The Flying Deuces

Plot synopsis:
While on holiday in Paris, Ollie falls so much in love with Georgette, the beautiful daughter of an innkeeper, he intends to marry her. Unfortunately, she turns down his marriage proposal because there is someone else, "very much so". (Unbeknownst to him at the moment, a Foreign Legion officer named Francois is her husband, and has returned briefly to see her.) Ollie is heartbroken to the point of committing suicide. Just as he about to jump into a river (with Stan joining him), Francois, happening to catch sight of them about to do so, convinces the duo to enlist in the Foreign Legion in order to forget Ollie's failed romance. When Stan asks him how long it will take Ollie to forget, should they join the Foreign Legion, Francois points out it will only take a matter of a few days. Enticed by Francois's offer, plus the fact that Ollie will completely forget his failed romance very shortly, they enlist.
Right from the start they wreak havoc in training camp, and when they are taken to see the commandant to be introduced to their daily legionnaire duties, he gives them a full litany of long tasks, for which their daily wage is 100 centimes, which, translated into American currency amounts to only three cents. Hardy flatly tells the commandant neither he nor Stan will have any part of it for only three cents a day, to which Stan concurs that they don't work for less than 25 cents a day. For this uppity attitude they are sentenced to very menial hard labor, washing and ironing a mountain of laundry, with legion officers constantly on their backs ("Go ON!! Get back to WORK!!! Whaddya think this IS?!!"). Finally and 'miraculously', Ollie manages to forget his broken romance completely, (thus no longer having to work in the legion) and, his and Stan's purpose in joining the Foreign Legion fulfilled, they prepare to leave the legion and go back home to the United States...but before they do, fed up with the harsh discipline and the endless punishments they had to suffer, Ollie intends to tell off the commandant on their way out. They are unable to find the commandant and unwilling to search for him. So Ollie writes him a very insulting farewell letter and signs it.
Before long they meet Georgette again, and Ollie is at first delighted that she has changed her mind and come back to him and proceeds to embrace and kiss her. Ollie, however, becomes un-delighted by Francois, the same Foreign Legion officer who had encouraged them to join the Legion earlier, who icily informs him that Georgette happens to be his wife and threateningly warns him to stay away from her, or else. After Francois leaves, the commandant appears on the scene and grimly tells Stan and Ollie he received their stern farewell note, and it has now become their death warrant. He then pronounces them under arrest for desertion. They are then taken to the prison, locked up and summarily sentenced to be shot at dawn. At one point the jailor forgets to lock the door. Stan amazes Ollie by playing The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise on the bedsprings. As he is about to play another piece, the jailor yells at them to be quiet. Later in the evening, someone throws a hint informing them that they can escape by means of a tunnel leading from their cell to the outside wall. Stan brings on an accidental cave-in which causes the underground path to lead to, of all places, Francois and Georgette's dwelling. In no time at all, the whole legion engages in hot pursuit of the boys, who manage to flee to a nearby hangars and hide out in an airplane, which Stan accidentally starts up, forcing the boys to fly it until it ultimately crashes. Stan manages to emerge seemingly unharmed from the crash, but Ollie has died, seen ascending into the heavens, complete with wings. Eventually, however, he is reincarnated (earlier in the film, the duo contemplated being reincarnated) as a horse (complete with mustache and hat), which pleases Stan. In the final seconds of the film, Ollie makes his famous remark, "Well, here`s another nice mess you`ve gotten me into".

Tags: romantic

Review:
Stan Laurel won a special Oscar in 1960; Oliver Hardy died in 1957 and remains one of the most underrated comics in film history.
This was Laurel and Hardy's first feature film away from producer extraordinaire Hal Roach.
While this is in no way Laurel and Hardy's best work, it still contains enough gags and silliness to entertain fans and the younger set.
Not all of it maintains the pace or the level of their best short features, but there some good scenes and some fine moments that reflect the comic duo near the peak of their form.The story tries to squeeze as much as possible from Stan and Ollie joining the Foreign Legion in order to help Ollie forget his troubles.
That notwithstanding, judged purely on its own terms, this is a splendid way to spend an hour or so.Within the Laurel and Hardy canon, this can be defined as a late Hal Roach film, an era in which originality was fading a little, but they were still entirely in their element and always enjoyable - unlike, perhaps, in their years at Fox. I should say that this film is indeed no masterpiece, and is put together in a slightly slapdash way at times; although the plot does stand up reasonably well - the shift to the Foreign Legion negotiated by a clearly unbelievable coincidence of Reg Gardiner turning up by the riverside.
