Paul Newman, great as an insouciant, gum-chewing private dick in HARPER, veers farther in that direction as a malcontent Army private in this laborious service comedy. As a result, perhaps, of lax direction by Jack Smight (NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY), Newman’s performance is overly broad, though so is the screenplay by FATHER GOOSE Oscar winners Peter Stone and Frank Tarloff. Newman’s Harry Frigg isn’t much of a soldier, and his only skill seems to be a knack for…

This is the film in which Jan-Michael Vincent appeared just after checking himself out of the hospital, where he was recovering from injuries suffered in a car crash. He arrived on the set with his face all scarred and scratched, still with stitches, barely able to speak, and wearing his hospital ID bracelet on his wrist. No makeup required for Vincent to play his role of a mangled mob boss who hires armed robber Chad McQueen (MARTIAL LAW) to steal…

Amazingly, this delightful Danny Kaye comedy was not a hit when Paramount released it in 1956. It was ridiculously expensive to make — reportedly, the most expensive comedy ever at that time — but it earned Kaye a Golden Globe nomination, became a favorite of television audiences, and was eventually enshrined for preservation in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. The cast is fantastic, particularly to film buffs who dig character actors, and nobody who has seen it will…