User Reviews

Private Buckaroo, a high-energy, patriotic movie from 1942, has two uses now. The first is to show us the optimism of our elders as they readied themselves to support the troops fighting in WWII. Sure, the jokes are corny, but the musical numbers crank up the confidence with everything from "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" to "Six Jerks in a Jeep." It's not a bad idea to now and then remind ourselves of what an older generation of Americans were facing.

The second use of the movie is to provide fodder for all those graduate students eager for an easy doctorate in "American Popular Culture," a phenomenon that proves, if the money is right, that American universities will offer degrees in just about anything.

The barest of plots has Harry James being drafted. Naturally, his whole orchestra signs up, too, including Lon Prentice (Dick Foran), his singer who has an attitude adjustment problem. We see the high-jinks of training, a romantic encounter that will serve to straighten Prentice out, and a big show just before the boys ship overseas. All this is just a clothesline to pin on at least 13 musical numbers, and The Andrews Sisters and Harry James do most of them. The comedy intermissions are several. To give you an idea of what Universal's writers were capable of, the three-way romantic laugh relief involves Bonnie-Belle Schlopkiss (a tall and emphatic Mary Wickes), Sergeant Muggsy Sharell (Shemp Howard, who was earlier and later became again one of the Three Stooges) and Lancelot Pringle McBiff (an odd incarnation of stand up comic Joe E. Lewis). Personally, I enjoyed most Huntz Hall as a corporal trying to teach James how to play reveille.

Although some people today can pass by The Andrews Sisters because of their style, particularly Patty Andrews' mugging, the three were expert at close harmony. They have six numbers; all are skillfully delivered with a great deal of verve. As far as Harry James goes, I can't think of a better way to open a movie than James and Helen Forrest giving us the full treatment of "You Made Me Love You." And in one showstopper we have The Jivin' Jacks and Jills, a group of dancing teen-agers formed by Universal to showcase the studio's young talent. The ten kids tap and leap all over the stage to "Apple Tree." The fact that the story line is almost non-existent and that romantic lead Dick Foran, who sounds a bit like a cross between Nelson Eddy and Dennis Morgan, has the personality of a cardboard box really doesn't matter at all.

Doctoral candidates, start writing your dissertation on "The Underlying Significance of B Movies on the Cultural Development of American Civilization During the Formative Years of World War Two, With an Emphasis on the Influence of Teen-Age Tap Dancers on the Defeat of the Axis."

At just over an hour, this film does not exceed its welcome, despite the acquired taste of the Andrews Sisters. Patti, Laverne and Maxene were perky and certainly had good voices, but their screen personalities are either OTT (Patti) or dull (the others). To carry a film, it just doesn't work.

Elsewhere there's Harry James and his Music Makers; Harry gets drafted and the band go with him (even the one with a flat foot), and that's about all the plot is.

There's a funny restaurant sketch, and some nice songs and music, and the film passes the time without making the viewer cringe. It is a typical flagwaver, a patriotic morale-booster.

Oh, and it has a 16-year old Donald O'Connor, showing a flash of promise of what would come later, along with Peggy Ryan.

What this Universal production lacks in production values, it more than makes up for with sheer pizazz. Those Jivin' Jacks and Jills left me gasping for breath. There's enough sheer energy in their acrobatics to light up a city for a week. And don't forget the Andrews Sisters who do some pretty fancy steppin' themselves. In fact, this is a showcase for the threesome, topped off by a signature version of "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree". Plus trumpeter James gets a lot of time with his band and even makes fun of himself with an army trumpet, (was that really Huntz Hall of the Bowery Boys holding James's sheet music and playing it straight for maybe the only time in his clownish career).

Speaking of comedy acts, short homely Shemp Howard gets a featured role along with long tall Mary Wickes. Their little routines together are gems, especially the nightclub table between swinging doors. Add Joe E. Brown as Howard's rival and there's more mugging than you can count. Hard to believe that director Cline puts all these lively elements together in a single, smooth 68-minute package.

Also, you can tell this was early in the war since the patriotic touches are in abundance, and everyone is eager to do his or her part, even slacker Dick Foran who finally comes around. A snappy dynamo like this musical should have been sent to the Axis in Tokyo and Berlin. Then they would have known there was no hope of winning a war against the sheer pep and energy of the American homefront. Anyhow, count this one as a genuine sleeper amongst low- budget, hep-cat musicals.

