The comedy team of Abbott and Costello became leading stars with their second feature, doing early on what pretty much every comic would do: end up in the military and turn everything upside down. This is one of the best of those formulatic plots, filled with hood natured comedy, some action, and of course, the Andrews Sisters!
It starts accidentally for the duo who are trying to hide from police officer Nat Pendleton when they duck into a movie theater and end up signing for active duty instead where they end up in the troop commanded by Sgt. You- Know-Who. America wasn't yet in the war, but it was obvious considering everything that was going on over in Europe and the Pacific that it was only a matter of time.
Abbott and Costello's comedy surrounded an alleged friendship that was pretty one sided. As much trouble that Bud gets Lou into, it remains very funny, especially when Bud gets Lou into trouble over playing a radio in the barracks after lights out. The Andrews sisters get to sing four songs, including the lively "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and the poignant "Apple Blossom Time". If I were to go off to war and not know if I was coming back or not, I'd want to be leaving Grand Central Station with the Andrews Sisters singing " You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith".
A subplot involving wealthy Lee Bowman not taking his enlistment seriously and preferring to flirt with hostess Jane Frazee thanks to his coddling by society matron mother Nella Walker is a minor distraction from the antics of the comedy duo and the sister's songs. However, it doesn't dilute the more memorable comedy sequences, which includes a cameo by Shemp Howard as a crabby chef.
It starts accidentally for the duo who are trying to hide from police officer Nat Pendleton when they duck into a movie theater and end up signing for active duty instead where they end up in the troop commanded by Sgt. You- Know-Who. America wasn't yet in the war, but it was obvious considering everything that was going on over in Europe and the Pacific that it was only a matter of time.
Abbott and Costello's comedy surrounded an alleged friendship that was pretty one sided. As much trouble that Bud gets Lou into, it remains very funny, especially when Bud gets Lou into trouble over playing a radio in the barracks after lights out. The Andrews sisters get to sing four songs, including the lively "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and the poignant "Apple Blossom Time". If I were to go off to war and not know if I was coming back or not, I'd want to be leaving Grand Central Station with the Andrews Sisters singing " You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith".
A subplot involving wealthy Lee Bowman not taking his enlistment seriously and preferring to flirt with hostess Jane Frazee thanks to his coddling by society matron mother Nella Walker is a minor distraction from the antics of the comedy duo and the sister's songs. However, it doesn't dilute the more memorable comedy sequences, which includes a cameo by Shemp Howard as a crabby chef.