We’re now at the second released starring vehicle of Abbott and Costello, IN THE NAVY. Interestingly enough, the majority of the third release, HOLD THAT GHOST, was filmed before this. The story goes while HOLD THAT GHOST was being filmed, BUCK PRIVATES was released to theaters and became a massive hit. Universal, never one to let a profitable idea be used once (see the multiple monster films as an example, which will later play into the Bud and Lou story), decided to delay production on HOLD THAT GHOST and get another service comedy into the theaters as quickly as possible. Henceforth, IN THE NAVY was begat for release on the third stone from the sun in the year nineteen hundred and forty one of our Lord. Like it’s predecessor, IN THE NAVY made millions. Not quite as many millions, but still a Hell of a lot to turn a nifty profit.
Artistically, IN THE NAVY is the better film. It’s still not a perfectly constructed comedy like a lot of us would prefer, but it was also never intended to be. Comedy, romance, music and militarism were mixed together just like in BUCK PRIVATES. This time around, more confidence was shown in the comedians as they played a bigger part in the story and had a lot more screen time. Also, the routines were just flat out funnier.
The first fifteen or twenty minutes, things don’t look so good for Bud and Lou again. While they do get some fun antics on the street - I love the way Bud confuses Lou on whether he should or shouldn’t get that ticket depending on who’s around, a staple over the years - the majority of it sets up the story with the leading man and lady. Not quite as sappy this time around and fun as light entertainment I suppose. The famous crooner (Dick Powell) wants to hide in the Navy from his crazed public while the leading lady reporter (Claire Dodd) takes his picture for a scoop and eventually falls in love. We also get a big Naval musical number thrown in, but after that, screen time is more generous for Bud and Lou. As far as this plot goes, there is interaction with Bud and Lou, including the leading man getting in a comic routine with Lou trying take take her camera film away and the leading lady blackmailing Lou to get her to hide on the ship. So yes, more confidence in the comedians this time. A $4,000,000 gross in 1941 will inspire that.
As far as the music goes, all of the best scenes again go to The Andrews Sisters. They really are the best as far as any music routine in a comedy goes not done by the comedian. Too bad they didn’t stick around much longer because future films, if they must have music, could have really used them. “Give Me Some Skin” is definitely a fun number. In addition to Bud and Lou, Universal also gave The Andrews Sisters much more to do, integrating them more into the plot and giving Patty and Lou a fun comic romance.
As far as Bud and Lou, again, mostly skit comedy and not film comedy, but man, what great skit comedy it is. These guys were on the top of their game here. Watching Lou trying to get into that hammock always impresses me. The lemon bit combined with Bud gypping Lou out of every last dollar with his bizarre counting is always a treat to watch. The topper of course is when Lou tries to trick Shemp only to trick himself! 7 X 13 = 28 is another favorite routine of mine. Bud’s disbelief and Lou showing the multiple ways to do distorted math never fail to make me laugh. I always think of this routine when I think of this film. As far as the Sons of Neptune initiation, every time I watch that scene all I see is a bunch of energetic guys having a lot of fun on screen. I don’t know if their laughing and smiling was scripted or not, but the romantic in me would like to think it wasn’t.
As far as character actors, I’ll give that Shemp guy a spotlight. While he does not have as much screen time as we would all like, he’s still good with what he has. I love the way he leads Lou on in the Sons of Neptune scene, he plays a great shyster.
One thing I am not too much a fan of is the ending comic scene. The whole idea of Lou taking over the ship and accidentally making a bunch of ships going off into the wrong direction really plays out like a heavily edited scene that gives the comedians too little to do. Similar to my complaint with the plane scene in THE FLYING DEUCES. The scene also had to be made a dream sequence at the last minute because the real Navy would not allow a scene of them being incompetent enough to allow Lou to take over the ship.
Again, not a classic overall film, but some classic moments for sure. Of the three peacetime draft service comedies, IN THE NAVY is my favorite.
