In the Navy (1941)

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(415 ratings)

The third of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's starring films, In the Navy was released second; Universal had just made a bundle off Abbott and Costello's Buck Privates, and the studio wanted another "service" comedy put into circulation in a hurry. Abbott and Costello share over-the-title billing with… More The third of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's starring films, In the Navy was released second; Universal had just made a bundle off Abbott and Costello's Buck Privates, and the studio wanted another "service" comedy put into circulation in a hurry. Abbott and Costello share over-the-title billing with Dick Powell, who plays a popular radio singer. Eager to avoid his screaming fans, Powell enlists in the Navy under an assumed name, hoping to serve his country incognito. Girl reporter Claire Dodd chases after Powell, hoping to secure a photo of the fugitive "idol of millions." So much for the "straight" plot; what are Abbott and Costello up to? Well, Costello plays a ship's cook who wants to impress Patty Andrews of The Andrews Sisters. With his pal Abbott's help, Costello poses as an admiral -- and in so doing nearly destroys the entire American fleet. This climactic sequence ran into trouble when the U.S. Navy decided that it didn't want to be held up to ridicule by showing the bumbling Costello ordering its ships around. To save the climax -- the most expensive portion of the film -- the scriptwriters wrote a new coda, passing off Costello's "admiralty" as a dream sequence. The best Abbott and Costello routines have little if anything to do with the plot: our favorite (indeed, everyone's favorite) is Costello proving to Abbott that 7 X 13 = 28. Those viewers who prefer music to comedy will be thoroughly satisfied by the vocal contributions of Dick Powell and The Andrews Sisters, as well as a lively dance number offered by the Condos Brothers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Arthur Lubin
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 30, 1941 Wide
On DVD: Sep 12, 1991

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

Barry L

Great comedy romp with the pair of idiots giggling their way through the navy...Saturday mornings were never the same without them.
Christopher B

Another good Abbott and Costello film.

Cast

            Bud Abbott as Smokey Adams

            Lou Costello as Pomeroy Watson

            Dick Powell as Tommy Halstead/Russ Raymond

            Claire Dodd as Dorothy Roberts

            The Andrews Sisters as Themselves

            Dick Foran as Dynamite Dugan

            Billy Lenhart as Butch

            Shemp Howard as Dizzy

            The Condos Brothers as Dance specialties

            Richard Alexander as Big Bruiser

            Hooper Atchley
            
            Joe Bautista as Mess Boy

            William B. Davidson as Capt. Richards

            Eddie Dunn as Ticket Taker

            Ralph Dunn as Traffic Cop

            Edward Fielding as Commander

            Thurston Hall as Head of Committee

            Robert Emmett Keane as Travers

            Lyle Latell as Marine

            Jack Mulhall as Lt. Scott

            Patsy O'Byrne
            
            Sunni O'Dea as Lancer

            Frank Penny as Bos'n

            Lorin Raker as Small Meek Husband

            Mickey Simpson as Tough Civilian

            Charles Sullivan as Sailor

            Don Terry as Floor Manager

            Claire Whitney as Gushing Mother

            Douglas Wood
            
            Ken Brown as Buddy

            James Sullivan as Policeman

            Chuck Morrison as Truck Driver

            Patty Andrews as Herself

            Laverne Andrews as Herself

            Maxene Andrews as Herself

            Pat Gleason as Sentry
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