This is a fun patriotic military comedy that doesn't rely on farce to get laughs, but realistic situations that you can envision occurring to new recruits. The setting is the Annapolis Naval Academy, and the focus is on two rivals (Tom Brown and Larry Parks), both in love with the same girl (Jean Parker). Brown doesn't take his training as seriously as Parks does so it's going to take some real disciplinary actions and a possible tragedy to slap him into shape.
Those expecting a repeat of "Buck Privates", "Great Guns" or "You're in the Army Now" at the beginning of war time will be disappointed. This is closer to the equally humorous but seriously constructed "Brother Rat". As filming began just weeks after Pearl Harbor, it was more intuned to the appropriate necessity of the time. My intro line refers to an amusing scene where the recruits are questioned and one doesn't answer appropriately.
Phil Brown (no relation to Tom or his actor brothers) plays a naive recruit known as Kansas City who provides subtle laughs simply through his enthusiasm, and it's obvious that the elder cadets looking over the newcomers are amused by him. Thurston Hall (obviously the inspiration for Thurston Howell) always steals scenes, and as a superior officer here is a delight. I found this B picture easy to take even though it's just one of dozens on the subject of basic training or early officer school.
Those expecting a repeat of "Buck Privates", "Great Guns" or "You're in the Army Now" at the beginning of war time will be disappointed. This is closer to the equally humorous but seriously constructed "Brother Rat". As filming began just weeks after Pearl Harbor, it was more intuned to the appropriate necessity of the time. My intro line refers to an amusing scene where the recruits are questioned and one doesn't answer appropriately.
Phil Brown (no relation to Tom or his actor brothers) plays a naive recruit known as Kansas City who provides subtle laughs simply through his enthusiasm, and it's obvious that the elder cadets looking over the newcomers are amused by him. Thurston Hall (obviously the inspiration for Thurston Howell) always steals scenes, and as a superior officer here is a delight. I found this B picture easy to take even though it's just one of dozens on the subject of basic training or early officer school.
