10 Plus Stars.
This CLASSIC comedy is actually two stories rolled in one, and with a stellar cast of supporting actors, generally found in Laurel and Hardy films. Here, the boys get drafted and turn the war upside down, but also manage to become heroes? The sergeant sends them out on a "suicide mission" (for obvious reasons!) Stan and Ollie get into a tank that manages to hook a barb wire fence --and they round up the enemies!
The casualty of the war is their best friend Eddie, who has a cute baby girl (well played by Jacquie Lyn Dufton). Stan and Ollie spend the rest of the film trying to track down Eddie's father so Jacquie will have a home. At the same time, they're running a hot dog stand on wheels to support themselves!
One of the craziest scenes has the boys trying to hide Jacquie from a welfare officer (Charles Middleton) who wants to put her in an orphanage. A lot of it was made up as they went along with a very thin script or outline. Stand outs are director George Marshall who plays the boiling army cook. Marshall would occasionally get into bit roles and have some fun. Charlie Middleton is spot on as the heartless welfare man, a role he was so good at.
Also Richard Tucker, long time actor in silent films, is funny as Mr. Smith, the bank manager --and Eddie's real deal father! He says to Stan and Ollie he'd have to be "unconscious" to loan them money and then gets knocked out! Watch for this goofy scene. Somehow(?) they get the money, leave the bank and drop the cash in the street, only to have a cop chase them and hand it back! Priceless stuff.
Production notes indicate Anita Louise was to be cast in the film as the leading lady, but her role was written out of the final script. The only female part of significance is Mrs. MacTavish, the baby sitter, played by veteran Mary Gordon (best known as Sherlock Holmes landlady).
There was some controversary for many years as to what ever happened to child actress Jacquie Lyn Dufton, who also appeared in a few Our Gang films.
The story goes her stepfather asked for more money and she was cut from the studio, later getting married as an adult, but still living in California. In the early 90s, Stan Laurel's daugher put out a notice (via the Sons of the Desert fan club), asking to be contacted, and Jacquie actually responded. Now an official member of movie history.
Laurel and Hardy's next film would be THE DEVILS BROTHER, co-starring their old pal Thelma Todd. Always on dvd and remastered blu ray, and thanks to much to MOVIES Net for rerunning this gem of gems on Saturday mornings.
This CLASSIC comedy is actually two stories rolled in one, and with a stellar cast of supporting actors, generally found in Laurel and Hardy films. Here, the boys get drafted and turn the war upside down, but also manage to become heroes? The sergeant sends them out on a "suicide mission" (for obvious reasons!) Stan and Ollie get into a tank that manages to hook a barb wire fence --and they round up the enemies!
The casualty of the war is their best friend Eddie, who has a cute baby girl (well played by Jacquie Lyn Dufton). Stan and Ollie spend the rest of the film trying to track down Eddie's father so Jacquie will have a home. At the same time, they're running a hot dog stand on wheels to support themselves!
One of the craziest scenes has the boys trying to hide Jacquie from a welfare officer (Charles Middleton) who wants to put her in an orphanage. A lot of it was made up as they went along with a very thin script or outline. Stand outs are director George Marshall who plays the boiling army cook. Marshall would occasionally get into bit roles and have some fun. Charlie Middleton is spot on as the heartless welfare man, a role he was so good at.
Also Richard Tucker, long time actor in silent films, is funny as Mr. Smith, the bank manager --and Eddie's real deal father! He says to Stan and Ollie he'd have to be "unconscious" to loan them money and then gets knocked out! Watch for this goofy scene. Somehow(?) they get the money, leave the bank and drop the cash in the street, only to have a cop chase them and hand it back! Priceless stuff.
Production notes indicate Anita Louise was to be cast in the film as the leading lady, but her role was written out of the final script. The only female part of significance is Mrs. MacTavish, the baby sitter, played by veteran Mary Gordon (best known as Sherlock Holmes landlady).
There was some controversary for many years as to what ever happened to child actress Jacquie Lyn Dufton, who also appeared in a few Our Gang films.
The story goes her stepfather asked for more money and she was cut from the studio, later getting married as an adult, but still living in California. In the early 90s, Stan Laurel's daugher put out a notice (via the Sons of the Desert fan club), asking to be contacted, and Jacquie actually responded. Now an official member of movie history.
Laurel and Hardy's next film would be THE DEVILS BROTHER, co-starring their old pal Thelma Todd. Always on dvd and remastered blu ray, and thanks to much to MOVIES Net for rerunning this gem of gems on Saturday mornings.