Something we saw this weekend almost made us want to enlist in the army — and it’s not all the beautiful flower arrangements on the graves of our glorious departed servicemen. Nope, it’s the video for “Blowing Boogie Bugle Man From Company G,” a brilliantly bawdy send up of the classic World War 2 anthem “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrews Sisters made famous again in the ’70s by Bette Midler. This time it’s the wonderfully talented Allison Lane who borrowed the tune and the military theme but tweaked the lyrics into something deliciously naughty and inspired (“he can’t blow a thing if Judy Garland ain’t playing in the background”). Naturally, her video follows the story depicted in the lyrics of a young man who just wants to be of service to his country during WW2 the best way he knows how, which is blowing everyone his bugle.
Lane, a Los Angeles-based singer actress (check out See U Next Tuesday, her YouTube channel, for more of her 0ff-color hilarity), tells Queerty that she got inspired while performing a rendition of the Andrews Sisters classic at Manhattan’s Rainbow Room.
“Since I am a crass gal at heart, I kept thinking that the ‘blowing’ lyrics had alternate potential,” she reveals. “I began writing and the parody lyrics just sort of ejaculated out of me… so to speak!”
Did we mention we love this lady? When she began to think about the video, Lane decided to recreate the authentic look of her favorite classic MGM musicals.
“Films like On The Town were an inspiration to me, especially for the sausage-fest sequence,” she recalls. “I think, for me, the best part of the process was getting my amazing cast on board and watching them bring the parody to life. I can definitely say that my cast blew me away.”
The game cast she mentions includes hot young actor-model Matthew Ludwinski, filmmaker Casper Andreas and there’s even a cameo from beloved journalist and New York nightlife chronicler Michael Musto.
Enjoy the rowdy reveille below.
Roland Hamburger
Well good for him. At least out troops are getting more respect now … LOL
Kieran
Em, thank you for your service?
Todd Hall
#gloriouslytalented
Allison Lane
thank you so much Todd Hall!!
John Cardona
Hilarious.
edwardnvirginia
Oh, so oral sex makes it all ok with the White Supremacist, world war-mongering, genocidal Nazi?
Mic Thompson
Jake Parker
That’s awesome, and the video is freaking hilarious!
Allison Lane
Thanks so much, Jake Parker!!
Will Glitzern
Instant classic
jwtraveler
I loved it until the Nazi (Why did he speak French?). As a gay Jew, I just can’t find any humor in Nazis. (Sorry Mel Brooks, “The Producers” was offensive.)
iltman
Absolutely brilliant, this went straight to the top of my fav list
Bryguyf69
@jwtraveler: What are you talking about? Watch the scene again (3:04). Nazi hatred was changed to love by two gay guys.
Bryguyf69
Here are photos of Matthew “Bugle Boy” Ludwinski:
http://tinyurl.com/mdd5ju8
Here’s his demo reel:
http://www.imdb.com/video/user/vi3266617881
Resumé (with email):
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2828980/resume?ref_=nm_ov_res
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdaMZHHVjNk
Sluggo2007
@jwtraveler: The Holocaust was over 70 years ago. Get over it!!! It’s long over. OVER!!!!
Bryguyf69
Matthew Ludwinski is starring in the soon-to-be-released Kiss Me, Kill Me, which is directed by Caspar Andreas, who plays the Nazi here. It also stars Van Hansis, who played teen Luke Snyder (As the World Turns), the first gay male soap character to have a real kiss (as opposed to shadowy implied kisses). Many kisses, in fact. He’s all grown up, and no longer has to wax his chest to look like a teen. Still sexy as hell, with a killer smile. Watch the end, with the wicked grin as he points down. Use your imagination to concoct what he’s pointing at… 🙂
On a more serious note, I don’t know if he’s gay but he has sure done a lot of gay projects. And of course, there were those rumors about Tyler Hanes when Hansis thanked him in a Broadway bio. Not to mention the famous photos of the two wearing the same shirt, sparking rumors that they share clothes. Google “Van Hansis Tyler Hanes.” Regardless, I’ve met Hansis. A really nice and genuine guy.
Here is Van Hasis and the fabulous Allison Lane, who posted above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgKg_uhT9RE
blackberry finn
@jwtraveler: You know that Mel Brooks was Jewish, right?
Mitch Broderick
This was stupid. Celebrate the idea that the gay guy is a gigantic whore whose sole purpose of existing is to give his servicemen blow jobs? I hate other gay people.
Chris
Hilarious!
Bryguyf69
@Mitch Broderick: Where did you get ANY of that? How can you surmise what his “sole purpose of existing” is from a 4 min video?
jwtraveler
@Bryguyf69:
This video is a parody. It’s cute and funny and sexy. The Nazis were none of those things. The Nazis were nearly as brutal to gays as they were to Jews. Having the Nazi “changed” by the love of two men trivializes what the Nazis did. @Sluggo2007: The Holocaust is over, but Nazi ideology and hatred of Jews are not. And all Jews in the world live with the knowledge of several millennia of anti-Jewish discrimination, hatred and genocide. But it’s always comforting to hear someone who has lived with the privilege of being white, male and Christian in America tell me when it’s time to get over it. Like many Jews, I can’t see a Nazi swastika without cringing. I wonder, do you also tell black people that slavery ended 150 years ago, so they should “get over” all this nonsense about r-cism?
@blackberry finn: Of course I know that Brooks is Jewish. But just like Christians, we are allowed to disagree about things, including our feelings about immortalizing Hitler in musical comedy. By the way, the portrayal of gay men in the B’way production of “The Producers” was far more offensive than the portrayal of Nazis.
