Private Buckaroo

Private Buckaroo is a World War II Army musical showcase for Harry James, the Andrews Sisters, where Shemp Howard steals the show!

Private Buckaroon (1942) starring Harry James, Shemp Howard, The Andrews Sisters

Review

On the one hand, Private Buckaroo is really just a World War II movie that’s an excuse for a lot of the premier song and dance people to do their thing against a World War II background. But it’s stuffed with a lot of musical numbers. And a lot of comedy relief between! And the comedy’s very funny, and the musical numbers are fast-paced and entertaining. I recommend it highly.

Product Description 

A Universal Army enlistment promotion, produced as a musical showcase for Harry James, the Andrews Sisters, Joe E. Lewis, and Donald O’Connor & Peggy Ryan. The film’s thin plot has James drafted, and joining him is the band’s lead vocalist Lon Prentice (Dick Foran), who doesn’t believe that Army training and regulations are necessary for anyone of his skill and fame. Shemp Howard steals the film whenever James and the Andrewses aren’t performing. As Sgt. Snavely, he’s effectively teamed with Mary Wickes as his shrewish fiancée, trying desperately to keep her away from the attentions of nightclub comic and USO performer Lancelot Pringle McBiff (Joe E. Lewis).

Comedy highlights

• Joe E. Lewis trying — and succeeding — at stealing Shemp Howard’s fianceé — Mary Wickes!
• Harry James unable to play an Army bugle!
• The “trap” scene, where soldiers keep disappearing as Shemp’s trying to drill them. Every time he turns his back!
• Shemp Howard trying to fight with Joe E. Lewis at the Army camp. “Take those stripes off!”
• Bonnie-Belle getting engaged to Joe! Complete with Tagalong’s interference, and a potted plant to Shemp’s head!

Cast

• Harry James (Springtime in the Rockies) … Harry James
• Patty Andrews (Hold that Ghost) … herself
• Maxene Andrews (In the Navy) … herself
• Laverne Andrews (Buck Privates) … herself
• Dick Foran (Cowboy From Brooklyn, The Mummy’s Hand) … Lon Prentice. The young man who thinks he’s too good for the military training. Until the other guys in the barracks teach him otherwise. Not to mention the pretty girl he’s interested in …
• Joe E. Lewis (The Holy Terror) … Lancelot Pringle McBiff. Shemp’s counterpart in the romantic triangle. Very funny as well.
• Ernest Truex (Life with Blondie, The Adventures of Marco Polo) … Colonel Elias Weatherford
• Jennifer Holt (Range Renegades) … Joyce Mason. The pretty young lady that Lon’s interested in. The colonel’s niece as well.
• Shemp Howard (The Invisible Woman, Shot in the Frontier) … Sgt. ‘Muggsy’ Shavel. Shemp steals every scene he’s in! Literally.
• Richard Davies (The Falcon in Danger) … Lt. Howard Mason. Joyce’s brother, leading to a slight romantic misunderstanding with Lon.
• Mary Wickes (On Moonlight Bay, White Christmas) … Bonnie-Belle Schlopkiss. Mugsy’s acid-tongued, unfaithful fiancée. Hilariously funny in the romantic triangle.
• Donald O’Connor (Singin’ in the Rain, Anything Goes) … Donny. The underage young man who enlists anyway.
• Peggy Ryan (Men in Her Diary) … Peggy
• Huntz Hall (Ghosts on the Loose) … Cpl. Anemic
• Susan Levine (Pardon My Sarong) … Tagalong. The young girl that’s important in both the trap scene and Shemp’s trying to break up the rest of the romantic triangle.
• Harry James and His Orchestra … Harry James and His Music Makers
• The Jivin’ Jacks and Jills … Themselves

Songs

• Private Buckaroo. Music by Allie Wrubel. Lyrics by Charles Newman.
• Three Little Sisters. Music by Vic Mizzy. Lyrics by Irving Taylor.
• We’re in the Army Now.
• Six Jerks in a Jeep. Written by Sid Robin.
• Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree. Music by Sam H. Stept. Lyrics by Charles Tobias.
• Steppin’ Out Tonight
  • Based on the song “That’s The Moon, My Son“. Original written by Art Kassel and Sammy Gallop
• Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.
• Johnny Get Your Gun Again. Music by Gene de Paul. Lyrics by Don Raye.
• We’ve Got a Job to Do. Written by Vickie Knight.
• I Love the South. Performed by Joe E. Lewis with Harry James and His Orchestra
• You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want to Do It). Music by James V. Monaco. Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy.

Editorial review of Private Buckaroo courtesy of Amazon

A Universal Army enlistment promotion, produced as a musical showcase for Harry James, the Andrews Sisters, Joe E. Lewis, and Donald O’Connor & Peggy Ryan. The film’s thin plot has James drafted, and joining him is the band’s lead vocalist Lon Prentice (Dick Foran), who doesn’t believe that Army training and regulations are necessary for anyone of his skill and fame. Shemp Howard steals the film whenever James and the Andrewses aren’t performing. As Sgt. Snavely, he’s effectively teamed with Mary Wickes as his shrewish fiancée, trying desperately to keep her away from the attentions of nightclub comic and USO performer Lancelot Pringle McBiff (Joe E. Lewis).