I rate this film as one of the 10 greatest comedies of all time. The acting is simply superior with Griffith as a simple and unsophisticated country boy with a heart of gold. Myron McCormick, the Sgt. did few movies (check out "The Hustler") but was exceptional whether doing comedy or drama. Many of his lines, which would otherwise be ordinary and forgettable, are remarkably memorable and funny due to his delivery and demeanor. He was an actor of unique wit and ability. Sadly he passed without leaving a great body of work.
Don Knotts shows up in the film in his first pairing with Griffith and the scene they have together would foreshadow more great comedy to come. As a corporal overcome by his own rank and authority, Knotts' job is to test the country boy's manual dexterity. The scene is one of the funniest in motion picture history in my estimation. So too is the scene where Griffith is being tested by the neurotic military "shrink." This movie is non-stop laughs in a day when amusing comedies with sometimes little more than pleasantly clever dialog were hailed as great successes. This film keeps the viewer laughing the whole way through.
Even Nick Adams, the ill-fated character actor that died so young, delivers a great performance. This is also true of Murray Hamilton, who would later play Mr. Robinson in "The Graduate." His role as the recruit who knows it all because he had ROTC for one year (Griffith thinks it was an illness) is a great study in conceit unfounded upon any real achievement. In the end it is Griffith's fresh and innocent humor that makes this films so funny. As a "character" comedy, as opposed to a "gag" comedy, the film gets funnier with each viewing.
Don Knotts shows up in the film in his first pairing with Griffith and the scene they have together would foreshadow more great comedy to come. As a corporal overcome by his own rank and authority, Knotts' job is to test the country boy's manual dexterity. The scene is one of the funniest in motion picture history in my estimation. So too is the scene where Griffith is being tested by the neurotic military "shrink." This movie is non-stop laughs in a day when amusing comedies with sometimes little more than pleasantly clever dialog were hailed as great successes. This film keeps the viewer laughing the whole way through.
Even Nick Adams, the ill-fated character actor that died so young, delivers a great performance. This is also true of Murray Hamilton, who would later play Mr. Robinson in "The Graduate." His role as the recruit who knows it all because he had ROTC for one year (Griffith thinks it was an illness) is a great study in conceit unfounded upon any real achievement. In the end it is Griffith's fresh and innocent humor that makes this films so funny. As a "character" comedy, as opposed to a "gag" comedy, the film gets funnier with each viewing.