released 1941 military comedy
Tanks a Million
Tanks a Million is a 1941 American film directed by Fred Guiol. It was the first of Hal Roach's Streamliners, short films under an hour designed for the lower half of a double feature. The film was also the first pairing of William Tracy and Joe Sawyer in a film series of the two in the military. Despite the title and military setting, no tanks are seen in the film.
Dorian Doubleday, "Dodo" to his friends, works as a clerk at a railway station but he has the ability of photographic memory. When he is drafted in the Army, he memorizes all the manuals for Army procedure immediately before starting his service.
Because of his extensive knowledge of procedure, he is quickly known as a know-it-all at the basic training in Camp Carver. His drill sergeant, Sergeant Ames, disapproves of him from the start, but the officers above him are quite impressed with the new recruit due to his memorisation and word perfect recital of Army Regulations.
Hilarity ensues as Dodo moves up the ranks, Ames tries to knock him down a peg or two, and the men show up without shoes, and then the Colonel is involved.
First in the Tracy and Sawyer low budget "streamline" military comedies
Cast:
William Tracy as 1st Sgt. Dorian "Dodo" Doubleday
James Gleason as Col. "Spitfire" Barkley
Noah Beery Jr. as Charlie Cobb
Joe Sawyer as Sgt. William Ames
Elyse Knox as Jeannie
Douglas Fowley as Capt. Rossmead
Knox Manning as Radio Interviewer Cardigan
The New York Times was not particularly impressed, but did say it was ... adequate: "Mr. Roach frankly intends this short feature, and those to follow, for second billing on "double" programs. That is a modest ambition which "Tanks a Million" should adequately fulfill. More than that we cannot say for it."
text from wikipedia and NY Times
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