tmpj Something of a dis-appointment for me...though I have seen this one before in years gone by...it was not one of my favorites, and is probably most memorable for the scene where the guys are going to end it all in Paris under the bridge. At this stage of the game, the novelty of Laurel and Hardy was beginning to wear thin. Newer stars, fresher stories, newer techniques and, obviously, a new mind-set for audiences of that period had begun to make their efforts somewhat passé in the passing parade of comedy in particular, and film in general. Of course, the legendary status of Laurel and Hardy commanded a certain respect from Hollywood and the audiences, but it is clear from this film that their star was beginning to fade. Their real heyday was already behind them, even here in 1939. The RKO effort truly seems to be out of the typical element of L and H as opposed to their Hal Roach efforts...maybe that was intended...but the effect is that of a somewhat watered down effort that does not come up to par with some of the madcap/screwball comedies that had become part of the cinematic diet of the 1930s, and L and H are scrambling to keep from being left in the dust. Ultimately it fails, and though L and H continued to be something of a salable commodity in their 20th Century Fox efforts to come...the magic was fast dis-appearing. This film, "Flying Deuces" and the up-coming "A Chump at Oxford" would be, perhaps, their last hurrah at cornering the creative market for cinema. Afterwards ( pardon the pun) , they would rest and rely on their "Laurels". Incidentally, Stanley was a Rhodes scholar, and was the "brains" of the outfit, despite his impish, submissive character which played second fiddle to the more robust My Hardy. Though this is NOT one of their better efforts, I can recommend it as a nod of respect to a great duo who were probably becoming passé through no real fault of their own...physical comedy and gags of that sort had run their course, and were simply becoming passé as audiences became more sophisticated.

lugonian THE FLYING DEUCES (RKO Radio, 1939), directed by A. 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. It also marked their return to the screen since BLOCKHEADS (1938), during which time Oliver Hardy had teamed up with another comic, Harry Langdon in ZENOBIA (United Artists, 1939). While it's interesting watching Hardy interact with another comedian other than Stanley (who never worked alone after being initially teamed with Hardy in the late 1920s), it clearly shows that Laurel and Hardy are the screen's most perfect pair. With this being their welcoming return, and more feature films ahead into the 1940s, THE FLYING DEUCES has the distinction of being a Hal Roach comedy without being a Hal Roach comedy. It also marked the team's return into the foreign legion, having already done so in their four-reel featurette, BEAU HUNKS (1931), a "Beau Geste" spoof. 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. On their last days before returning to their jobs at the fish market, it is learned that Oliver has fallen in love with Georgette (Jean Parker), a café hostess whom he hopes to marry. Refusing his proposal, Ollie decides to end it all by attaching himself to a huge rock, throwing himself into the Seine River (unknown to them to be infested by a shark), and taking Stanley with him. 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. All goes well until Stan and Ollie learn from their stern commandant (Charles Middleton) that they'll be paid "three cents a day" for their chores, and that Georgette, who's seen around the base, happens to be the wife of Francois. Will Oliver try more suicide attempts? Will Stan and Ollie move up to the ranks in the foreign legion? Will they ever return to their old jobs in Iowa? Stick around and find out.What's does all this have to do with the flying deuces? 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. Some VHS copies contained shorter prints with missing bits from airplane climax, others with inferior picture, sound quality, or both, as well as colorized. Beware of similar problems that may be found on DVD. The best quality happened to be one by Hal Roach Home Video with excellent visuals, sound, and the original RKO Radio Pictures studio logo and closing cast credits restored. 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. (***)

Neil Doyle This is a really slow-paced Laurel and Hardy comedy that would have been better served as a one-reel silent comedy. The material is too thin to sustain even the one hour and six minute length and most of the gags are too familiar to be really funny.The far-fetched plot has Oliver falling hard for waitress JEAN PARKER, not knowing that she's already married to military man REGINALD GARDINER. He's sympathetic at first, advising the boys to join the French Foreign Legion and get over the idea of suicide because Oliver's advances have been rejected.The script then fails to take full advantage of the Foreign Legion idea, just using a series of frantic escapes from authorities when they're designated deserters for refusing to work for 3 cents a day. Who could blame them? No such thing as inflation back then.Their final escape involves getting into an airplane neither one can fly with disastrous results. The twist at the end seems to have gotten negative responses from several commentators here, but I thought it was a clever idea. Too bad both JEAN PARKER and REGINALD GARDINER have very little to do.Typical example of the dialog: Oliver Hardy: "It's a nice pickle we're in. Shot at sunrise." Stan Laurel: "I hope it's cloudy." Trivia note: JAMES FINLAYSON as The Jailer looks so much like Franklin Pangborn, even similar in his facial expressions.

BJJManchester 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?