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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Marty Rudnick <mrudnick@marturo.com> |
| Subject | Re: R.I.P. Don Knotts |
| Date | Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:15:16 -0800 |
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Career Records wrote:
>REally?
>
>I just know the Andy G version.. saw it with my parents when it came out..
>
>RS
>
>
They both starred Andy Griffith. One was a TV movie in 1955, followed
by a film version in 1958. Many of us (well, me) were dissapointed
when buying the VHS release only to discover it was the inferior
version. Details below.
Marty
P.S. Sorry to be taking this so far....
No Time for Sergeants
1958-USA-Satire/Military Comedy
N.Y. Times Review
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?title1=&title2=No%20Time%20for%20Sergeants&reviewer=BOSLEY%20CROWTHER&pdate=19580530&v_id=35552&reviewer=BOSLEY%20CROWTHER>
by Bosley Crowther
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/ref/movies/reviews/author/rev_auth_crowther/index.html>
PLOT DESCRIPTION
Mac Hyman's hilarious barracks novel No Time for Sergeants
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=35552> was
adapted for TV by Ira Levin in 1955, with newcomer Andy Griffith
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=28827> 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
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=29978>),
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
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=308>), 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
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=47119>),
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." Far better seen than described, No Time for
Sergeants <http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=35552>
is a delightful experience for Andy Griffith
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=28827> fans
in general and ex-GIs in particular. Featured in a minor role as a
"coordination officer" is Griffth's future TV cohort Don Knotts
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=38844>,
while Sammy Jackson
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=34864>, who
played Stockdale in a 1964 sitcom version of No Time for Sergeants
<http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=35552>, shows up
in an unbilled bit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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