Make 'Em Laugh (The Funny Business of America)
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Featuring Shemp Howard (Solo)
84.2 min. (Feature Film)
Two shady street vendors, Slicker Smith (Bud Abbott) and Herbie Brown (Lou Costello), inadvertantly enlist in the Army while on the run from policeman Sgt. Collins (Nat Pendleton). Slicker and Herbie are quickly horrified to learn that their boot camp Sergeant is... Sgt. Collins.
Answering the draft, the Company also welcomes rich playboy Randy Parker (Lee Bowman) and his put-upon chaffeur Bob Martin (Alan Curtis). Parker is certain his family's money and influence will spring him back to civilian life, but Parker Sr. decides the Army is the solution needed to turn his son from a playboy, into a responsible man. Parker and Martin also find themselves competing for the affections of USO hostess Judy Gray (Jane Frazee).
Lou Costello shines in a musical number performed with Shemp Howard, When Private Brown Becomes a Captain.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's first starring film, and in spite of the intrusive, romantic sub-plot of Bowman/Curtis/Frazee, the burlesque veterans easily make BUCK PRIVATES their own. Classic routines include: "Marry a Girl From the Hills," "Dice Game," "Lend Me $50," "Go Ahead and Play the Radio," and an extended reprise of their drill routine. The Andrews Sisters (Patty, Maxene & LaVerne) perform several numbers. Musical numbers often distract during feature comedies, but the Andrews' numbers (Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Bounce Me Brother With a Solid Four, You're a Lucky Fellow Mr. Smith, I'll Be With You When It's Apple Blossom Time) are edited/inserted as pleasurable diversions throughout the film.
Bud Abbott
Slicker Smith
Lou Costello
Herbie Brown
Nat Pendleton
Sgt. Mike Collins
Lee Bowman
Randy Parker
Alan Curtis
Bob Martin
Jane Frazee
Judy Gray
Maxene Andrews
Herself
LaVerne Andrews
Herself
Patty Andrews
Herself
Shemp Howard
Mess hall cook
Kenne Duncan
Sgt. on sidewalk
William Gould
Recruiting Major
Selmer Jackson
Capt. Johnson
James Flavin
Recruiting Sergeant
Stanley Blystone
Recruiting Sergeant
Jack Mulhall
Doctor conducting physicals
George Magrill
1st policeman in patrol car
Joseph La Cava
Recruit confronting Herbie
Stanley Smith
Corporal in Information booth
Jimmie Lucas
Sergeant in lobby
Tom Coleman
Sgt. paging Dr. Coldwater
William Hall
Corporal in lobby
Harold Goodwin
Sergeant in terminal
Dora Clement
Miss Durling
Janet Warren
Camp hostess
Nell O'Day
Camp hostess
Kay Leslie
Camp hostess
Nina Orla
Camp hostess
Jeanne Kelly
Camp hostess
Dorothy Darrell
Camp hostess
Bud Mercer
Recruit
Carleton Young
Recruit
Charles King Jr.
Recruit
Charles Coleman
Edmunds, Parker's butler
Nella Walker
Mrs. Parker
Buddy Harris
Porter
Don Raye
Private
Hugh Prince
Private
Eddie Hall
Recruit watching crap game
Leonard Elliott
Pvt. Henry Sloan
Frank Penny
Master Sgt. Marks
Harry Strang
Master Sgt. Callahan
J. Anthony Hughes
Capt. Williams
Samuel S. Hinds
Major Gen. Emerson
Douglas Wood
Randy Parker Sr.
Frank Cook
Harmonica / guitar player
Frankie Dolan
Fighter
John L. Cason
Fighter
Lloyd Ford
Fighter
Tom Tyler
Boxing referee
Frankie Van
2nd in ring
Frank Grandetta
Pvt. Maguire, skinny boxer
Al Billings
Kayo, boxer
George Hoagland
Fight spectator
M. J. Frankovich
Announcer
Franklyn Farnum
War games officer
Gino Corrado
War games officer
World Champion Boogie Woogie Dancers
Themselves
Dean Collins
Dancer
Jewel McGowan
Dancer
Lyle Moraine
Lt. Poole
Robert Wayne
Lt. Albright
Will Morgan
Lieutenant
Tom Reed
Lieutenant
Jerome Harte
Corporal
Bob Reeves
Conductor
Jack Perrin
Conductor
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Himself, archive footage
Henry Lewis Stimson
Himself, archive footage
Pat Costello
Lou's stunt double
John Butler
Supply Sgt., scene deleted
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 1
Tie customers
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 2
Boxing match timekeeper
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 3
War games
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 4
Drill recruits
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 5
Policeman
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 6
Dice players
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 7
Camp hostesses
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 8
Mess kitchen
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 9
Theatergoers
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 10
Enlistment center
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 11
Physical
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 12
Swearing-in ceremony
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 13
Parker's girlfriends
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 14
Train station
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 16
Supply clerk
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 17
Induction
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 18
Rec hall
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 19
Apple Blossom Time / Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 20
Boxing match
Unidentified BUCK PRIVATES 21
Maj. Emerson's staff
Arthur Lubin
Director
Alex Gottlieb
Associate Producer
Arthur T. Horman
Screenplay
John Grant
Special Material
Milton R. Krasner
Director of Photography
Jerome Ash
Director of Photography
Philip Cahn
Film Editor
Jack Otterson
Art Director
Ralph M. DeLacy
Associate Art Director
Russell A. Gausman
Set Decoration
Bernard B. Brown
Sound Supervisor
Paul Neal
Sound Technician
Charles Previn
Musical Director
Ted Cain
Music Supervisor
Vic Schoen
Music Arranger
Don Raye
Original Music
Frank Skinner
Original Music
Vic Schoen
Original Music
Neville Fleeson
Music and Lyrics
Albert Von Tilzer
Music and Lyrics
Sonny Burke
Music and Lyrics
Hugh Prince
Lyrics
Joseph E. Kenney
Assistant Director
Vernon Keays
Assistant Director
Gil Valle
Assistant Director
Nick Castle
Dance Director
Vera West
Gowns
Jack Voglin
Military Advisor
Jaik Rosenstein
Publicity
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