NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS (1958) DVD Review

NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS began as a popular book in 1954, written by Mac Hyman. In 1955, it was turned into a TV film starring Andy Griffith. Later that year, it made it to Broadway, also starring Griffith. It ran for two years.

In 1958, it was adapted to a film, once again with Griffith. And that film is now on DVD.

NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS features Griffith as Will Stockdale, the quintessential “country bumpkin”, living on a farm when he is hauled in (by Dub Taylor) for dodging the draft, a draft he wasn’t even aware of. He is sent to the Air Force.

The film follows his misadventures on the base. He takes particular delight in cleaning the latrines, a chore meant as punishment. He goes through a series of psychological tests, administered by Griffith’s future TV parter Don Knotts.

NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS still holds up quite well, thanks to Griffith’s winning performance. How can you not love Andy Griffith? This isn’t Sheriff Andy Taylor here. Griffith plays a character closer to Gomer Pyle (whose spin off GOMER PYLE USMC owes a lot to this film).

The film has some big laughs. The scene with the toilet lids is worth a rental alone for. Myron McCormick, Nick Adams and Murray Hamilton also star.

Interestingly enough, the material was also turned into a TV series very briefly in 1964 where it is said to have aired opposite THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. It did not last long.

Warner Home Video’s release has a very nice black and white transfer. There are no extras. It would have been nice to include the TV version, but that is already available on Criterion’s "Golden Age of Television" DVD.

SHOULD I BUY IT?



For fans of Andy Griffith, this should be a must buy.