The Flying Deuces (1939)

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Ralph Spence (original story and screenplay) &
Charley Rogers (original story and screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 November 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

HERE'S HYSTERICAL HISTORY! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Oliver is heartbroken when he finds that Georgette, the inkeeper's daughter he's fallen in love with...

Plot Keywords:

Foreign Legion | Desertion | Escape | Airplane Accident | France

Cast

Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie
Jean Parker	...	Georgette
Reginald Gardiner	...	Francois
Charles Middleton	...	Commandant
Jean Del Val	...	Sergeant
Crane Whitley	...	Corporal (as Clem Wilenchick)
James Finlayson	...	Jailor

Also Known As:

Flying Aces

Runtime:

69 min | USA:65 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #5668) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Sweden:Btl | Finland:S | Spain:T | UK:U

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Boris Morros Productions

Trivia:

The sketch of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in the first scene was drawn by Harry Langdon.

Goofs:

Continuity: The water pitcher changes position before and after Laurel slides the desk in front of the window.

Quotes:

Stanley: [watching a pair of airplanes doing acrobatics] I wonder what keeps them up?
Oliver: I don't know. But I do know what keeps me DOWN!
[firmly and deliberately taps his shoe on the pavement in front of him to indicate how safe and solid it is and how he never intends to let his feet leave the ground]
Stanley: Yes, sir - good old Terracotta Firma for me!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dick und Doof, die Unzertrennlichen (1968)

Soundtrack:

Shine On, Harvest Moon

Ollie Gets His Wish

I saw Swiss Miss and The Flying Deuces back to back and in doing so spotted what was wrong with Swiss Miss. It didn't need that whole operetta subplot, it just needed Stan and Ollie. Then watching The Flying Deuces I was completely convinced I was right.

What's wrong with The Flying Deuces is that it's made on the cheap as cost conscious Hal Roach always did it. But that's OK in a slapstick comedy, especially one that borders on the surreal.

The boys are on holiday in Paris, but Stan thinks it's about time they return back to their jobs in the fish market in Des Moines. But Ollie thinks he's in love, unfortunately to Jean Parker who is married to Reginald Gardiner.

Ollie is distraught on learning the news and wants to throw himself in the Seine and end his troubles and he wants Stan to share in the suicide as well. 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. Especially stern commander Charles Middleton who plays it as he would Ming the Merciless.

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. In this case they're still quite dumb, but the Legion is populated with a gang of 'tards that even they outwit. Especially old nemesis James Finlayson who plays a jailer.

Of course it all does flop in the end for the boys. But Ollie mentions that he does have a wish and in the end he gets his wish. And at the end he and Stan have quite the reunion.

And you'll have to see the very funny The Flying Deuces to know what I'm talking about.