This really doesn't try to amount to much but a World War II entertainment vehicle. The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Huntz Hall, and Shemp from the Three Stooges (Yes!) all are here, the main story is about a singer wanting to get into combat service but can't because of flat feet, and there's some other minor needer-natters going on too, but there's nothing earth-shattering divulged here. No, you'll be getting a dozen or so songs, most of them heavily patriotic, most of them hardly known today (I actually recognized Rinky-Dinky-Parlez-Vous only because I've heard it recently). This movie IS fun, actually. The Andrews Sisters know how to entertain (watch them!) and are supported nicely by a wide range of entertainers. Foran is a great trumpeter, and Shemp does his whole Three Stooges routine without a Curly or Moe around. A little gem.

Dick Foran was one of the most under-rated of the Hollywood players. He was one of the best singers, was a darn good actor, was even a good cowboy, which to me is the apex of movie performing.

He didn't always get roles worthy of his talent. This is an example.

He plays a character that was so often done and over-done, the guy who gets into the military but doesn't want to follow orders. In fact, this one was desperate to join, even had surgery to be able to do so, then he doesn't want to follow the rules? Doesn't really make sense.

As usual, some girl gets the guy to change -- and since the girl this time is Jennifer Holt, well, his transformation is completely understandable.

So, forget the story, such as it is. Instead, concentrate on the music, with the magnificent Harry James being a focal point, along with the Foran character, who has a really beautiful voice.

Listed first in the cast are those wonderful Andrews Sisters. Helen Forrest also sings but doesn't get much credit, and she deserves all she can get.

Shemp Howard has a major role, mostly silly, I'm sorry to say. Donald O'Connor appears briefly, Joe E. Lewis too often, the adorable Mary Wickes not enough, and some truly marvelous other performers sing and dance their hearts out, all for the cause, apparently, of signing up some more cannon fodder.

Frankly, early on I was tempted to stop the movie and go on to something else, but I am really glad I stayed to the end: It just got better and better when the big show was presented, with all the singers and dancers performing. It made up for all the preceding silliness and irrelevant bits. I recommend "Private Buckaroo" to connoisseurs of Hollywood music, because you will see some of the best here.

This is like a Abbott & Costello movie without Abbott & Costello. It's a service comedy only a year removed from "Buck Privates", and features the Andrews Sisters who co-starred with A&C in "Buck Privates", "In the Navy" and "Hold That Ghost". The male lead is Dick Foran, who co-starred in "In the navy", "Ride 'Em Cowboy" and "Keep 'Em Flying". Mark Wickes had a memorable role with Costello in "Hold That Ghost". Shemp Howard played supporting comic lead in a number of A&C pictures including "Who Done It?", "Africa Screams", "In the Navy", "Ride 'em Cowboy" and more, while Jennifer Holt can be seen in "pardon My Sarong" and Peggy Ryan in "Here Come the Co-eds". All that aside, this is a entertaining and fun film to watch. You just have the feeling somebody cut out all of Bud and Lou's scenes!

When Harry James is drafted, the rest of the band joins up in this sweet little Universal musical programmer. It's about half specialty numbers, and half minor plots, with singer Dick Foran thinking he shouldn't have to drill, and Harry James being baffled by having to play a bugle instead of a trumpet. Shemp Howard feuds with Joe E. Lewis over Mary Wickes, and so forth.

There are a lot of songs in this one, but the big production number is the Andrews sisters singing "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", which breaks into a nicely shot jitterbug dance number, while James and his band mutate the theme from swing to klezmer and back again. Some great acrobatic dancing by a young troupe of dancers; Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan are in the movie, but they don't dance.

Brief, light rousing, unpretentious and just the sort of programmer to play on a double bill with THE BUZZARD OF BERLIN.

Private Buckaroo is one of those wartime musicals set in the army where the plot is barely noticeable among the musical numbers. In fact I'm not sure of what the plot was. In fact this one was another of those films to incorporate a top big band into the Hollywood studio system. In this it was Harry James and his Orchestra.

Harry's gets one of those letters from FDR that a lot of men between 18 and 45 were getting back in 1942. But his orchestra apparently thinking they'd have to go out hustle other jobs decides the one that Harry's getting is good enough for them so the whole band enlists. Including Helen Forrest and Dick Foran who are his vocalists.

Unlike the patriotic Foran who was a CPO in In The Navy, this Foran has an attitude similar to that of Lee Bowman in Buck Privates. Of course when you're drill sergeant is Shemp Howard it's kind of hard to take the army seriously. Foran's also pursuing Jennifer Holt who is Tim's sister.

