The Flying Deuces (1939)

Oliver is heartbroken when he finds that Georgette, the inkeeper's daughter he's fallen in love with, is already married to dashing Foreign Legion officer Francois. To forget her, he joins ... See full summary »

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Ralph Spence (original story and screen play), Charley Rogers (original story and screen play),

Stars:

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Jean Parker

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Oliver is heartbroken when he finds that Georgette, the inkeeper's daughter he's fallen in love with, is already married to dashing Foreign Legion officer Francois. To forget her, he joins the Legion, taking Stanley with him. Their bumbling eventually gets them charged with desertion and sentenced to a firing squad. They manage to escape in a stolen airplane, but crash after a wild ride.

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Plot Keywords:

desertion | foreign legion | escape | arc de triomphe paris | france | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Flying Aces

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boris Morros Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min 65 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The harp music Stan plays in his cell is played by Harpo Marx, who apparently also coached Stan on imitating his fingerings.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Oliver: Hey Stan... oh, Stan... over here...
Stanley: [Stan does a take - sees a horse in a pasture with Oliver's hat and mustache] Ollie... is it really you?
Oliver: [as horse] Of course it's me. Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.
Stanley: Gee I'm glad to see you!
[scene fades, end of film]

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Connections

Remake of Beau Hunks (1931)

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Soundtracks

"Ku-Ku"
(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Marvin Hatley
Played throughout as part of the score

User Reviews

post-Hal Roach feature is sufficiently light and silly

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. Stan Laurel is as sharp as always as is Babe Hardy but the story is somewhat lacking and drags in spots. The premise is good though: Trying to forget a woman who turned him down, Ollie wants to drown himself and convinces Stan that he must do the same. The boys meet an officer of the Foreign Legion who convinces them that they should join the Legion to help forget. Of course you know these two misfits are not going to do well in the Legion with its strict military code and constant marching. This leads to many good moments when, for example, the boys are forced to wash and press "a mountain" of laundry(literally). I especially liked the stunt flying and the surprise ending which, for me, wrapped everything up neatly. The part I really didn't like is having Ollie act like a simpering idiot when in love. It is just plain embarrassing. In their older films, they would get into bad situations but were never the objects of ridicule. Thankfully, this sequence passes by quickly enough and we go on to some great gags.

Sadly, the boys would end up making only one good film after this one (Saps at Sea)before moving to MGM and Fox where they were stuck in a bunch of bad or very average films.