Doughboys (film)
Doughboys is a 1930 American Pre-Code comedy film starring Buster Keaton. It was Keaton's second starring talkie vehicle. A Spanish-language version was also made under the title, "De Frente, Marchen." Plot. Elmer (Buster Keaton), a member of the idle rich, is smitten by working girl Mary (Sally Eilers), who will have nothing to do with him. When Elmer's chauffeur gets caught up in an army recruitment drive and quits, Elmer goes to an employment agency to find a new driver and accidentally enlists in the army. Elmer learns that Mary is on the base  to entertain the troops and learns that his drill sergeant, Brophy (Edward Brophy), is also interested in Mary. Reception. Keaton had creative input in "Doughboys", which was partly inspired by his own experience in World War I. Although the writers kept inserting puns and verbal jokes into the script, Keaton insisted that his dialogue, at least, be less "jokey." Keaton felt that "Doughboys" was the best of the films he made for MGM.