Buck Benny Rides Again

This is one of the best of the Jack Benny vehicles, based on his very popular radio character Buck Benny, itself a fond satire of the Lone Ranger. No pretensions here, no classy "schtick," just good escapist box office gold. The pace seems slow by modern standards, and I missed Cactus Face too. (OTR fans will know who Cactus Face is!). Enjoy.

Buck Benny Rides Again is a treat from the main title and credits announced by an on-screen Don Wilson to the great banter between Benny, Rochester, Andy Devine and of course, Phil Harris. Given ample showcase are the many talents of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as not only a top notch comedian, but a talented dancer.

The supporting females are all lovely, and of course, despite his many faults, Jack Benny winds up with Ellen Drew in the end!

It is said that Jack appeared with Rochester in a theatre in Harlem when Buck Benny Rides Again premiered...Jack stood by Rochester for years and ignored the color barrier of the 30s, 40s and 50s in show business.

Made the same year is "Love Thy Neighbor" which featured Jack's feud with Fred Allen...they were actually released fairly close together--capitalizing on the height of Jack's popularity just before the war.

Audiences today are subjected to types of humor quite different from that of the mid-20th century. So, younger movie buffs may not enjoy this film that much. But, for anyone who heard or watched the Jack Benny show on radio/TV, "Buck Benny Rides Again" will bring back fond memories.

This isn't a great comedy, but it is a good one. Mostly it's a showcase for Benny and many of the characters who peopled his radio and TV shows. And that makes it nostalgic and special in an historical sense. The story is so-so, and the scripting and plot tend to bounce around. But the characters are mostly here with their oft hilarious interplay.

An extra bonus is a very well choreographed musical dance with performers dressed in Indian costumes. There are a few songs as well. Some humor of course, is ageless. Such a line that I enjoyed here is uttered by Benny as himself. "Rochester, there's an old Chinese proverb that says, 'When butler butt in on boss, better have other job up sleeve.' Jack walks away and then says, "Catch on?"

What makes this film unique is it is one of only two that contained characters from the Benny Radio shows, bandleader Phil Harris, Eddie Rochester Anderson, Dennis Day, and voice cameos with Mary Livingstone and Fred Allen. The plot is a spoof of the radio Westerns of the day. If you are not familiar with Benny's career and the old radio shows you may miss much of the humor in this film. But it is still a fine film if you can find it. I was lucky to find it on Ebay as it is unavailable anywhere else. Ellen Drew is perfectly cast as the Dame who is the object of Benny's facination. Eddie Rochester Anderson sings MY, MY, in the film which became a huge international hit at the time. Benny's next film after this one was " Love Thy Neighbor " opposite Fred Allen, you must have both these films in your collection.

This film was made during the pre-TV era. Hollywood B films filled the theaters every few days with quickly-made comedies and action films that took the place of the eventual sitcoms and action shows that would begin in the 1950s on television. This film is an example. Benny would eventually have his own successful TV show (after several successful years on radio). This is merely an extended skit set in the West. But it is still more entertaining than most modern comedies. The cast of the Jack Benny Show joins him in his adventures.