Sgt. Bilko (1996)
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32% of critics liked it
(37 reviews) -
46% of users liked it
(32,567 ratings)
The classic 1955-59 sitcom The Phil Silvers Show (also known as "You'll Never Get Rich" in its first few episodes) became this high concept comedy with an all-star cast. Steve Martin stars as U.S. Army Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko, a conniving motor pool supervisor who uses his… More The classic 1955-59 sitcom The Phil Silvers Show (also known as "You'll Never Get Rich" in its first few episodes) became this high concept comedy with an all-star cast. Steve Martin stars as U.S. Army Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko, a conniving motor pool supervisor who uses his position to finance various get-rich-quick schemes, including illegal gambling, at a Kansas military base. His commanding officer, Colonel Hall (Dan Aykroyd) is mostly oblivious to Bilko's antics. Trouble arrives when the master sergeant's old rival, Major Thorn (Phil Hartman), appears. It seems that Thorn, the butt of several past Bilko capers, is eager to settle the score by spearheading a review of Bilko's records and stealing away his fiancée Rita (Glenne Headley), who may have been left at the altar one too many times. At the same time, military engineer Major Ebersole (Austin Pendleton) is testing a new high-tech "hover tank" that may not be quite ready for deployment. Directed by light comedy specialist Jonathan Lynn, who brought a similar touch to My Cousin Vinny (1992) and Greedy (1994), the updated Sgt. Bilko costarred Cathy Silvers, daughter of the TV show's late star, as Lieutenant Monday. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jonathan Lynn
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Mar 29, 1996 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Brian Lowry, Variety
Though Martin and a solid supporting cast produce a few scattered moments of near-hilarity, for the most part the terrain here is as flat as it gets.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
[A] celebration of high jinks.
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, Time Out
This is shoddy hackwork, replaying classic scenarios (the honest new recruit, audits by Pentagon bigwigs and manoeuvres in Nevada) with such disregard for narrative structure the reels might be in the wrong order.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
The film is full of gratifying gags like these, but it also has to strain for newly enlarged scope.
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Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Wacky is just the right tone for a spring comedy.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Steve Martin
as Master Sgt. Ernest G. Bilko
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Dan Aykroyd
as Col. Hall
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Phil Hartman
as Maj. Thorn
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Glenne Headly
as Rita Robbins
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Daryl Mitchell
as Wally Holbrook
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Max Casella
as Dino Paparelli
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Russell Bobbitt
as Valet Parker
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Clifton Collins Jr.
as Soldier
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Cheryl Francis Harrington
as Corporal
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Henry Hayshi
as First Technician
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Richard Herd
as General Tennyson
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Rance Howard
as Mr. Robbins
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John Marshall Jones
as Sgt. Henshaw
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Stephen Park
as Captain Moon
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Austin Pendleton
as Major Ebersole
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Chris Rock
as Lt. Oster
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Carol Rosenthal
as G.H.Q. Corporal
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Debra Jo Rupp
as Mrs. Hall
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Pamela Segall
as Sgt. Raquel Barbella
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Travis Tritt
as Himself
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Mitchell Whitfield
as Mickey Zimmerman
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Dale Dye
as First Engineer
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Frank Romano
as Pit Boss
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Eric Edwards
as Duane Doberman
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Derek Basco
as Soldier
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John Ortiz
as Luis Clemente
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Reno Wilson
as Radio Disc Jockey
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Dan Ferro
as Tony Morales
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Henry Hayashi
as Technician
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Ursula Burton
as Assistant Casino Manager
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Brian Leckner
as Sam Fender
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Sally Ann Brooks
as Technician
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Tami-Adrian George
as Janet
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Stephan Benseman
as Bartender
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Christopher Paul Hart
as Nelson
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Steve Kehela
as Master Sergeant Sowicki
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Lauren Weinger
as Schoolgirl Actress
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Allan Bragg
as D.O.D. Dignitary
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Dwayne Chattman
as Soldier
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David E. Cousin
as Craps Dealer
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Glenne Hartman
as Rita Robbins
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Phil Headly
as Major Thorn
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Sammy Micco
as Blackjack Dealer
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Anthony Monroy-Marquez
as Schoolboy Actor
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Carmela Rappazo
as Telephone Operator
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Andrea C. Robinson
as Vegas Woman
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Catherine Silvers
as Lt. Monday
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Michael D. Starks
as Boxing Trainer
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Lynn Tulaine
as Vegas Woman