Bryguyf69
@jwtraveler: You and I obviously differ on what parody is. Since when does the object being parodied have to share the same characteristics as the parody itself? Political parody/satire often targets serious and even repulsive topics, making humor and mockery of that which the parodist finds disagreeable. As for trivializing, speak for yourself. Most of us are intelligent and mature enough to not find the Holocaust trivial, no matter what the presentation. Trivia, like humor, is in the eye of the beholder so your assessment says more about you than it does the parody. Finally, saying a topic can’t be parodied is akin to Muslims telling others they can’t draw Allah.
jwtraveler
@Bryguyf69: I don’t entirely understand what you’re trying to say, but you did say “speak for yourself”. Of course I speak for myself. Who else would I speak for? I, myself, felt that this cute, funny parody of the Andrews Sisters’ song included a brief segment that trivialized the inhumanity of the Nazis. I object to that. Clearly you don’t. Am I permitted to feel offended by this reference to a movement and ideology that committed genocide against 6 million people like me because of our religion and caused the death of tens of millions of others around the world? Or have you appointed yourself the arbiter of what is or isn’t offensive?
Finally, I never said that something can’t be parodied. Parody is a very useful social, political and literary device. But it can also be used to harm. I assume you are referring to the Muslim objection to drawing Mohammed, not Allah. (They’re not the same). And while Muslims can not prohibit others from drawing Mohammed, I would ask why so many people have recently been so eager to publish drawings of Mohammed. Most of them seem to have no other purpose than to offend, antagonize and provoke Muslim anger. I don’t see that as a constructive use of parody.
RyanMBecker
@jwtraveler: As a Jew, I found the video cute, clever and sexy, and had no problems with the Nazi imagery. Save the sanctimonious lecture for an appropriate forum. And no, strict Muslims cannot depict Mohammed OR Allah
Saint Law
@Sluggo2007: “The Holocaust…get over it!!It’s long over.”
I am so with you!! Let the next Eurovision be held in Auschwitz!!
Saint Law
@RyanMBecker: Um, I’ve had my differences with JW Gawd knows. But you are aware this is an internet blog, right? The only criteria for posting is having an opinion and being able to type.
Stache99
@jwtraveler: I’m totally with you. Parodies about religion should not be tolerated. Those fucks at Charlie Hebdo got what they deserved.
jwtraveler
@RyanMBecker: So my ideas are sanctimonious because you feel differently? And you, like @Bryguyf69, are telling me what I’m allowed to think and say here about an issue that is personal and important to me. I grew up in a Jewish tradition where discussion and debate about social, cultural and political issues is as much about being Jewish as is matzoh balls and menorahs. I don’t know what your upbringing was like, but I find your comment more offensive than Bryguyf69’s. He may be an ignorant goy; you should know better.
@Stache99: NO! You are totally NOT with me. You’re reading something into my comment that’s not there. Parodies about religion should absolutely be tolerated. Religion deserves no more protection than any other ideology or social movement. To say that political writers should be slaughtered for expressing controversial ideas is abhorrent. You’re espousing Fascism, which is the absolute OPPOSITE of what I’m promoting.
The point I was trying to make is that parody of religion should have a social or political objective. I was not critiquing the Charlie Hebdo cartoons (which I have not seen), but others, notably in Denmark and by Pamela Geller’s group (AFDI) which had NO PURPOSE other than to offend, antagonize and provoke. But that doesn’t mean that a violent response is appropriate, acceptable or excusable.
I hope this clarifies my point.
BTW, For anyone who doesn’t like the fact that I’m expressing my opinion here, you’re free to ignore it.
expressionlessanger
@jwtraveler: The fact that you’re arrogant enough to think of yourself as some universal yardstick for Jewry says it all. The proof is your claim that @RyanMBecker “should know better.” As a Jew, I agree with @RyanMBecker and @Bryguyf69. And you know what, I don’t give a damn if I don’t live up to your idea of a good Jew. In fact, I’m flattered that I’m not matched to an arrogant, sanctimonious, judgmental gasbag.
RyanMBecker
@expressionlessanger: Thanks but i just ignore people like Jwtraveler, which is why I didn’t reply. What he defines to be a good Jew means very little to me. He’s the type that needs to belittle others to validate himself. Whatever. I’m a Jew, and I found the video to be funny, including the scene with Hitler. If Jwtraveler thinks lesser of me, or otherwise doesn’t approve, that’s his problem, not mine. Like you said, his disapproval can even be a badger of honor.
charbo
Allison Lane is so clever. The video is a hoot!
rumforall503
This is a WAR TIME song. Nazis were part of that war. The point is this guy sucks such good dick that he wins over EVERY GUY in WWII, including the enemy. It is not anti-sematic and it is not making fun of a religion or people, nor is it some insensitive invalidation of a people’s suffering. Why does everybody have to be so damn sensitive?
jwtraveler
@rumforall503: I’d like to hear you say that after someone tries to wipe your people off the map.
Here’s a questions for you: Why does everyone have to be so angry when someone expresses an opinion that they don’t share?
rumforall503
You know as much about my people and history as you do about comedy.
Francisco Huergo
hahaha they’re gonna bring back “don’t ask don’t tell” after seeing this article title
Guido Habets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8rbHwMXMT8&feature=player_embedded
Chris Oakleaf
I’m so happy for my friend Allison Lane that you picked this!
Cornelius Cleveland
Too funny!
jwtraveler
@Guido Habets: Thank you so much for posting this. I wish more people would see it and think about. And ask ourselves: What were we celebrating when DADT was repealed? How does serving in the U.S. Military have anything to do with freedom, equality or human rights?
The answer is they guy tells it is clear: IT DOESN’T!
Thanks again.