But it is the lovely 'Shine on Harvest Moon' musical sequence, sung majestically by Hardy and soft-shoed winningly by Laurel (to be joined by Hardy at the end), that is the most memorable part.
Great stuff, well timed - these reflective moments in many ways make the film, mark it out from slightly more routine L&H features of the time.Support includes Reginald Gardiner, fairly competent as the 'French' military cad; Georgette (Jean Parker), the 'dame', as Stan refers to her; a very adequate stooge and coquette, ever brushing her tresses.
And, to properly round things off, we have James Finlayson: the lovably crotchety Scottish foil for the boys, ever bursting at the seams in his indignation at them."The Flying Deuces" is not a great film, but it has many genuinely wonderful moments; well worth a viewing for anyone, whether familiar with this double-act or not; everyone ought to be, as they are one of the most beautiful and abiding attractions ever to have graced the cinema..
Hoping to forget Ollie's blighted love life, the Boys join the French Foreign Legion.
Making their escape, they unwittingly become THE FLYING DEUCES when they find themselves in a runaway airplane...While not one of their classics, in their typical slapstick fashion Stan & Ollie make this a very enjoyable film to watch.
Oliver is in love with Georgette (Jean Parker), but his heart breaks when he finds out that Georgette has someone other.That other is Francois (Reginald Gardiner), who is Georgette's husband.So Stanley and Oliver join the Foreign Legion to forget Georgette.There is also Francois at the Foreign Legion.The boys have many adventures there, like going to jail and escaping from there.And it is hilarious to watch the boys flying an airplane at the end.The Flying Deuces from 1939 is a very funny Laurel and Hardy comedy and I'm sure it's not a disappointment for any Laurel and Hardy fans..
This sets up some very funny business and the selfsame Reginald Gardiner who doesn't know Ollie is sweet on Jean persuades them that the Foreign Legion is the place for them.Of course upon arriving in North Africa, the Legion proves a bit much to their delicate sensibilities.
What's interesting in The Flying Deuces is that in most Laurel and Hardy films, dumb and dumber always flop no matter what they scheme.
It's refined slapstick, made up of facial gestures, anger, repetition, big life decisions like falling in love, suicide, joining the French foreign legion, and flying a plane without much control of a wheel.
It's not a very complex storyline, as Hardy falls for a girl, can't get her, feels down about it almost enough to jump into the river, but gets a word of advice right before it happens by a fellow traveler to join the foreign legion to forget about it.
But they get in over their heads by joining, and want to quit, and soon become the biggest bumbling boobs to ever join up, leading to many chases, and that death-defying plane ride (or is it?)It's the kind of film that unless getting head-on into Laurel and Hardy's distinctive and influential comedy timing will only really be of interest if passed on down as a child.
I still remember most fondly the song and dance number Laurel and Hardy do in a moment of a jam (Shine on Harvest Moon, I think it was called), and the supporting character work is also a fine plus.
And, quite frankly, one of those quintessential wacky end scenes that keeps me smiling, and laughing depending on who I'm talking with about it, where a certain horse with a mustache and hat appears saying "another fine mess you got me into." A pick-me-up comedy of manners and pratfalls, it'll always have a place in my collection not only for nostalgic reasons (it was one of the first videos I ever owned), but for its stamina so many years later..
Poor Ollie at first decides to end it all and take his good pal Stan with him, until he gets a better suggestion to just join the Foreign Legion to try and forget his troubles.
A good solid comedy from Laurel and Hardy, nearing the very end of their best period in the Hal Roach movies.
Not that I don't love Laurel and Hardy, but it's hard for me to find one of their feature films where I am completely entertained the whole way through.
Edward Sutherland, stars the comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their first feature film away from their home lot of the Hal Roach/MGM Studios.
Aside from their usual antics, there's also James Finlayson, their frequent foil, doing his familiar double-take as a harassed jailer in the latter portion of the story, and Charles Middleton (of BEAU HUNKS) adding some more of his usual no-nonsense flavor as their commanding officer.This time around, Stan and Ollie (as they are simply billed in the closing credits), are Americans from Iowa vacationing in Paris.
After some failed attempts, thanks to Stanley, Francois (Reginald Gardiner), a legionnaire who happens to be passing by, advises Ollie the best way to forget his troubles is to join the foreign legion, which they do.
Although the title promises air travel, it really doesn't take off until much later where Stan and Ollie escape jail and a firing squad, leading to a merry chase around the base before seeking refuge inside an airplane that takes them to the air but not with the greatest of ease.In true Laurel and Hardy tradition, slapstick and chase scenes are the focal point along with Oliver telling Stanley the familiar phrase, "Well, here's another fine mess you've gotten me into." There's also a nice musical interlude where Oliver displays his fine vocalization to "Shine On, Harvest Moon" (by Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth) at the post courtyard while Stanley does his own style of dancing.
