Le tire au flanc du régiment

Although based upon a book by William Camp, this Albert Broccoli-produced service comedy seems to trail on the tail-end of the real-life Elvis Presley induction story. There's confusion within the British Army when a pop singing star is called upon for service, creating havoc within the ranks; seems the idol's managers don't want their client's fame to fade, smuggling him out of the barracks at different intervals to perform or record new songs. This must be the most relaxed Army Regiment on film! William Bendix gives the best performance as a blow hard sergeant with a soft spot, but Anthony Newley is improbably cast in the leading role. Newley's cabaret mannerisms were just starting to form at this time, and though he performs his song numbers smoothly, he isn't the dynamic powerhouse of Elvis (nor, indeed, any of Elvis' general competition of this era). Newley is actually the antithesis of rock 'n roll, however he does handle the comedy routines with charm and there are some amusing bits and pieces. ** from ****

From what I can tell, this film is barely known at all in the USA, where the title is spelled IDOL on Parade. I just caught it on AMC, having been intrigued by the pairing of Anthony Newley with American character actor William Bendix (who uses an Irish accent in his role as a drill sergeant).

IDLE ON PARADE was released a year BEFORE "Bye Bye Birdie" hit Broadway, and starts with the same basic premise: a teenage pop idol gets drafted. "Birdie" focuses on what happens BEFORE the idol's enlistment, while "Idle" is about his experiences in the service. The fairly predictable plot surrounds Newley with stereotyped military characters, and a love interest (a girl who is of course the daughter of the C.O.). Conflicts arise when his agent (James) tries to spring him out of camp to fulfil singing commitments. One such gig ends up in a brawl; probably the funniest scene in the picture.

Newley was too old for this role; he looks and sounds like a lounge singer rather than a teen heartthrob (remember: the Beatles were already together when this film was made). But he has charisma and good chemistry with the rest of the cast. The songs are hokey Brit attempts to mimic rockabilly music, but when the lyrics parody military life, they're funny enough. What makes IDLE really click is the supporting cast, including Bendix, hatchet-faced Lionel Jeffries, and comic stand-bys Sid James and Dilys Laye. There are many funnier military spoofs, and many better musicals, but IDLE ON PARADE is a pleasant enough diversion to keep you from going AWOL.

This movie was intended as a spoof of Elvis' entry to the army with Newley playing an "idol" called Jeep Jackson. The great British public took the film seriously however and overnight Anthony Newley, former child actor became a fully fledged adult actor/pop singer. The film is a delightful comedy in the same vein as Carry On Sergeant with the added bonus of four musical numbers performed by Newley. Look out for many star faces who later had very successful careers of their own - Sid James, Bernie Winters and Harry Fowler! Pure nostalgia enjoy! Posted by Paul Goodhead - President of the Anthony Newley Appreciation Society.

Poor Elvis Presley. Had he realized he could have done his military obligation and not have to put a career on hold, he might very well have become a British subject.

Elvis's being drafted into the army was world wide news back in the day and the British sought to take advantage of it with this film, Idol On Parade. It casts Anthony Newley as a young British rock and roller who has to do his national service and even being a teen idol won't get him out of it.

His status causes no end of grief to Captain Lionel Jeffries and the drill sergeant William Bendix. Around this time Bendix went over across the pond and made a few features for the British film industry. He mastered an Irish accent quite well for the part. I wouldn't have thought anyone as American urban as Bill Bendix could have carried it off, but he did.

The interesting thing I found was that I had just finished reading Tommy Steele's memoirs, Bermondsey Boy, where Steele goes into some detail about his national service. He eschewed military service for the sea, serving as a steward on one of her Majesty's ocean liners. Actually some of what Tommy had to say would make an interesting film.

Newley fits the role well as a teen idol and the lovely Anne Aubrey who is Jeffries's daughter in the film is his romantic interest. That's part, but only part of the story of Idol On Parade.

The whole genre of films concerning national service reached their zenith with films such as 'Carry on Sergeant' - a genuinely funny attempt to portray army life for the new unwilling recruits - and then there was the long running TV series, 'The Army Game.' However, by the time 'Idol on Parade' came along, this vein of humour was already drying up! Watching it seemed like hard work, with the usual painful jokes about new raw army conscripts and their relationships with the stereotypical noisy, bullying sergeant, played by the burly American actor William Bendix, who for the sake of authenticity plays the part as an Irishman, but his accent and bluster doesn't really convince. Just for good measure you had the 'silly arse' posh, chinless wonder officer played by Lionel Jeffries, whose efforts to be permanently exasperated become tiresome and an irritant. The other problem is the age of the actors. David Lodge looks middle aged as does Bendix. As for the star of the film, Anthony Newley, he looks far from being being a fresh faced young man in his late teens and more like someone in his early 30's. The songs are only 'so so' with Newley looking like a crooner rather than an edgy and rebellious rock idol who will ignite the passions of teenage pop fans. The film tries too hard to be funny and the scenes are too contrived. The ending of national service a few years later mercifully marked the end of this genre of film.