Let's get this out of the way first. I am most admittedly a William Haines fangirl. Having said that, this is Lon Chaney's picture all the way. Billy plays a wiseacre (shock, I know) who joins the Marines on a lark, only to be whipped into shape by the tough yet caring Sergeant O'Hara (Chaney). What a delight to see him in a non-horror role - his face is gorgeous to watch, beautiful, saying so much in its nuances and lines. Round out the cast with the lovely (though understated) Eleanor Boardman as the nurse both men have set their sights on, and you have a warm, surprisingly touching little picture, with mischief deftly inserted by Haines. There is a scene, close to the end, with Chaney and Boardman talking in a garden...I defy you to watch it and not feel your heart break.
I give this one:
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