Buck Privates

Man: September 14, 1940,

Congress passes the first peacetime selective service

training act in the history of the nation.

President Roosevelt signs The Draft Bill...

an epochal step in national defense.

Impressive ceremonies...

Secretary of War Stimson is blindfolded...

draws the first number from 9,000 sealed capsules.

Roosevelt: The first number drawn

by the Secretary of War

is serial number...

158.

Man: And the youth of America prepare

to become peacetime buck privates.

- That's no way to drive, Martin. - Sorry, sir.

The line forms on the left.

You play soldier.

Everything seems to be running smoothly, Captain Johnson.

Yes, sir, we're getting a fine group of men.

- More teeth and less flat feet. - That's splendid.

I'll see you later.

- Captain Johnson. - Yes?

I'm Randolph Parker. Dad's in Washington now

heading some kind of defense board.

- I suppose you've heard from him? - No.

Oh, well I'm sure you will.

Dad's bound to want me working with him.

So, about this order to report for training...

Why of course, Mr. Parker, I understand.

If you'll just step in here,

we'll be delighted to take care of you.

Thanks.

You're sure this won't take long?

Oh no. You'll hang your hat there please.

Yes.

- And your coat, too. - My coat?

And the rest of your clothes please.

- Doctor: Tonsils okay. Open please. - The rest of my...

- Wide. - 155, next.

Tonsils okay. Next.

- Wide please. - 175. Next.

- Name? - I'm Robert Martin.

Number 158.

158? Say, that's a nice number.

Imagine me being first prize in a raffle.

Give a boy a break, Officer. He's reporting for service.

Man: That's the stuff. That's fine and dandy.

I don't want to give you any sales talk,

but in my time, I've advertised tooth powder

face powder, foot powder and flea powder.

I've lived on the bounty of the county

and done my boardin' with the warden.

Never have I ever had the opportunity

of presenting such merchandise to the public.

Feel that material. That's enough. Now, friends,

ordinarily this tie would sell in any haberdashery for a dollar and a half.

But am I asking you for a dollar and a half? No.

Am I asking you for a dollar? No.

Am I asking you for 50c? No.

All I'm asking for is 10c.

Now wait a minute. Let me get a word in... or two.

Go on, go ahead. I'll listen to you for a while.

Thanks kindly. Neighbor, how much money have you got?

- I've got in the vicinity of $28. - You've got $28?

In the vicinity. In the neighborhood I've got three bucks.

- Then, you've got $3? - Roughly speaking.

- Roughly speaking? - When you smooth it out I've got a buck.

Then you have a dollar? You have a dollar.

That's all I want to know. The gentleman buys 10 ties.

How can he sell ties that cheap?

We ain't got no overhead. We haven't even got a license to sell these ties.

- Feel that material. - It won't wrinkle or fade.

Fade, Smitty, fade...

What's wrong? What's wrong?

The "oper-cay" is here

The "oper-cay"...

Come here!

Get in the cab.

Hey, cabbie, step on it.

We're trying to get away from a cop.

- Cops: Oh yeah? - Ooh-ooh!

Herbie! Quick, get in line.

- We'll hide in the movies. - Yeah, and when we get in we'll stay a long time.

- Get a couple tickets. - Okay.

- Whoop. - What are you, a wise guy?

You want to fight? Take your coat off.

It's much cooler this way, ain't it?

Go ahead, get a couple of tickets.

What's your hurry? We got rid of that dumb cop.

- How much to get in? - Nothing.

We're going to give you $21.

Oh, bank night. Giving any dishes away?

- No, tin plates. - Tin plates, what a novelty.

Now we can start our new set.

- Step inside. - Come on or we won't get a seat.

Hey, usher. Hey, you,

what picture's playing in here?

- You're in the army now. - Good, I never saw that picture.

Calling Dr. Coldwater.

What's this "Calling Dr. Coldwater?"

- It must be a double feature. - Ah, yes.

- Draftee? - Not a bit.

- Do you feel it? - No.

I feel very comfortable in here.

Right over there.

Let's register before the drawing starts.

Think you're gonna win, huh?

Step right up, boys. Sign right here, please.

- "Please"? What polite ushers. - Quiet!

And let me have your signature right there, please.

I'd be delighted. And I hope I win.

Congratulations, men.

- We're glad to have you in the army. - Both: Thanks. What?!

- Smitty: The army? - You won.

Gangway! Mutiny!

- Whoop-whoop! - Going someplace, boys?

Yeah, yes, we're going someplace.

We're going in the army and you can't touch us.

Oh, so you're going in the army, eh?

Well, I'll be seeing you.

What am I laughing at?

What are you putting your tie on for?

Somebody might come in.

239. You just made it.

If you'd been over 240, we'd have had to turn you down. Next.

- Hey, Smitty, did you hear that? - Yes.

- If you're over 240 Ibs. they don't take you. - That's right.

Boy, am I lucky. Get a load of this. 241, hm-hmm!

Oh, sit down before you get in trouble.

Get away.

1- 6-4, 164. Next.

239, next.

158 and 1/2. Next.

173 and 1/4. Next.

164, next.

Set still. You act as though you've got a hot foot.

Hot foot? Brother, you've got a very poor sense of direction.

158 and 1/2. Next.

Boy, this is arson.

164. Next.

That's you, Herbie.

Whew. Okay, Smitty,

have a good time in the army.

241.

It's going to be okay.

Congratulations, my boy. You're in the army by two ounces.

Two ounces?!

Double crosser!

Just for that, you go to bed without your supper.

...and that I will obey the President of the United States...

All: ... And I will obey the President of the United States...

...And the orders of the officers appointed over me

according to the rules and articles of war.

All: And the orders of the officers

appointed over me

according the the rules and articles of war.

You men will report at the High Street Armory at 7:00.

We will leave from the railway station at 9:00.

Until then, dismissed.

I'm gonna go home to my mama.

Will you get my hat, Martin? I left it in the other room.

- Mr. Parker. - Yes?

I've worked for you for two years, haven't I?

- Yeah, that's right. - Quite an experience.

I've carried you upstairs and put you to bed any number of times.

- Why bring that up? - I got you out of fights

with nightclub waiters and gambling house bouncers.

- So? - Remember that night I froze both my ears waiting for you?

And that little accident you had where I took the rap and went to jail?

Look, Martin, let's not reminisce.

But we're in the army now

and I think it's time I tendered my resignation.

- Very well, tender it. - Yes, sir.

- What do you think of that? - That gives me an idea.

- Turn on the heat and get me in the army, will you? - So what?

- Why... - No!

Well, what are you waiting for?

- Detail! - Detail!

- Halt! - Halt!

Let the men fall out until train time.

Yes, sir.

You men can fall out, but don't go out of this area.

Say your goodbyes and when I say, "fall in," be here.

Dismissed.

All right, girls, you can go into action.

Cigarettes, soldier?

Compliments of the army.

Everything all right here?

Oh, you look lonesome. Won't you have an apple?

Cigarettes, soldier?

Judy Gray, what are you doing here?

- I joined the army. - Go on.

Um-hmm. I'm a camp hostess now.

It's something new. We're going to try

to give the boys the feeling that the camp is their home.

- Add the feminine touch. - That'll make being drafted a lot more popular.

I think it's pretty popular right now.

- Your cigarettes, sir. - Thanks.

See you later, Bob. Apples, compliments of the army.

I'm sorry, sir, but your mother's in sight.