Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Friday, May 9, 2008

FLYING DEUCES


FLYING DEUCES (1939). Director: A. Edward Sutherland.

Ollie proposes to French waitress Georgette (Jean Parker), unaware that she already has a husband, Francois (Reginald Gardiner). Broken-hearted, he decides to commit suicide, and Stan -- who'd be lost without him -- has to take the plunge into the Seine (where a shark is somehow on the loose) with him. But they wind up in the foreign legion instead, where they have to deal with a jealous Francois and a stern commandant (Charles Middleton, better-known as Ming the Merciless). Not a classic by any means, but this does have many amusing moments, especially the mountain of laundry! Stan makes like Harpo Marx and plays the bed springs of a mattress like a harp at one point. Amusing wind-up.

Verdict: Mostly for L & H enthusiasts; all others beware. **1/2.

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