Customer Reviews

Abbott & Costello: Buck Privates Come Home [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The ONLY SEQUEL to an A&C film and one of their BEST. The boys return from the war in Europe after having ACCIDENTLY enlisted in the Army in the first film. (One wonders how Abbott & Costello could have POSSIBILY taking part in WW II and having the Allies still win). The film begins with the classic "DRILL ROUTINE" from 'BUCK PRIVATES'. On the ship carrying the boys home, Lou tries to smuggle in a French war orphan named Evie. The ONLY way the comedy team can keep the girl is to get REAL JOBS, REAL MONEY, and a REAL WIFE. The boys gather together their old pals from their platoon and convince them to put up the money for Evie's "AUNT SYLVIA'S" fiance's midget car who is sure will win the big race. This investment pits "SLICKER & HERBIE" against their old nemesis "SGT. COLLINS" (The policeman who tried to arrest them in the first film for selling neckties without a license and who later became their Army sergeant.) The climatic chase seen is one of the highlights of this VERY FUNNY,HILARIOUS sequel to "BUCK PRIVATES" [NOTE: Shortly after the release of this film, Abbott & Costello were reunited with the SAME WRITERS and the SAME DIRECTOR, for what will be the BEST HORROR COMEDY ever filmed - " ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN"]

A&C Buck Privates Come Home, 1947 film

The story begins with the US Army marching in Paris through the Arch of Triumph (built by Napoleon). The film repeats scenes from "Buck Privates" (worth watching again). Next a song. Private Brown marches on. The returning troops will be checked for illegal souvenirs (probably automatic weapons). "What have you got in that bag?" A special souvenir! "I did." The captain overhears a partial conversation and jumps to a conclusion. The boys set up a table for the party. Things go wrong. "Nobody can teach him anything." Little Evey also leaves. We see a salesman in the street selling ties. "Oh no!" Evey to the rescue. [Would these scenes be possible today?] Can the boys adopt Evey? Will Aunt Sylvia help? Her friend races midgets (cars are a lower cost version), but needs funds for this business. Can the boys help out?

The comic scenes continue. [Do some of the skits remind you of the "Three Stooges"?] Herbie builds a hammock. A tug of war on a clothesline provides more comic scenes, then a surprise meeting. "Keep your trap shut!" [Do these scenes suggest some Mack Sennett comedy?] The housing shortage is referenced. "I can't drive." The boys try to get a bank loan. That toy car makes a lot of noise, will it be misinterpreted? Can their army buddies raise the money? Will their location be given to the police? Collins meets the Captain again. The boys go to the garage to retrieve the race car. Will something go wrong? More comedy in the garage. Bill Gregory's car wins the race. The police create a new complication. But Herbie escapes with the midget racer and there is a wild chase [like some old silent movie]. "Are you alright?" Will there be a happy ending for Evey now? Will they find a new job for Herbie and Slick? "Oh, no!" The last scene echoes one of the first scenes.

This movie is not as funny as some of the others. I think some of the comic skits were copied from silent comedies. [Political considerations?] You can see references to life in 1947, a time of economic turmoil. The story about a European orphan has implications. It also shows the new sport of midget car racing (which died out to be replaced by stock car racing).

WORTH THE MONEY
WHO DINT LOVE THIS SHOW , THIS SHOW WAS GREAT
I LOVE THIS VHS, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

BUCK PRIVATES COME HOME
Universal-International Pictures
Release Date: March 1947
Runtime: 77 minutes

Director:
Charles Barton

Producer:
Robert Arthur

Writing Credits:
Richard Macaulay
Bradford Ropes
John Grant
Frederic I. Rinaldo
Robert Lees

Cast:

Bud Abbott....Slicker Smith
Lou Costello....Herbie Brown
Nat Pendleton...Sergeant Collins
Beverly Simmons....Yvonne 'Evie' LeBrec
Tom Brown.....Bill Gregory
Joan Shawlee....Sylvia Hunter
Don Porter....Captain Christie
Don Beddoe....Mr. Roberts
Russell Hicks....William Appleboy
John Sheehan.....Mr. Drew, Immigration Offical
Jean Del Val....M. Duprez, French Consul
Joe Kirk.....Real Estate Salesman
Charles Trowbridge....J.P. Quince
Eddie Dunn....Mulroney
Knox Manning....Introductory Narrator
Milburn Stone....Auto Race Annnouncer

Music by:
Walter Schumann

Cinematography by:
Charles Van Enger

Film Editig by:
Edward Curtiss

Art Direction:
Bernard Herzbrun
Frank A. Richards

Set Decoration:
Russell A. Gausman
Charles Wyrick

Costume Design by:
Yvonne Woods

Assistant Director
Joseph E. Kenny

Sound Department:
Charles Felstead
Robert Pritchard

Other Crew:
David S. Horsley....special photographic effects
David Tamkin....orchestrator

Plot Summary:

Slicker and Herbie are getting out of the Army, but not without a souvenir. Herbie brings home a little French girl named "Evie". But the Army finds Evie and seeks to have her sent back to France. Meanwhile, the boys are back to their neck tie business and running from their old drill sergeant. Evie escapes the officials and finds Herbie and Slicker. With the help of Sylvia, her fiancee Bill Gregory, and their old Army pals, the boys find themselves in the midget car racing business to raise enough money to adopt Evie.

ROUTINES & HILARIOUS MOMENTS:
Teeter-tottering table
Lou in clothesline hammock
Lou racing midget race car

Trivia (from imdb.com): The final chase sequence re-uses footage from 'NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK' (1941).

Buck Privates was very good but i think you will find this movie even better because its faster paced, good action, plenty of funny moments, and i believe it has better direction. I highly recommend this one. This is another Abbott and Costello film well worth watching. Not all of thier films are great but this one is so just enjoy it.

..good sequel /top of film is padded with original buck privates//segments of the film are too serious//costello is not as innocent /right//left sequence is funny//midget race car sequence is excellent.

..good sequel to buck privates//a little too serious//costello has lost his innocence//let /right sequence is funny//midget race car sequence is funny

Another rare case of a sequel topping the original. There is some effective sentiment to go along with the clowning. Along with 'The Time of Their Lives' and 'Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein', this one ranks as one of the boys' best.