DbcultAccessing Vault...
5.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Josser in the Army remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Josser in the Army. This one’s a real trip back in time, isn't it? If you have a soft spot for British comedies from way, way back, the kind where the jokes are telegraphed miles ahead and everything feels a bit charmingly amateur, you just might get a kick out of it. Otherwise, honestly, for a casual viewing today, it's a tough sell. Folks expecting snappy dialogue or clever, intricate plots? You’ll probably find yourself quite bored. But if you're a film history buff, or just curious about what passed for a good laugh in 1932, then maybe. 🤔
Ernie Lotinga, playing the titular Josser, he’s just… *so* earnest. He’s got that wide-eyed, slightly bewildered look down pat. The entire premise, as you might guess, hinges on him being utterly out of his depth in a military setting. It’s a familiar trope, but here, it’s played with a simplicity that’s almost quaint.
The story, such as it is, revolves around Josser, a civilian chap, who somehow finds himself inducted into the military. You can imagine the chaos ensues. He’s not malicious, just incredibly accident-prone. Every instruction, every drill, it all goes wrong in the most predictable ways.
One moment sticks out: Josser trying to fit his oversized boots into a tiny cupboard. It’s not exactly groundbreaking stuff, but the way he struggles, the sheer determination on his face, you almost *feel* the splinters. That kind of physical comedy, it’s the backbone of the whole film.
And the marching scenes! Oh, the marching. There's a particular sequence where Josser just cannot get in step with the rest of his unit. It goes on for a surprisingly long time. Not like a modern gag, where it’d be quick cuts. Here, it’s just *lingering*, letting you see every missed beat. It’s almost hypnotic, or maybe just tiring to watch. 😂
Hal Gordon, playing the sergeant, he’s mostly there to shout. Which, you know, is fair enough for a sergeant character in these types of films. His exasperation is pretty much the audience's, if you’re not entirely on board with Josser’s antics.
The pacing, it's pretty slow by today's standards. Things unfold leisurely. You can tell they weren't rushing anything. Sometimes a scene feels like it's waiting for the next joke to develop, but then it just… doesn't quite get there. It just keeps going, though. A little odd.
The sound quality, it dips sometimes. Like an old radio signal fading a bit, you know? You catch bits of dialogue, then it gets a little muffled, then it’s back. It adds to the vintage feel, I suppose, but also makes you work a bit harder to follow along.
I kept thinking about The Pooch for some reason while watching this. Maybe it's just the general simplicity of these early sound comedies, the way they relied so heavily on visual gags and broad performances. There's a certain charm in that, a kind of innocence.
What I found interesting, too, were the crowd scenes. They don't have that super-polished, perfectly choreographed feel you'd see even a decade later. It's a bit looser, a bit more like actual people milling about, even if they're obviously extras. It feels… realer in a strange way.
The film doesn't try to be anything it isn't. It’s a simple comedy, aiming for simple laughs. It doesn’t pretend to offer profound social commentary or dazzling cinematic techniques. It just wants you to chuckle at a man struggling with basic military discipline. And sometimes, it works. Not always, but sometimes.
If you're a devotee of Ernie Lotinga or just really, really into British cinema history, you might find something here to appreciate. Otherwise, this is probably one for the specialized niche. It’s a snapshot of a different era of comedy, and that itself has value, even if the jokes don't always land for a modern crowd. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm. Or, well, part of its *historical* charm, anyway. 👍
IMDb —
1931
Community
Log in to comment.
