fabulous gags that these two wonderful guys knew from years and years of being in burlesque." The film was one of Universal's biggest money-makers of the year, grossing over $4 million at the box office at a time when movie tickets averaged 25 cents and gross was defined as money earned by the studio; today it refers to all of the money that a film made. Universal gave Lubin—who was under contract at a fixed salary—a $5,000 bonus and told him to start on another film, Hold That Ghost, almost immediately. Lubin directed five Abbott and Costello films in ten months. Critical The film received positive reviews from critics. Theodore Strauss of The New York Times called it "an hour and a half of uproarious monkeyshines. Army humor isn't apt to be subtle and neither are Abbott and Costello. Their antics have as much innuendo as a 1,000-pound bomb but nearly as much explosive force." The reviewer for Variety wrote: "Geared at a zippy pace, and providing lusty and enthusiastic comedy of the broadest slapstick, Buck Privates is a hilarious laugh concoction that will click solidly in the general runs for profitable biz." Film Daily enthused: "If ever a 'sleeper' appeared out of Hollywood, this is it ... the attraction is a grand, madcap musical which packs a whale of a wallop for the general public liking laughs galore on the frankly slapstick side." Harrison's Reports described it as "A good comedy for the masses ... Abbott and Costello definitely establish themselves as a comedy team that should win wide popularity." Award nominations The film received two Academy Award nominations in 1941. Hughie Prince and Don Raye were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and Charles Previn was nominated for the Academy Award for Original Music Score (Scoring of a Musical Picture). World War II Japan used this film as propaganda to demonstrate to its own troops the "incompetence" of the United States Army. The film was shown to U.S. troops in every theater of war. Rerelease It was re-released in 1948, and again on a double bill with Keep 'Em Flying in 1953 during the Korean War. Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters perform four songs in the film: "You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "Bounce Me Brother, With a Solid Four", and "(I'll Be With You) In