The Flying Deuces *** (1939, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Jean Parker, James Finlayson, Charles Middleton, Jean Del Val, Crane Whitley) – Classic Movie Review 8512

Director A Edward Sutherland’s 1939 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy comedy The Flying Deuces has its weaknesses and its downsides but it is still likeable and amusing for the most part, though, and it does not outstay its welcome at a fast-moving 66 minutes.

Hardy has fallen in love with an innkeeper’s daughter Georgette (Jean Parker) in Paris but she is still in love with her husband Francois (Reginald Gardiner) and Hardy is jilted. And so now Ollie apparently has only two choices – either jump into the Seine or join the Foreign Legion with Stan. Luckily he and Laurel do the latter, and of course they are such rotten soldiers that soon they find themselves sentenced to be shot at dawn as deserters.

Though the comedy in The Flying Deuces is too repetitive and there are many echoes of the rather better earlier Beau Hunks and Bonnie Scotland, there are still some good gags and routines, especially Stan playing a tune on the bed springs and Stan doing a little dance. In some ways the film is a part remake of Beau Hunks, with Charles Middleton playing the hostile Foreign Legion Commandant in both movies.

Also in the cast are James Finlayson as Jailor, Charles Middleton as Commandant, Jean Del Val as Sergeant, Crane Whitley (billed as Clem Wilenchick) as Corporal, Rychard Cramer, Michael Visaroff and Frank Clarke.

The Flying Deuces is directed by A Edward Sutherland, runs 69 minutes (or 65 minutes), is made by RKO Radio Pictures and Boris Morros Productions, is released by RKO, is written by Ralph Spence, Alfred Schiller, Harry Langdon and Charles Rogers (all original story and screenplay), shot in black and white by Art Lloyd and Elmer Dyer (aerial photography), produced by Boris Morros and scored by John Leipold, Leo Shuken, and Edward Paul (musical director), with Art Direction by Boris Leven.

It was shot at General Service Studios, 1040 North Las Palmas, Hollywood.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8512

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