other studios (in hindsight, NOT a good decision by the boys). So, Roach started trying to develop new talent, such as his TOPPER films and a variety of cute comedies (such as NAZTY NUISANCE and TURNABOUT). In addition, he made a short series of WWII army films about Sergeant Doubleday (starring William Tracy) and this film, TANKS A MILLION, was the first.

Before I began watching it, I thought the film had two strikes against it, so I expect it to be at best a "time passer". First, like all these Roach films, it had a small budget and secondly, I haven't yet been very impressed by ANY of these later Roach films (in general, the humor seems VERY broad and the situations VERY contrived). So, with these very low expectations, I was hard to impress. Amazingly enough, I actually was quite charmed by this little sleeper. The character of Doubleday was a very likable guy and the situations he got himself into were often hilarious. In fact, compared to other similar products of the day from other studios, this one was better than Abbott and Costello's BUCK PRIVATES (from Universal) and at least as good as Bob Hope's CAUGHT IN THE DRAFT (from Paramount).

So why did I like it? Well, part of it was Tracy and his character. He was silly and very difficult to believe, but he was also so likable and nice that I really bought into the character. Plus, his nemesis, Sgt. Ames was a great foil and watching Ames try again and again and again to catch Doubleday messing up was great--especially when again and again his sneakiness blew up in his face!! Additionally, James Gleason was a very welcome addition as the Colonel. While far from my favorite character actor, in this film, he was perfect.

The film was a great blend of comedy, WWII propaganda meant to support the war effort and entertainment. While not the funniest film of the era, it is among the best and had me wanting more. Unfortunately, one of the follow-up films in the series (ABOUT FACE) was a severe let-down. I certainly hope that HAY FOOT (1942) and the other Doubleday films (made both during WWII and the Korean War) were better.

By the mid 1930's things at Hal Roach Studios were in a great state of unrest. The Company, which had made its major portion of Bread and Butter with the likes of Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, Snub Pollard, Will Rogers, Thelma Todd, Charley Chase, Zasu Pitts, Patsy Kelly, Edgar Kennedy, Max Davidson and OUR GANG. The format mainly employed with these Comedy Stars was that of the Short Subject. They were displayed to their best advantage in the 2 Reeler.

With 1935's THICKER THAN WATER, Laurel & Hardy had done their last Short; thereafter sticking strictly to Features. After 1936's output was all harvested and in the 'Old Barn'. Charley Chase left the Roach Lot for Jules White's Short Subjects Unit at Columbia Pictures; where he would Star in 2 reelers as well as serving as Director on Short Subjects starring the likes of Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard.

This left Roach's Shorts Department all to Director Robert McGowan and his pet project, OUR GANG (aka THE LITTLE RASCALS). Even they were eventually sold-off to MGM during the World War II years.* MR. Roach had another innovation that he was rapidly implementing. That was the "Streamliner"; being a short Feature of about 50 minutes in length, which were designed to be the supporting film in ever more popular Double Feature. In addition to some of the fine titles of truly 1st Class Movies like TOPPER (1937), OF MICE AND MEN (1939) and ONE MILLION B.C. (1940) he gave us these sort of half cast 'B' Movie called 'Streamliner'.

Following the legislation creating our first Peacetime Draft in 1940, the Nation's thoughts were doubtless preoccupied with the War already raging in Europe, Northern Africa and East Asia. This War phobia was a natural cause of our collect concerns; so logically it was conversely a great subject matter for creating laughter and consequently releasing a lot of pent up fears and tension. In short order we saw the likes of Abbott & Costello in BUCK PRIVATES (Universal, 1941), GREAT GUNS (20th Century-Fox, 1941) with Laurel & Hardy and TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP (Columbia, 1942) with Jack Durant and a young Jackie Gleason.

Not to be outdone, Hal Roach came up with TANKS A MILLION, a 50 minute wonder about a bunch of green and raw Recruits coping with the rigors of being transformed from civilians from all walks of life into Soldiers for Uncle Sam. First we had a 'great cross section of the Country' platoon of trainees featuring actors like Noah Beery, Jr., Dick Wessel, Frank Faylen and Dub Taylor. To that is added a crusty, old Commanding Officer, Colonel 'Spitfire' Barkley (Jimmy Gleason) and a high energy and efficient Company C.O. in Captain Rossmead (Douglas Fowley). In between the two, in rank anyway, was the Major Eastwood * (Veteran Silent Film Leading Man, Norman Kerry).

Now any basic training situation requires the services of a skilled, veteran Drill Instructor, a Sergeant long in the tooth, with the whiskers. Our new Platoon didn't just get any Sergeant; but their Sgt. Ames (Joe Sawyer) was an actor who seemingly made a living out of portraying these 3 Striped Non-Coms.

