Will Stockdale (Andy Griffith) is a poor clueless backwoods hick from Georgia. He's been drafted and he's eager to see the bigger world. He befriends his bunkmate Pvt. Benjamin B. Whitledge even if he hates him. Whitledge is desperate to leave the Air Force and join the fighting infantry. Will is happy to help him when the opportunity arises with their Sgt. King.
This is early in Griffith's movie career and in two years, he would get his big TV show. He would also bring along his co-star Don Knotts who has a fun little scene with Andy. I do like the psychiatrist scene even more. That's the most hilarious scene in the whole movie because it nails the premise exactly. Stockdale may be clueless but he is supposed to be filled with the wisdom of the common man and he uses it to best superior bookish academics. It doesn't always work like that in other scenes. A lot of this is laughing at the dumb southern bubba which I don't find that funny. It has a touch of Forrest Gump. It would be even funnier if it goes full Gump.
This is early in Griffith's movie career and in two years, he would get his big TV show. He would also bring along his co-star Don Knotts who has a fun little scene with Andy. I do like the psychiatrist scene even more. That's the most hilarious scene in the whole movie because it nails the premise exactly. Stockdale may be clueless but he is supposed to be filled with the wisdom of the common man and he uses it to best superior bookish academics. It doesn't always work like that in other scenes. A lot of this is laughing at the dumb southern bubba which I don't find that funny. It has a touch of Forrest Gump. It would be even funnier if it goes full Gump.