Buck Privates

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Buck Privates

Released Jan 31, 1941

1h 24m

Comedy

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4 Reviews

75%

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2,500+ Ratings

When two sidewalk salesmen, Slicker Smith (Bud Abbott) and Herbie Brown (Lou Costello), duck into a theater to avoid being busted by the cops, they never expect it will lead to their enlisting in the army. It turns out the theater is now an Army Recruitment Center. But these former peddlers are not the only fish out of water. Wealthy Randolph Parker III (Lee Bowman) joins as well, though he seems more focused on hostess Judy Gray (Jane Frazee) than on his responsibilities.

Pare Lorentz

McCall's

Shoddy stuff.

Dec 27, 2023

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Zany, near surrealistic humor and good musical numbers make pleasant entertainment.

Nov 28, 2015

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

This funny comedy, one of the most popular pictures of 1941, established Abbott and Costello as commercial comedic duo for a decade.

Rated: B+

Aug 23, 2012

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Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

More an assembly of funny sketches, Buck Privates still plays very funny without much of a story behind it.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 18, 2012

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Steve D

Passable entertainment only.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

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Audience Member

The best comedy movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

After One night in the tropics, Universal decided to make the wise choise of making Abbott and Costello the leads, and it was a great choice. In many ways this film is superior to its predecessor. It has more jokes, a better plot and music from the Andrew Sisters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Abbott & Costello's first starring vehicle is full of lowbrow humor and a simpy love subplot, but it was a box-office smash in 1941; The Andrews Sisters sing the songs "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" and "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time," among others.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

a B pic that doesn't feel like a B movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Another great Abbot and Costello, though I didn't care for the singing, the filler, or the story, but I still enjoyed the comedy sketches.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Arthur Lubin

Director

Bud Abbott

Slicker Smith

Lou Costello

Herbie Brown

The Andrews Sisters

Themselves

Lee Bowman

Randolph Parker III

Alan Curtis

Bob Martin

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Synopsis

When two sidewalk salesmen, Slicker Smith (Bud Abbott) and Herbie Brown (Lou Costello), duck into a theater to avoid being busted by the cops, they never expect it will lead to their enlisting in the army. It turns out the theater is now an Army Recruitment Center. But these former peddlers are not the only fish out of water. Wealthy Randolph Parker III (Lee Bowman) joins as well, though he seems more focused on hostess Judy Gray (Jane Frazee) than on his responsibilities.

Director: Arthur Lubin
Producer: Alex Gottlieb
Screenwriter: Arthur T. Horman
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 31, 1941, Original
Release Date (DVD): Feb 10, 2004
Runtime: 1h 24m