As a counterbalance to Ames' hard-guy Regular Army background and demeanor, we needed a meek, cerebral type. This would be a natural; fire vs. water, light & dark, Politics & Common Sense! So in among the new batch of G.I.'s, we have a former clerk with a photographic memory, Dorian Doubleday (William Tracey). 'Do-Do' Doubleday's academic skills and memory bring him nearly overnight Sergeants' Chevrons; which of course aggravated the hell out of Ames, the career man.

The stage was set and the rest of the movie plays out sort of like a Road Runner/Coyote cartoon. The next gag would no sooner hit the screen with Doubleday in the middle, we'd get reaction from the Captain, Major or Colonel and Ames would do his slow burn while 'Do-Do' manages to turn all around to his advantage.

A Lion's share of the film is devoted to sight gags, reactions, reactions to reactions and a lot of slow & fast burns and a full measure of grown men nearly crying. Much of the action plays like one of those old Silent Screen 2 Reel Comedy Shorts that Roach Studios was so famous for producing; and this is not at all a bad thing. Some prolonged scenes of physical comedy and sight gags would only have been hindered by the inclusion of any dialogue.

It must have been apparent very early on that the Doubleday & Ames combo had struck gold, caught lightening in a bottle and hit pay dirt! We suspect that the notion of doing any sequel or indeed a series would have been very 'iffy' and require evaluating TANKS A MILLION every which way. It's obvious now that they deserved a series and they did go that route. Sadly there were only Seven (7) Doubleday & Ames movies made; starting with five set in the World War II era, one back in Civilian Life and the last one being set in the Korean War in 1952.

We aren't saying that the Roach Company had to pump them out, one every 3 months as Monogram would later with their BOWERY BOYS series; but, if there had been a dozen or so movies made during the 11 year stretch, that surely wouldn't have been too many. We should be happy we have what there is from then, to now and for always.

NOTE: * The Major was given no name in the story, ergo he was 'The Man with No Name', hence the smart alecky 'Eastwood'! (Get it, Schultz!) POODLE SCHNITZ!!

A train station information clerk (Tracy) who reads all the time and has a photographic memory is drafted into the army and sent to the dusty Camp Carver. Because he knows virtually all of the regulations and procedures, he is quickly promoted to Sergeant and is put in charge of the men he was drafted with. A sincere, well-meaning know it all, he irritates all those around him including his previous drill Sergeant Ames (Sawyer), who tries to get Tracy's character Dodo Doubleday in trouble but always fails in doing so. Doubleday gives a rousing speech nationally broadcast on radio, and because he is in the uniform of the camp's Commanding Officer (played by Gleason), all assume that it is actually the CO. The speech was such a success that Doubleday now has the CO's full support (much to Sergeant Ames' chagrin). Yes; the plot is as ridiculous as it sounds. The movie is, however very entertaining and so silly, it's fun. It was particularly nice to see so many favorite character actors, especially James Gleason. I had never heard of William Tracy but he did have a certain flair. This little movie is better than most sitcom episodes shown on television today.

This film essentially begins with a young man by the name of "Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday" (William Tracy) being drafted by the United States Army and reporting for duty at his basic training site with several other fellow draftees not long afterward. It is then revealed that Private Doubleday has a photographic memory and, as a result, knows the Army regulations better than anyone. This includes the non-commissioned officer named "Sergeant Williams Ames" (Joe Sawyer) who has been tasked to train the new soldiers. Needless to say, this embarrasses Sergeant Ames who immediately decides to put him in his place. Unfortunately for Sergeant Ames, however, the officers appointed over him are quite impressed with Private Doubleday--so much so that they immediately send the young private to a non-commissioned officer course a few buildings away. To everyone's surprise, when he returns a short time later, he is now wearing the rank of First Sergeant. Absolutely enraged by this, Sergeant Ames begins to do everything he can think of to humiliate the young man. The problem, however, is that everything he tries backfires in a spectacular manner. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film turned out much better than I initially expected due in large part to the unique solutions Dorian Doubleday used to extricate himself from one highly unlikely situation after another. Everything was totally absurd--but quite humorous at the same time. And although this is a rather short comedy, I still found it to be quite enjoyable, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Tanks a Million (1941)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Hal Roach comedy has William Tracy playing a new Army recruit with a photogenic memory, which drives everyone around him crazy. It really drives Sgt. Ames (Joe Sawyer) crazy because Tracy is soon bumped up to Sgt., which took Ames twenty years to reach. This is a pretty far fetched but mildly entertaining product piece of WW2. There are several laughs throughout but nothing big enough to make me go back and watch the film. Sawyer steals the show as the jealous Sgt. and Tracy manages a few laughs as the dorky brain. The film runs fifty-minutes and that's short enough for what's going on. Any longer would have made the film a real drag. This film received an Oscar nomination for Best Scoring of a Dramatic (!?!?!) Film.