Buck Privates

Buck Privates is a 1941 comedy about two small-time street hustlers, Slicker Smith and Herbie Brown, who sell ties illegally and end up hiding from a police officer in a movie theatre that turns out to be an army recruiting station. Before they realize what has happened, they have enlisted. At the barracks they discover that their drill instructor is the same policeman who was chasing them. Meanwhile, a wealthy young man and his former chauffeur, now in the same unit, compete for the attention of a young woman.

The film was directed by Arthur Lubin and written by Arthur T. Horman. It is the fifth of the seven titles listed in Lubin's directing career, arriving between Ride 'Em Cowboy and Phantom of the Opera, both released in the years that followed. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star as Slicker and Herbie, with Lee Bowman, Jane Frazee, Alan Curtis and Nat Pendleton among the credited cast of 68. Universal Pictures produced it, and it took about 4 million dollars at the worldwide box office.

On IMDb the film holds a rating of 7 out of 10 from around 5,000 votes, while on TMDB it has a 6.8 out of 10 from 78 votes, indicating a modest but positive reception from those who have seen it.