Sid Melton was a burlesque-style comic and appeared in tons of low-budget films in the 1950s--most of which weren't very good. However, he gained some fame on television--particularly on "The Danny Thomas Show" and "Green Acres" (where he played 'Alf Monroe'). When I saw the DVD for a Gasoline Alley film had two bonus films starring Melton, I was less than thrilled in light of his other films I've seen over the last few years.
This film begins with Sid going in to the marriage license bureau. However, he makes a mistake and enters a Marine recruiting office and accidentally ends up joining the Corps. What follows is a pretty standard 'idiot joins the service and somehow makes good' plot. I say standard because LOTS of films have been made with this theme such as "Buck Privates", "Jumping Jacks", "Caught in the Draft" and "Tanks a Million"....just to name a few. And, since all the films I just mentioned are MUCH better (mainly because they are comedies that are funny), I see no reason for anyone to look for "Leave it to the Marines" unless they are members of the Sid Melton Fan Club. Now I am not saying it's a terrible film...just not all that good a movie.
This film begins with Sid going in to the marriage license bureau. However, he makes a mistake and enters a Marine recruiting office and accidentally ends up joining the Corps. What follows is a pretty standard 'idiot joins the service and somehow makes good' plot. I say standard because LOTS of films have been made with this theme such as "Buck Privates", "Jumping Jacks", "Caught in the Draft" and "Tanks a Million"....just to name a few. And, since all the films I just mentioned are MUCH better (mainly because they are comedies that are funny), I see no reason for anyone to look for "Leave it to the Marines" unless they are members of the Sid Melton Fan Club. Now I am not saying it's a terrible film...just not all that good a movie.
