Buck Privates Come Home

After returning home from Europe at the end of World War II, Herbie Brown [Lou Costello] and Slicker Smith [Bud Abbott] resume their pre-war hustle of selling ties in the bustling heart of Times Square, trying to adjust to life back in the United States. They share the ship with their old rival, Sgt. Collins [Nat Pendleton], a constant thorn in their side who, along with his superiors, conducts a careful search of the men’s belongings for any contraband as the vessel makes its approach toward New York Harbor. In a tense and comic moment, Herbie accidentally triggers a time bomb disguised as a camera that he had picked up as a souvenir, forcing him to fling it out through a porthole just in time.

On their voyage, a six-year-old French orphan named Evey is discovered tucked in Herbie’s duffle bag — a discovery that binds the trio through a shared responsibility they never anticipated. Evey is promptly handed over to Lt. Sylvia Hunter, who delivers her to immigration authorities in New York. But during a routine shift change, a mix-up occurs and Evey is mistakenly released as if she were just another neighborhood child. Meanwhile, the two former conductors of their own fortune resume their old trade of tying and selling goods, while Collins returns to the beat, intent on arresting the pair and returning Evey to the authorities.

As confusion turns to a plan, Herbie and Slicker decide they want to adopt Evey, but they’re confronted with a practical snag: one of them must be married and have a steady income. Evey herself suggests a solution that could keep the trio together — Herbie should marry Sylvia. They make a visit to Sylvia’s apartment, only to discover that she already has a boyfriend, Bill Gregory [Tom Brown], the ambitious young racer who dreams of winning a substantial prize.

A curious misadventure then unfolds when the pair stumble upon what seems like an ideal new home for just $750. The seller, however, refuses to let them view the interior before purchase. Before Herbie can unlock the front door, a signal is given and a truck tears away the façade, revealing that the “home” was really a broken-down bus they had bought sight unseen. Undeterred, the two improvise repairs and set out to turn the vehicle into a livable residence.

Bill Gregory, a midget car racer with dreams of the Gold Cup Stakes prize, believes he will clinch the $20,000 payoff, but his car is currently being held at a local garage due to overdue bills. To help him, Herbie and Slicker pool their separation pay and borrow from old service comrades to free the car. Yet Collins has his own wider plan: his repeated demotions since the boys’ earlier escapes are an attempt to reclaim his standing, and he camps out at the garage hoping to trap them and return Evey to immigration to regain favor with his superior. The chase culminates at the race track, where Herbie slips into Bill’s car and whips up a frantic ride through New York’s streets, a comical and perilous pursuit that tests everyone involved.

The climax brings unexpected windfalls: the momentary capture of Herbie and Slicker leads to a stunning business opportunity when the head of a major automobile company sees Bill’s performance and places a sizeable order—20 cars and 200 engines—securing Bill’s financial future. With that stability, Bill can marry Sylvia and adopt Evey, while Slicker and Herbie are granted visiting rights to Evey if they secure steady jobs. The closing twist comes when Collins’s captain suggests that the duo join the police force, an opportunity they seize with Collins taking on the role of their instructor, signaling a bright, if unconventional, new chapter for all of them.

Throughout, the film blends lighthearted misadventure, street-smart grifts, and bottom-line hopes, painting a portrait of returning veterans who find new purpose through family, loyalty, and a dash of luck. The humor is driven by the dynamic partnership of Herbie and Slicker, the stubborn persistence of Collins, and the heartwarming bond that forms with Evey, as they navigate the chaotic, neon-lit streets of postwar New York and turn a series of misunderstandings into a path toward a hopeful future.