Series: Streamliner Director: Kurt Neumann Producer: Fred Guiol, Hal Roach Screenplay: Eugene Conrad, Edward E. Seabrook Photography: Robert Pittack Editor: Richard Currier Music: Edward Ward Art director: Charles D. Hall Sound: William Randall Stars: William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Robert Barrat, Jean Porter, Arthur Hunnicutt, Rebel Randall, Frank Faylen, Clyde Fillmore Company: United Artists Released: 05 March 1943 Length: 5 reels Production No.: F-49 Filming dates: Rating: 3/10

Fall In

Available on DVD:

At Camp Carver Sgt. Doubleday is selected as one of five candidates who is recommended for promotion to lieutenant, much to the annoyance of Sgt. Ames. Ames takes the matter up with Doubleday and manages to knock over all the chairs in the room in a domino effect when he is brought to attention by Captain Gillis (Frank Faylen in his fourth consecutive appearance in these films as a completely different character). Colonel Elliott is trying to dictate a letter to one of his staff when he forgets the content and calls for the Staff Officer's Manual to help him. No need: Sgt. Doubleday is there and recites the complete verse from memory to the astounded colonel. Outside Ames continues to bitch about how Doubleday keeps getting recognition over him. Ames and Doubleday are called in to the office to receive instructions from Captain Gillis on taking charge of some new recruits that have just arrived. Sgt. Ames is not impressed by the lazy newcomers and so hands them over into Doubleday's care for him to deal with. The recruits get up and leave but Doubleday improvises to win them back by telling them he is from their part of the world - Kentuck(y), which wins them back. After they all get brutal haircuts the colonel does an inspection on the firing range and criticizes Ames for his aggressive approach to the men while praising Doubleday for his disciplined manner in training the hillbillies... I mean new recruits (no, actually I meant hillbillies) when Doubleday takes the initiative in getting his men to shoot at moving targets (model airplanes) as opposed to static paper targets. The colonel is so impressed he gives the instruction for all officers to adopt the same methods - beginning with Sgt. Ames, who again has his nose put out of joint by being upstaged by Doubleday.

The soldiers are granted temporary leave and head into town, with Doubleday on duty and telling his men to patrol the town and not to interfere with civilians. His girlfriend Joan (Jean Porter, who plays opposite him in the previous film, About Face) pulls up in a car and invites him to spend the day with her; while Ames is at the Benedict's house, which has been turned into a soldiers' recreational centre. Arnold Benedict and his niece Lydia greet the guests with courtesy but it is revealed they are in fact spies who have rigged their house with hidden microphones to pick up information from the soldiers' conversations. As Doubleday does his patrol of the streets he telephones Joan at the house where she suddenly sees the microphones hidden in the flowers and tells him. Unfortunately for her this is overheard by the spies and one of them attacks Joan. Her screams alert the officers in the next room who rush in and overpower the spy, which leads to a large brawl. Joan does her best to assist, wielding a vacuum cleaner loaded with pepper as the soldiers fight the spies. The spies are finally apprehended when Doubleday leads his men to the house and take over proceedings. Doubleday and Ames form an unlikely partnership in rescuing Joan from the bad guys and taking out the lead spies with physical violence. Down in the basement a radio announcement comes through from the Nazis detailing their intentions for attack. This is overheard by Doubleday who memorizes it but he is knocked out by one of the spies. As the colonel rushes in he has his soldiers arrest the spies and Doubleday taken back to the camp doctor who informs the colonel that DOubleday has concussion and amnesia as a result of him being knocked over the head. Seizing the opportunity here, Ames bashes DOubleday over the head with a gavel and throws some water on his face, which brings him round. Doubleday suddenly remembers the information and Ames begins to type it up on a conveniently placed typewriter... despite his spelling mistakes which Doubleday is quick to point out. The end.

Favourite bit Ames plays dominoes with the chairs.

Trivia • Copyrighted October 2, 1942. • Premiered November 20, 1942. • This was the fourth of six films to be released as part of the 'streamliner' series by the studio which featured William Tracy and Joe Sawyer in the lead roles. The other five were "Tanks A Million", "Hay Foot", "About Face", "Yanks Ahoy" and "Here Comes Trouble". • The opening shot of the film showing the entrance to Camp Carver is identical to the opening of "Hay Foot" and "About Face". • The title of the film is mentioned at 12m 50s by Sgt. Ames who is addressing a bunch of recruits who are lounging about. • On 26 minutes after Doubleday addresses the soldiers on the street, what are all those people looking at behind him? Mind your own business!!! • Towards the end of the film there is a scene where Joan and Lydia exchange face-slaps. I have to confess this shocked me! See here for screenshots. My opinion • A really messy film with minimal plot which drags for the most part. After four films the Ames/Doubleday relationship is becoming stale and repetitive and the supporting characters are left just filling up time and space throughout the film with little to do. I tried hard to like these films but they just fail miserably. Worth a look if you are casual, but don't have high expactations.

	William Tracy Sgt. Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday
	Joe Sawyer Sgt. William Ames
	Robert Barrat Colonel Elliott
	Jean Porter Joan
	Arthur Hunnicutt Luke Hatfield
	Rebel Randall Lydia Hummock
	Frank Faylen Captain Gillis
	Clyde Fillmore Arnold Benedict
	Eddie Acuff Sgt. Topps
	Gino Corrado Barber
	George DeNormand Nazi agent in brawl at piano
	Joe Devlin Sergeant
	Tom Fadden Zeb Hatfield
	Jack Gardner Soldier reminding Ames
	Eddie Hall Pete, soldier on rollerskates
	Syd Saylor Cigar store owner
	Jack Kenney Cigar store customer
	Earle Hodgins Cigar store customer
	Jack Shea Sergeant William Tasacoscowitz
	Dick Wessel Army barber
	Nancy Brinckman Blonde canteen girl
	Lois James Canteen girl
	Rosemary La Planche Canteen girl
	Bob O'Conor Gross, spy
	Chet Brandenburg Spy
	Ian Keith Army doctor
	Gregory Gaye Karl, Nazi wiretrapper
	George Barrows Nazi agent in brawl
	Cap Somers Nazi agent in brawl
	Bud Geary Nazi agent in brawl
	Jack Stoney Nazi agent in brawl
	Kermit Maynard Soldier
	Lane Bradford Military policeman
	Richard Clayton Soldier
	Wheeler Oakman Army officer
	Douglas Spencer Military policeman

UNIDENTIFIED CAST

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

POSTERS (click any image to enlarge)

LOBBY CARDS (click any image to enlarge)

STILLS (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Gene Sorkin (help) David Kawals/ClassicFlix (supplying DVD for review) Richard Finegan (3 stills and 3 lobby cards) Jesse Brisson (identification of George Barrows, Cap Somers and Lois James) This page was last updated on: 12 April 2020