There's also another musical moment where Stanley plays a harp on a prison bed spring to "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise" in the best Harpo Marx tradition while waiting to be shot at sunrise with his pal for desertion.In the wake of home video, movie rentals and cable television in the early 1980s, THE FLYING DEUCES, was easily accessible by numerous distributors.
In recent years, American Movie Classics has presented the complete 68 minute print into its lineup of Laurel and Hardy festivals from 1994 to 1999; followed by Turner Classic Movies where THE FLYING DEUCES premiered January 5, 2006.While not quite as spectacular or hilarious as some of their comedies for Hal Roach, yet better than the ones Stan and Ollie made during their declining years over at 20th Century-Fox (1941-1945), THE FLYING DEUCES is something to consider whether it be from the wild airplane ride, the cameo appearance by talking horse with a familiar sounding voice, or for the comedy team of Stan and Ollie.
Of all the comedy teams in film to date, none have ever surpassed the popular duo of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
An independently-produced effort while contractual disputes with Hal Roach were on-going,THE FLYING DEUCES is possibly the best non-Roach Laurel and Hardy vehicle,because at least Stan Laurel was allowed some say on the plot and script content.The original draft was apparently woefully unsuitable(as were virtually all their wartime Fox and MGM features),and the story itself is pretty thin(an obvious reworking of BEAU HUNKS)and the production rather cheap.What saves the picture from mediocrity are some familiar names in the supporting cast like Charles Middleton and (especially) James Finlayson from the Roach studios,with others like Richard Cramer,Arthur Housman,Eddie Borden and Sam Lufkin in much smaller parts.With such performers in support it does at least give it the feel of a Roach film,with the addition of their favourite cameraman Art Lloyd behind the scenes another plus factor.That said,the comic material itself is not of a particularly high standard,maybe because of the initial weakness of the original story and draft,and the amount of pancake makeup they both wear cannot disguise they were beginning to age somewhat after their Roach studios peak.Despite funny gags and individual scenes,THE FLYING DEUCES is rather patchy,and one yearns for rather more of Middleton's stentorian tones(their simply isn't enough of him in the film)than Ollie's simpering over Jean Parker.Her on-screen husband Reginald Gardiner starts off in amiable conversation with the boys persuading them to join the Foreign Legion,but he turns decidedly unsympathetic and hostile once they've enlisted,especially when he finds out that Ollie is in love with his wife.Much comic potential is not explored because unlike BEAU HUNKS(which was not perfect but shorter and rather better),there are few jokes about their tribulations in the Legion itself;the best scenes are some charming,if slightly irrelevant, musical interludes,involving Ollie singing 'Shine On Harvest Moon' while Stan performs a nifty soft-shoe shuffle,Stan playing 'The World Is Waiting For Sunrise' on his prison cell bed mattress(Ollie taps his feet amusingly during this number!),and some funny business with their best ever foil James Finlayson.The rest frankly is something of a disappointment,but we can be thankful at least that Laurel and Hardy are still in character here,which was not the case in their films from 1941 onwards,because of big film studio interference and reluctance to give Stan Laurel artistic control.THE FLYING DEUCES is certainly no classic,but is still fairly enjoyable and a decent L & H film thanks to producer Boris Morros' decision to give Stan a degree of creative freedom.Now why didn't the producers at Fox or MGM do that?.
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy wreak havoc on the French Foreign Legion in this film.
Stan and Ollie had been a team for a dozen years when they made "Flying Deuces." Their best full length films were those produced in their first 13 years as a team at Hal Roach studios.
It's a very solid L&H film.The Plot.Oliver is heartbroken when he finds that Georgette, the innkeeper's daughter he's fallen in love with, is already married to dashing Foreign Legion officer Francois.
Having just reunited with Oliver Hardy after Hardy briefly went solo in Zenobia due to some contract dispute with Hal Roach, Stan Laurel and Ollie would be loaned to independent producer Boris Morros for The Flying Deuces.
In this one, Ollie is trying to forget a girl who turned him down for marriage so he and Stan join the Foreign Legion.
Plenty of funny gags abound during the first 30 minutes while the last 40 is uneven especially toward the end but the boys are charming throughout even during the number "Shine On, Harvest Moon" with Hardy warbling while Laurel dances though I did wonder if Stan really played the harp in a later jail sequence (probably not, judging from Ollie's reactions).