Also in the film are the Andrews Sisters and Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan and that about covers the musical portion of the film. For a 69 minute film they had at least a dozen numbers so you can see the plot barely got in the way. Not to mention there was a triangle involving Shemp with Mary Wickes and Joe E. Lewis.

The film that Frank Sinatra made about Joe E. Lewis, The Joker Is Wild is infinitely better than Private Buckaroo. But this certainly is an opportunity to see the real Lewis perform.

So if you're a fan of any or all of these folks you might spend some time watching Private Buckaroo. All this Universal classic needed was Abbott&Costello.

I watched this film because my idols, Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan were in it. They had very small parts. But I watched it, anyhow. It was when I watched this did I realize that The Andrews Sisters are very good singers. Great singers, at that! I liked the story pretty well, and it was funny enough for me. It was a very nice way to spend an evening alone, watching it on my computer.

Even though Donald and Peggy weren't in it much, they were still very entertaining. Their kiss at the end is hilarious. The Jivin' Jacks and Jills were amazing, too. I love their dancing! They were in quite a few Universal films in those days. Almost all of their films star Donald and Peggy. I think the one to see their most impressive dancing is in 1943, "Mister Big". The dancing form this same group is jaw-dropping! Well, anyways, it's an entertaining, comical, musical movie that is well worth sitting in your little computer chair for 1 hour and seven minutes!

This is one of those movies which usually gets dismissed as ephemeral junk (look at the ratings in all those "Movies for TV" type books). But so far this year I have seen it twice, and have enjoyed it immensely both times round. This is certainly not due to the plot, which is your standard guy joins armed forces..guy has attitude problem...guy learns the error of his ways type plot which seemed to be recycled endlessly by Universal at around this time in their Abbott and Costello pictures. Fortunately the plot doesn't intrude too much into this movie, and in fact apart from its patriotic fervor, which is understandable in the context of the time, one of the joys of this picture is that it doesn't take itself in the slightest bit seriously.

What this picture does have going for it is a great cast, and a veteran comedy director. While the cast may not be big name stars, for anyone out there familiar with the entertainment world of this period, almost everyone in it has a recognizable persona. It also has some great music, and some really off the wall humour. The opening sequence with Shemp Howard and Mary Wickes is an absolute delight, and the surreal nature of the humour continues throughout (especially the bit with Ernest Treux), even into the musical numbers. The Andrews Sister's "apple tree" effort has to be one of the most bizarre (and entertaining) musical numbers I've ever seen. Finally, watching this picture reminded me of what a personable performer, and of what an under-appreciated singer Dick Foran was. I give it 8 out of 10. No accounting for taste, is there?

"Private Buckaroo" doesn't try to be anything more than it claimed to be at the time – an enlistment promo for the Army. It was 1942 and the U.S. had just committed its full force to World War II. While we may like to think that everyone eligible ran to the enlistment offices to sign up after Pearl Harbor (many did, but many more were still needed), there was natural human reticence about war, healthy fear of war and for life, immediate family needs, and other reasons that kept many men, especially, from running to join the ranks. So, Uncle Sam enlisted the support of Hollywood in this and other productions to help convince men and women to join up.

We had many other films during World War II, with varying degrees of action, drama, and depictions of the horror and losses of war, as well as the heroics of many people. But films like "Private Buckaroo" were not intended for the same purposes of telling the stories of war. My point with all of this is that this film can't be viewed with other plot-driven movies about the war.

It does have a very thin plot that, for the most part today, may seem annoying to many people. But, granting it as a means to string together the entertainment, we can quickly let it go and simply enjoy the tremendous musical performances of this film. The comedy is OK too, but not anything outstanding.

My rating for this film is based solely on the performers and the great talents the movie showcases. We have so few films from the first half of the 20th century that include the performances of many of the great swing bands and musical entertainers of the day. This one has some of the very best of the Andrews Sisters and Harry James and his band. For that reason alone, this is worth watching, enjoying and keeping.

This is essentially an armed forces recruitment film made by Universal shortly after the U.S. formal entry into World War II, utilizing some comics and swing musicians to raise the patriotic tenor. The wispy plot relates how the entire band of Harry James decides to enlist in the Army to follow its drafted leader, with a subsequent U.S.O. follies being organized directly before the entire group marches avidly into combat. With the exception of the reliable Mary Wickes, the comedians, in particular Joe E. Lewis and Shemp Howard, are dreadful and serve only to make the various musical interludes, notably those featuring the sprightly Andrews Sisters, a welcome relief --- from comedy. Former big band singer Dick Foran, who warbles the title tune, is the featured non-musical performer tasked to deal with the hapless propagandistic script, but 16 year old Donald O'Connor nearly steals the show along with some of his jitterbugging cronies.

