Hollywood made quite a few military films starring the most ridiculous actors. In "Great Guns", a 300-400 pound 49 year0old Oliver Hardy joins up. And, in "Buck Privates", a 46 year-old Bud Abbott also joins the army. So, the notion of a 50 year-old Bob Hope in the army is ridiculous but not without some precedent. My advice is to completely block this out of your mind--as a case of temporary amnesia will definitely make this better viewing.
Now some might also laugh at the notion of the very diminutive Mickey Rooney serving as well in this film. However, he WAS not too old to serve (33) and he actually did serve with some distinction during WWII.
The film begins with Hope playing the role of a manager-trainer for the newest boxing champ. He's on top of the world...until his fighter is drafted. Oddly, he, too, decides to join up so can follow his client--though if they both did serve, the chances of them staying together would have been negligible. However, it appears that the boxer's draft notice was all part of a ruse to get Hope out of the way and break his contract with the champ. When this champ is ruled psychologically unfit for service (he seems to have faked being crazy), Hope is stuck in the army while this promising boxer gets a new manager with more clout. Hope is irritated but there is nothing he can do....or is there? In the service he meets a game guy (Rooney) who also wants to become a boxer. However Rooney's platinum blonde aunt (Marilyn Maxwell) insists that he will NOT become a boxer--she didn't want to see him become a punch-drunk idiot. And, because Hope has become smitten with her, he is inclined to agree.
Later, when their commander (Mayehoff) hears that Rooney wants to box, he arranges some fights--and Hope is unable to stop it. However, inexplicably, Maxwell's insistence that Rooney not box suddenly vanished and Rooeny begins working his way through the professional boxing ranks. And, when the 'big match' occurs, thugs are determined to do anything to stop Hope from helping his protégé. Will Rooney manage to become the next champ? And what about Hope?
Overall this is a reasonably pleasant film with one serious problem--it is well made but not funny. And, considering it's supposed to be a comedy, that is a BIG problem. It's not a bad film--but I never laughed once. So, provided you don't mind its lack of humor, it's a decent enough film. But funny, it ain't.
Now some might also laugh at the notion of the very diminutive Mickey Rooney serving as well in this film. However, he WAS not too old to serve (33) and he actually did serve with some distinction during WWII.
The film begins with Hope playing the role of a manager-trainer for the newest boxing champ. He's on top of the world...until his fighter is drafted. Oddly, he, too, decides to join up so can follow his client--though if they both did serve, the chances of them staying together would have been negligible. However, it appears that the boxer's draft notice was all part of a ruse to get Hope out of the way and break his contract with the champ. When this champ is ruled psychologically unfit for service (he seems to have faked being crazy), Hope is stuck in the army while this promising boxer gets a new manager with more clout. Hope is irritated but there is nothing he can do....or is there? In the service he meets a game guy (Rooney) who also wants to become a boxer. However Rooney's platinum blonde aunt (Marilyn Maxwell) insists that he will NOT become a boxer--she didn't want to see him become a punch-drunk idiot. And, because Hope has become smitten with her, he is inclined to agree.
Later, when their commander (Mayehoff) hears that Rooney wants to box, he arranges some fights--and Hope is unable to stop it. However, inexplicably, Maxwell's insistence that Rooney not box suddenly vanished and Rooeny begins working his way through the professional boxing ranks. And, when the 'big match' occurs, thugs are determined to do anything to stop Hope from helping his protégé. Will Rooney manage to become the next champ? And what about Hope?
Overall this is a reasonably pleasant film with one serious problem--it is well made but not funny. And, considering it's supposed to be a comedy, that is a BIG problem. It's not a bad film--but I never laughed once. So, provided you don't mind its lack of humor, it's a decent enough film. But funny, it ain't.