The Flying Deuces is a comedy film starring the legendary duo Laurel and Hardy. The story follows Oliver Hardy, who, after being rejected by a woman, decides to join the French Foreign Legion to forget his heartbreak. His loyal friend Stan Laurel reluctantly joins him, leading to a series of comic misadventures involving military life, desert escapades, and mistaken identities.
Genre: Comedy
Director: A. Edward Sutherland
A. Edward Sutherland (1895–1973) was an American actor and director who began his career in silent films, often working with Mack Sennett. He transitioned into directing in the 1920s and became known for comedies, musicals, and light-hearted features. Sutherland directed numerous films for stars like W.C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy, and he developed a reputation for his skill in pacing and handling comedic timing.
Star Cast:
- Stan Laurel as Stan
- Oliver Hardy as Ollie
- Jean Parker as Georgette
- Reginald Gardiner as Francois
- Charles Middleton as Commandant
- James Finlayson as Corporal
The film was well received by audiences who adored Laurel and Hardy’s slapstick humor and enduring chemistry. While not considered one of their very best films, it was a solid success and remains one of their most popular works due to its Foreign Legion setting and memorable gags. Critics of the time praised its light entertainment value, noting the duo’s consistent ability to deliver laughter.
Fun Facts:
- The Flying Deuces was one of Laurel and Hardy’s first films made outside of their longtime home at Hal Roach Studios, produced instead by RKO Radio Pictures.
- The film features a memorable sequence in which Laurel and Hardy attempt to escape execution and later appear to “reincarnate” in the film’s finale, a surreal comic twist.
- James Finlayson, a frequent Laurel and Hardy collaborator, appears once again, contributing his trademark exasperated expressions and comic timing.
- The film’s Foreign Legion setting was later echoed in other comedies, inspiring spoofs by Abbott and Costello and others.
- A. Edward Sutherland had also directed W.C. Fields in several of his notable films, establishing him as a specialist in comedy.
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