This film is loaded with stars (Harry James, the Andrews Sisters, Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, even Huntz Hall!), but it is the oldest of the performing Howard brothers, Shemp, who steals the show. He ad libs little comments throughout the film and does a very funny musical number with the Andrews Sisters. One would think that seeing comedian Joe E. Lewis in a film would be a great treat, but he is completely upstaged by Shemp. He does a very funny sketch in a night club with Mary Wickes. This is Shemp at his finest. In addition, you have the Andrews Sisters singing some Vic Mizzy music with "Three Little Sisters".

Between 1939 and 1942, Donald O'Connor had left Paramount and went back to vaudeville. Then he signed with Universal with his first picture there being What's Cookin'. This was his second and like his previous one, he appeared with another teen named Peggy Ryan. They do a slight pantomime here during an instrumental break in The Andrews Sisters number, "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree". Also during that song, Shemp Howard gets hit and slapped by at least one of those sisters. He also gets a few from Mary Wickes as his on-off girlfriend. Also appearing here is Huntz Hall-outside of The East Side Kids-who has trouble training Harry James the bugle (This sequence I found a little lame unlike the other ones I just mentioned). There's also some romantic subplot but never mind about that. Just enjoy the music and some of the comedy bits and you should enjoy Private Buckaroo just fine.

PRIVATE BUCKAROOS is the only one of the starring films of that forties phenomenon The Andrews Sisters that is easy to see today since it apparently fell into public domain and is available in a number of budget collections. Despite their star billing, the Andrews gals actually run a somewhat distant fourth in screen time to Dick Foran, Shemp Howard, and Harry James, not coming into the film until about the second reel and then their contributions limited to only four or five song numbers. They are a joy to see though and this perky musical from the early days of WWII completely captures the patriotism and spirit of the era.

Running only a few minutes over a hour, this B musical barely has time for a storyline and what's there is slim. Big band singer Dick Foran is upset because he is repeatedly turned down in his attempts to enlists because of having flat feet. He somehow gets "cured" by a doctor and quickly enlist and then in an inexplicable personality change proves to be the spoiled show biz boy while in training, whining about regulations and duties. Hunky blond Foran is quite appealing in most of his other films but in this one his character is obnoxious and frankly the "change" to good joe is as sudden and incredible as the shift in personality once he is enlisted. The music in this modest film is unsurprisingly excellent with the Andrews, Foran, and Harry James & Orchestra but there's so much of it it actually makes the film seem longer. There's some excellent comedy relief from Shemp Howard, Joe E. Lewis, and especially the magnificent Mary Wickes as Shemp's belligerent stringbean of a girlfriend. Miss Wickes is a much loved character actress of course but it's wonderful to see her here in one of her larger early roles and proving to be a splendid knockabout comedienne in the Joan Davis mold. I frankly would have much rather the screenwriters (somebody apparently did write this despite the limited acting scenes) have concentrated on the wacky romantic triangle of Howard, Wickes, and Lewis than a conventional and extremely thin Foran - Jennifer Holt romance that doesn't ring true for a minute. The ending is so sudden one feels almost as if a reel or two is missing from the film but it's very effective in a way in illustrating how quickly things happened in the hectic years of WWII.

Essentially a musical revue for the war effort and promote enlistment. It is a movie with lots of songs and a slim story about an entertainer made to join the army and he has an attitude problem.

The movie could had benefited with more comedy acts although Mary Wickes steals the show as a tall lady out on a date with Shemp Howard in a nightclub. Comic Joe E Lewis tries to take her away from him.

The highlight of the songs is The Andrew Sisters singing Don't Sit under the Apple tree. If you know little about the Andrews Sisters then this is the film to see them in action.

How many of these pro war propaganda movies did Hollywood grind out in the early 40's? I've seen several, and there isn't much difference among any of them. Here we have the entire Harry James orchestra joining the military in a fervor of patriotism; the boys just can't wait to fight. This film is the usual "let's all go do battle for God and country" malarkey, spiced up with a generous portion of song and dance. And some really bad comedy. Not to mention some extremely bad acting by Harry himself.

