Jackie Gleason and Jack Durant are teamed for the first and only time as Hank and Jed, a pair of dimwitted barbers who are forced into bankruptcy because all their customers have marched off to war. Figuring that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, Hank and Jed try to join the Army themselves, only to be rejected for a variety of reasons (When asked to read the eye-chart, Hank says he can't-not because he can't see, but because he can't read).
Acting
Gleason's pre-Honeymooners physical comedy is already fully formed.
Writing
Eye chart gag is genuinely clever wordplay masquerading as stupidity.
Director
Charles Barton
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Jackie Gleason's first leading role in a feature film, two years before his breakthrough on 'The Life of Riley' radio show.
The 'nuthouse to guardhouse' tagline reflects how casually 1940s comedies treated mental health and military service as interchangeable punchlines.
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