Leave It to the Marines

Sid Melton was a burlesque-style comic and appeared in tons of low-budget films in the 1950s--most of which weren't very good. However, he gained some fame on television--particularly on "The Danny Thomas Show" and "Green Acres" (where he played 'Alf Monroe'). When I saw the DVD for a Gasoline Alley film had two bonus films starring Melton, I was less than thrilled in light of his other films I've seen over the last few years.

This film begins with Sid going in to the marriage license bureau. However, he makes a mistake and enters a Marine recruiting office and accidentally ends up joining the Corps. What follows is a pretty standard 'idiot joins the service and somehow makes good' plot. I say standard because LOTS of films have been made with this theme such as "Buck Privates", "Jumping Jacks", "Caught in the Draft" and "Tanks a Million"....just to name a few. And, since all the films I just mentioned are MUCH better (mainly because they are comedies that are funny), I see no reason for anyone to look for "Leave it to the Marines" unless they are members of the Sid Melton Fan Club. Now I am not saying it's a terrible film...just not all that good a movie.

Sid Melton and Mara Lynn want to get married. He goes to the license bureau, but takes a wrong turn and enlists in the Marines.

There are some good physical gags in this service comedy, but under the direction of Sam Newfield, it lacks energy. Melton, while a decent performer, with his lugubrious attitude, demonstrates his failings as a lead comic. While a decent second banana, he lacks the charisma needed to carry a movie. Miss Lynn gets a decent comic dance number with Greg Martell, but the supporting cast don't do much to strengthen this.

It is good to take a look at a good print of a movies which has Jack Greenhalgh as the director of photography. Too many of his movies have their images obscured by poor prints.