Caught in the Draft (1941)

Caught in the Draft: Directed by David Butler. With Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Lynne Overman, Eddie Bracken. A movie star who can’t stand loud noises accidentally joins the Army.

“Back in the late 30s and early 40s, just about all the comedians and comedy teams made war films…and they were quite popular. Films like Abbott u0026amp; Costellou0026#39;s u0026quot;Buck Privatesu0026quot;, Laurel u0026amp; Hardyu0026#39;s u0026quot;Great Gunsu0026quot; and Bob Hopeu0026#39;s u0026quot;Caught in the Draftu0026quot; are just a few of the many films designed to encourage Americans to do the patriotic thing and enlist. And, with a few exceptions (u0026quot;Great Gunsu0026quot;), the films were very enjoyable. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhen u0026quot;Caught in the Draftu0026quot; begins, Don Bolton (Bob Hope) is a famous and very self-absorbed Hollywood star. Heu0026#39;s also quite the coward. So when he learns that there is going to be a draft, heu0026#39;s worried he might be chosen and looks for a way out. And, his way out might be getting married. But his choice is odd…be wants to marry a woman who wants nothing to do with him AND is a colonelu0026#39;s daughter! Antoinette (Dorothy Lamour) sees right through Don and his schemes and instead of being honest, he just creates more and more complicated schemes…one which accidentally gets him to enlist in the Army…and guess who Donu0026#39;s commanding officer is? Along with Don are his lowly gofer (Eddie Bracken) and his agent (Lynne Overman–who is in his mid-50s!).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film is very enjoyable…and perhaps more than u0026quot;Buck Privatesu0026quot; because it does NOT have any singing! Clever and enjoyable from start to finish, though I wonder why at the end Eddie Brackenu0026#39;s character got a commendation? Watch the film and youu0026#39;ll understand what I mean.”