The sergeant, who is furious about losing Lili, attempts to sabotage Tommy's basic training, but his scheme backfires and the two men find themselves stationed in Japan.

Lili follows them, and through complicated circumstances the trio wind up stranded on a desert island that is soon visited by two Japanese sailors who are unaware the war has ended.

[3] The Rookie was intended to be the first in a series of films starring the comedy duo, who were being billed as the "new Abbott and Costello" by the studio.

[2] Peter Marshall would later recall the television program Adventures in Paradise was the only other production being filmed at Fox during that time, and he felt the lack of activity made the studio feel like a "ghost town.

[5] The Rookie scored a strong box office performance, encouraging 20th Century-Fox to rehire Noonan and Marshall for a second feature, originally titled Double Trouble but renamed Swingin' Along prior to its 1962 release.