A Comedy Tonight!

According to IMDb there were 2,074 comedies released in 1958.  We won't cover them all today.  When you look at the complete list, you realize that TV shows are included.  In fact, that number is not accurate at all.  Listings #3 through #42 are individual episodes of "Leave it to Beaver."  As far as theatrical movies, #1 is Gigi, and the next movie is #50, Indiscreet.  Then you go to "Father Knows Best" up through #88!

I was thinking about No Time for Sergeants from that year.  Sergeants came in at title #456, but there were only eleven movies listed before it.  I guess people were infatuated with television by 1958, but that doesn't excuse IMDb for allowing their computer system to create a misleading list.  There should be a way to filter out the TV shows.

Back to the movie.  I won't bore you with 'Permanent Latrine Orderly' Andy Griffith stories, but it was his second motion picture.  And it was Don Knotts' very first movie, the start of a lifelong friendship between the two.

Nick Adams (1931 - 1968) was well into his acting career and this was just two years before his successful TV series, "The Rebel" as Johnny Yuma.  In 1965 he was in three low-budget horror flix: Frankenstein Conquers the World; Die, Monster, Die; and Invasion of the Astro-Monster.  Sadly, Adams died in 1968 after an accidental drug overdose.

Next we see Murray Hamilton (1923 - 1986) who is a veteran actor with parts in The Hustler (1961), The Graduate (1967) , Jaws (1975) and almost 150 other titles.

Myron McCormick (1908 - 1962) played the drill sergeant.  He was a delight.  He only made about a dozen feature movies, but he is also seen in The Hustler as Paul Newman's mentor/agent.  Look for him on TV, but he was better known as a stage actor.

Here's a name for you.  Malcom Atterbury (1907 - 1992).  Another veteran actor who appeared here as a bus driver.  Don't miss him in two of Alfred Hitchcock's best, North by Northwest (1959) and The Birds (1963), plus a host of television shows. 

We also see Will Hutchens (b. 1930) as a pilot, better known as Sugarfoot on the TV series of the same name.  And Dub Taylor (1907 - 1994), another well known character actor.

Way down on the cast list we find Jamie Farr (b. 1934) in an uncredited role.  It was his fifth movie and he was still acting under his real name, Jameel Farah. 

Now, go watch No Time for Sergeants again.  I know it's been a while since you've seen it.  And watch for all the wonderful Bit Actors who make this a great comedy.