In 1941, Abbott & Costello made a huge splash when they starred in "Buck Privates" for Universal. Now, a year later, a film that is essentially "Buck Privates II" was released...but without Abbott & Costello! Many of the stars associated with the first film are back and are forced to carry the film. The Andrews Sisters are back and since there is no Bud or Lou, they are given more musical numbers. Shemp Howard, a minor character in the original, is a major character here. A few additions are the band leader Harry James, Ernest Truex, Mary Wickes and some cutesy kid. Dick Foran stars in the film, and while he was not in "Buck Privates", he co-starred in Abbott & Costello's other service pictures "In The Navy" and "Keep 'Em Flying".

As a result of Foran, James and the Andrews Sisters, there are many, many musical numbers--too many if you ask me. I think Universal did this because without major comedians to anchor the film, they appeared to think that adding more songs would take up the slack. In other words, Shemp was pleasant but he was NOT an adequate replacement for a comedy team! There are two main plots to the film. One involves Shemp and his comedic situations--all of which seem pretty slight. The other involves Foran and it frankly made no sense at all...none. Foran is a complainer and when he balks at doing many of the things needed in basic training, the base Commander gives him permission to refuse to do anything he doesn't want to do--making the other soldiers do it in his place. This is apparently supposed to teach him some sort of lesson about teamwork, but there is no way ANY army would do such a stupid thing---at least not on this planet! When you think about it, any army that would make Shemp a sergeant and tell Foran he could ignore any order he didn't want to follow are both pretty insane notions! My assumption is that they wanted a plot similar to Lee Bowman's slacker from "Buck Privates" but this new idea just didn't work.

So how is the film? Well, not unexpectedly, without Abbott & Costello the movie seems flat---like it's missing something. For example, instead of having some sort of reasonable resolution to the plots, the film just ends in a long series of musical numbers by Foran, The Andrews Sisters and Harry James...as well as some dance numbers. Not a satisfying ending, that's for sure. Overall, it's an okay film...but nothing more. And, as a result, I can understand why the studio allowed this film to slip into the public domain.

There's barely a whiff of a plot to be found between endless musical numbers of varying quality as a band leader and his men sign on for active duty in this lightweight Universal picture. Apart from Shemp Howard's perpetually curmudgeonly sergeant, everyone is full of that perky, gung-ho good cheer that never quite makes it to the battlefield. Worth catching for an early appearance from Donald 'Make 'em Laugh' O'Connor.

Completely fascinating and in retrospect a bit sad (conveyor belt recruitment) this is a Universal Pictures musical from an innocent age that served as a morale booster for teens........... the musical numbers are good, the cast incredible (Shemp and Mary Wickes play a couple like Popeye and Oliveoil......! yes, true!) and the Harry James music is excellent. I am constantly flabbergasted at silly criticisms of old films that some people write here feel don't fit this century.....these are films from another age with another sensibility and that is part of their interesting charm. The dance number with the Jumping Jacks and Jills is a teen sensation and I defy anyone to not be thrilled (and a bit moved) by the momentary celebration of their dance skill and enthusiasm. Just enjoy an have a great time watching this great film from 1942.......

Private buckaroo is not a western like the title suggests,its a wartime comedy musical made during world war two.in 1942.it features the singing sensations of the 40's;the Andrew sisters.and boasts a very good cast,Dick Foran(the mummy's hand,atomic submarine)Shemp Howard (of the three stooges)Harry James(big band leader)Joe E Lewis.and Huntz Hall(Bowery boys)and Donald O'Conner.i was confused by the title,i thought it was either a western.but i was wrong,its a very good movie from the otherwise monster producing universal.i enjoyed private buckaroo too bad its a really short movie at a little more than an hour.i believe this was the second movie on a double bill,but i may be wrong.thought the movie is way before my time,i have heard the Andrew sisters music before.the comedy is very vaudeville and the scenes with harry James trying to blow a bugle after hes drafted are hilarious. private buckaroo is played by;Dick Foran who had just finished the mummy's tomb at the same studio.he also has his flatfeet fixed so he can join the army.shemp Howard supplies the goof ball antics as a bumbling Sergeant.i enjoyed private buckaroo,I'm giving it the maximum 10 out of ten,call me crazy but i liked it.

The cardboard comedy and the pencilled-in plot scarcely have a moment to bore you before the next musical number comes along. Some numbers are better than others-- unfortunately, the title song has not aged well-- but the Andrews Sisters make the movie worthwhile. And Harry James reminds us that he wasn't *only* Betty Grable's husband...