I like Abbott & Costello enough to have purchased the first 2 A&C collections (16 flicks) plus A&C Meets Frankenstein, but it wasn't until this film that I am coming to realize that one aspect of their humor seriously disturbs me.
Okay, we know the shtick is Costello being the dummy who is constantly exploited by Abbott's straight man, but this film should really open up the question of what masochist would ever want Bud Abbott as a friend.
Emblematic of Abbott's horrendous behavior is a night-time barracks scene where Abbott goads Costello into behavior with a radio that causes Costello to take physical abuse from the sergeant. Sorry, to me it was not funny, but sadistic and abusive. It wasn't good-natured at all. And it made me think that if somebody did something similar to another alleged friend in real life, remaining friends would reveal a true weakness of self-image from the one being victimized.
One of the messages in this movie is that bullies like Bud Abbott and the sergeant do not face any consequences for their meanness. That's a disturbing message.
Additionally, war here is treated like one giant game, without any deference given to the real-life consequences of battle.
My father fought in World War 2 and it was a battle America was right to participate in. But this film was like a giant ad for the virtue of machismo, without any sobering reality to counter the stereotyping that is done throughout.
Thankfully, some great tunes by the Andrews Sisters redeemed the film, but I still find some of the messages to be perverse. Especially the one about how alleged friends can treat one another so shabbily and maintain their credibility as friends.
Okay, we know the shtick is Costello being the dummy who is constantly exploited by Abbott's straight man, but this film should really open up the question of what masochist would ever want Bud Abbott as a friend.
Emblematic of Abbott's horrendous behavior is a night-time barracks scene where Abbott goads Costello into behavior with a radio that causes Costello to take physical abuse from the sergeant. Sorry, to me it was not funny, but sadistic and abusive. It wasn't good-natured at all. And it made me think that if somebody did something similar to another alleged friend in real life, remaining friends would reveal a true weakness of self-image from the one being victimized.
One of the messages in this movie is that bullies like Bud Abbott and the sergeant do not face any consequences for their meanness. That's a disturbing message.
Additionally, war here is treated like one giant game, without any deference given to the real-life consequences of battle.
My father fought in World War 2 and it was a battle America was right to participate in. But this film was like a giant ad for the virtue of machismo, without any sobering reality to counter the stereotyping that is done throughout.
Thankfully, some great tunes by the Andrews Sisters redeemed the film, but I still find some of the messages to be perverse. Especially the one about how alleged friends can treat one another so shabbily and maintain their credibility as friends.