In fact, before his death, Sutherland said of Laurel, "I'd rather have worked with a tarantula." He probably had a much better time the following year when he introduced another comedy team on film that had just finished a Broadway run in "Streets of Paris"...
I'm not the biggest Laurel and Hardy fan, I really like their silent work, but their sound films don't sit well with me.
I have to say that this actually started REALLY slowly, with Ollie getting depressed over losing a girl and trying to commit suicide (while a escapee shark trolls nearby!) but soon the story, and my interest picked up once they joined the Foreign Legion, after that it became a light light piece of work, but OK for an hour sit-through.
There is very good reason why Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are widely considered comedy geniuses and one of the most highly regarded comedy duos there is/was.
Even their lesser efforts were not unwatchable and had their good parts.While 'The Flying Deuces' is a long way from being one of Laurel and Hardy's all-time best and from being a classic, it is still very enjoyable and one of their better faring later films before their decline period, even with its faults.
James Finlayson and Charles Middleton are the supporting cast standouts and Jean Parker is a charmer as the love interest.Many funny moments here, with one of the better and funnier opening scenes of their later films and a deliciously wild ending.
It only has three or four funny moments in it and has possibly the dumbest (and worst) endings of any Laurel and Hardy movie.
What a woefully unfunny movie "The Flying Deuces" is, and if it's representative of Laurel & Hardy (which I've heard it's not), there's not much chance of me liking their other stuff.
To forget her, he joins the Legion, taking Stanley with him.Laurel and hardy are a strange sort of comedy.
Being a bit of a romantic, his reaction is to try suicide, but before he can go through with it, he is told that the best way to forget is to join the Foreign Legion.
Prior to joining the Foreign Legion, the two have some really funny scenes.The logic of a Laurel and Hardy film is worthy of Lewis Carroll.Spoilers follow: One really funny scene is when they were in prison, sentenced to be executed at dawn, and Stan uses a set of bedsprings as a kind of harp, to play music to while away the hours.
This was a poor Laurel and Hardy vehicle--probably because it was their first film outside of Hal Roach Studios.
Some of the plot lines go nowhere, ie: Ollie in love, and the escaped shark;The lines are often said with little to no emotion, and the pacing is sometimes bad (a more frequent musical score probably would have helped these two problems), but it is still a very amusing film with plenty of moments you just can't help laughing out loud at.
In 1939 - 1940 Laurel & Hardy's long contractual relationship with Hal Roach was coming to an end.
The owner of the elephant is Harry Langdon, and there were rumors at the time that Roach was toying with a new teaming of Hardy and Langdon.Under the circumstances of Roach's antics, it is just possible that the decision of Stan and Babe to make "The Flying Deuces" with Boris Morros as producer was a counter-move: a type of testing the waters to see if the boys needed Roach to be there in order to make successful comedy features.
"The Flying Deuces" is not one of their greatest comedies (like "Sons Of The Desert") but it is a very amusing one.Although a story and screenplay is listed as the source of the film, one imagines the real source goes back to a short subject movie made a few years earlier called "Beau Hunks".
The rest of the short deals with their hard life as legionnaires (under Commandant Charles Middleton) and the fact that the horrified Hardy keeps finding that every man in the Foreign Legion is there trying to forget Jean Harlow (as is the leader of the Riffs!).As you can see there are elements in "Beau Hunks" that are picked up in "The Flying Deuces".
When they are going to their quarters, Stan and Ollie break into a soft shoe and song of "Shine On Harvest Moon" (no doubt influenced by similar moments where they did singing and dancing in "Way Out West" the year before.
It's been years since I watched a Laurel and Hardy film, but viewing "Flying Deuces" was a great reminder of just how brilliant they were.
Here the boys sign up for the French Foreign Legion when their Paris vacation ends with Ollie's marriage proposal being rejected by the lovely Georgette (Jean Parker).
This is the second L&H film in which they enlist in the French Foreign Legion to forget a woman Ollie is infatuated with.
They try to fly away in a stolen airplane, though neither actually know how to pilot said plane.There are good bits-where Stan plays a set of bedsprings like a harp, and where they make their escape from confinement.
As the 1930's came to a close, it became apparent that the comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy was reaching a turning point in their career.
For this entry, their first after leaving the Hal Roach studios, they are playing Americans in Paris who decide to enlist in the Foreign Legion so Hardy can get over his unrequited love for French waitress Jean Parker.Of course, as the boys were apt to do, they get into nothing but trouble as they fail to live up to Foreign Legion standards.
An amusing moment has the boys breaking into a light dance to "Shine on Harvest Moon", and only in a Foreign Legion jail cell would Stanley find a harp.