No Time for Sergeants (1958)

83% of users liked it
(943 ratings)

Mac Hyman's hilarious barracks novel No Time for Sergeants was adapted for TV by Ira Levin in 1955, with newcomer Andy Griffith as bumptious Air Force draftee Will Stockdale. This TV version was soon afterward transformed into a Broadway play, and then a movie, again with Griffith in the lead.… More Mac Hyman's hilarious barracks novel No Time for Sergeants was adapted for TV by Ira Levin in 1955, with newcomer Andy Griffith as bumptious Air Force draftee Will Stockdale. This TV version was soon afterward transformed into a Broadway play, and then a movie, again with Griffith in the lead. Brought to the Air Force base in handcuffs because his farmer father has been hiding his draft notices, good-natured Will becomes the target of ridicule for the other transcripts. Especially nasty is Private Irvin (Murray Hamilton), but Will is able to forgive him because he knows that Irvin is suffering from some mysterious disease called ROTC. Will's best pal is hot-headed private Ben (Nick Adams), who wants to be transferred to the Infantry and convinces Will to try for the same goal. Slowly becoming aware that the trusting, naïve Will may prove to be a troublemaker, career sergeant King (Myron McCormick), who wants nothing more out of life than a little peace and quiet, tries to keep Stockdale out of mischief by appointing him "PLO" -- Permanent Latrine Orderly, a dubious distinction in which Will takes enormous pride. Later on, King tries to pull strings to get Will transferred, succeeding only in losing his sergeant's stripes. The story goes off on a zany tangent when Will and Ben find themselves on a crippled plane in flight. They manage to escape with their lives, but all evidence suggests that they've been killed in the plane's crash. Imagine the dismay of newly reinstated Sergeant King when Will and Ben show up in his office -- just as the entire base is gathered for a memorial service for the two "fallen heroes." Featured in a minor role as a "coordination officer" is Griffth's future TV cohort Don Knotts, while Sammy Jackson, who played Stockdale in a 1964 sitcom version of No Time for Sergeants, shows up in an unbilled bit. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Mervyn LeRoy
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: May 29, 1958 Wide
On DVD: May 4, 2010
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a lamentably uneven piece of work that's rarely as compelling as its star's magnetic performance.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
No Time For Sergeants is ripe for re-discovery by a new generation, and ripe for re-visiting by those who remember it fondly.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Silly little comedy walks a fine line between charm and idiocy. What puts it over is the performances and the script full of humourous lines. Myron McCormick is wonderfully flustered as Sgt.King and Andy Griffith plays the simpleton Will Stockdale with just the right amount of… More
Silly little comedy walks a fine line between charm and idiocy. What puts it over is the performances and the script full of humourous lines. Myron McCormick is wonderfully flustered as Sgt.King and Andy Griffith plays the simpleton Will Stockdale with just the right amount of innocence so he does't come across as a buffoon just a not very clever, naive but good hearted bumpkin. Nick Adams is also highly enjoyable as Andy frustrated buddy. Don Knotts only has one scene but he steals it.
Anthony V

Hysterically funny.

Cast

            Andy Griffith as Will Stockdale (Narrator)

            Nick Adams as Ben Whitledge

            Myron McCormick as Sgt. King

            Murray Hamilton as Irvin Blanchard

            Howard I. Smith as Gen. Bush

            Will Hutchins as Lt. Bridges

            Sydney Smith as Gen. Pollard

            Don Knotts as Corporal Brown

            Jean Willes as W.A.F. Captain

            Bartlett Robinson as Captain

            Henry McCann as Lieutenant Cover

            Dub Taylor as Draft Board Man McKinney

            William Fawcett as Pa Stockdale

            Raymond Bailey as Colonel

            Malcolm Atterbury as Man with Applications

            Ben Baker as Abel

            Dan Barton as Tiger

            Ed Begley Sr.
            
            Fred Coby as Sentry

            Francis De Sales as Supervising Sergeant

            Jamie Farr as Lt. Gardella

            Rad Fulton as Inductee

            Peggy Hallack as Rosabelle

            Thomas Brown Henry as Senator

            Sammy Jackson
            
            Tom McKee as Charles the Aide

            James Millhollin as Psychiatrist Maj. Demming

            Jack Mower as Sheriff

            George N. Neise as Baker

            Mary Scott as Cigarette Girl

            Verne Smith as Announcer

            Dick Wessel as Infantryman

            Charles Lane as Dave (draft board driver)

            John Close as MP

            Bob Stratton as Lt. Kendall

            Margaret Mason
            
            Robert Sherman as Oculist
See full cast