The nostalgic baby-boomers who now run Hollywood's movie studios would like to plop Sgt. Bilko down among the TV series that have been successfully made into movies. But most filmgoers are of an age that they won't have a working knowledge of the old Phil Silvers Show that inspired this movie. Although a few episodes have been shown on Nickelodeon this week, the 1955-59 series was withdrawn from syndication more than 25 years ago. The comedy of the Sgt.
Bilko movie is serviceable.
But it's basically small-arms fire. The screenplay was written by Andy Breckman, who certainly knows the principles of comedy. A con man like Ernie Bilko needs a mark, and Dan Aykroyd, as the hugely doltish Hall, performs reliably with Breckman's dialogue. A narrative involving a lovable con man also must provide potential for the con man's downfall. Phil Hartman quite nicely fills this niche.