Private Buckaroo

This is one of those movies which usually gets dismissed as ephemeral junk (look at the ratings in all those "Movies for TV" type books). But so far this year I have seen it twice, and have enjoyed it immensely both times round. This is certainly not due to the plot, which is your standard guy joins armed forces..guy has attitude problem...guy learns the error of his ways type plot which seemed to be recycled endlessly by Universal at around this time in their Abbott and Costello pictures. Fortunately the plot doesn't intrude too much into this movie, and in fact apart from its patriotic fervor, which is understandable in the context of the time, one of the joys of this picture is that it doesn't take itself in the slightest bit seriously.

What this picture does have going for it is a great cast, and a veteran comedy director. While the cast may not be big name stars, for anyone out there familiar with the entertainment world of this period, almost everyone in it has a recognizable persona. It also has some great music, and some really off the wall humour. The opening sequence with Shemp Howard and Mary Wickes is an absolute delight, and the surreal nature of the humour continues throughout (especially the bit with Ernest Treux), even into the musical numbers. The Andrews Sister's "apple tree" effort has to be one of the most bizarre (and entertaining) musical numbers I've ever seen. Finally, watching this picture reminded me of what a personable performer, and of what an under-appreciated singer Dick Foran was. I give it 8 out of 10. No accounting for taste, is there?

What this Universal production lacks in production values, it more than makes up for with sheer pizazz. Those Jivin' Jacks and Jills left me gasping for breath. There's enough sheer energy in their acrobatics to light up a city for a week. And don't forget the Andrews Sisters who do some pretty fancy steppin' themselves. In fact, this is a showcase for the threesome, topped off by a signature version of "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree". Plus trumpeter James gets a lot of time with his band and even makes fun of himself with an army trumpet, (was that really Huntz Hall of the Bowery Boys holding James's sheet music and playing it straight for maybe the only time in his clownish career).

Speaking of comedy acts, short homely Shemp Howard gets a featured role along with long tall Mary Wickes. Their little routines together are gems, especially the nightclub table between swinging doors. Add Joe E. Brown as Howard's rival and there's more mugging than you can count. Hard to believe that director Cline puts all these lively elements together in a single, smooth 68-minute package.

Also, you can tell this was early in the war since the patriotic touches are in abundance, and everyone is eager to do his or her part, even slacker Dick Foran who finally comes around. A snappy dynamo like this musical should have been sent to the Axis in Tokyo and Berlin. Then they would have known there was no hope of winning a war against the sheer pep and energy of the American homefront. Anyhow, count this one as a genuine sleeper amongst low- budget, hep-cat musicals.

At just over an hour, this film does not exceed its welcome, despite the acquired taste of the Andrews Sisters. Patti, Laverne and Maxene were perky and certainly had good voices, but their screen personalities are either OTT (Patti) or dull (the others). To carry a film, it just doesn't work.

Elsewhere there's Harry James and his Music Makers; Harry gets drafted and the band go with him (even the one with a flat foot), and that's about all the plot is.

There's a funny restaurant sketch, and some nice songs and music, and the film passes the time without making the viewer cringe. It is a typical flagwaver, a patriotic morale-booster.

Oh, and it has a 16-year old Donald O'Connor, showing a flash of promise of what would come later, along with Peggy Ryan.

This really doesn't try to amount to much but a World War II entertainment vehicle. The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Huntz Hall, and Shemp from the Three Stooges (Yes!) all are here, the main story is about a singer wanting to get into combat service but can't because of flat feet, and there's some other minor needer-natters going on too, but there's nothing earth-shattering divulged here. No, you'll be getting a dozen or so songs, most of them heavily patriotic, most of them hardly known today (I actually recognized Rinky-Dinky-Parlez-Vous only because I've heard it recently). This movie IS fun, actually. The Andrews Sisters know how to entertain (watch them!) and are supported nicely by a wide range of entertainers. Foran is a great trumpeter, and Shemp does his whole Three Stooges routine without a Curly or Moe around. A little gem.

The cardboard comedy and the pencilled-in plot scarcely have a moment to bore you before the next musical number comes along. Some numbers are better than others-- unfortunately, the title song has not aged well-- but the Andrews Sisters make the movie worthwhile. And Harry James reminds us that he wasn't *only* Betty Grable's husband...