The Flying Deuces Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two guys join the Foreign Legion to forget a girl, and then they just…forget to be good soldiers, resulting in wacky hijinks and one of them becoming a horse.

🍿 The Flying Deuces: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Heartbreak in Paris

Stan and Ollie are vacationing in Paris. Ollie falls deeply in love with Georgette, a beautiful innkeeper’s daughter. He is devastated when he discovers she is already married to Francois, a dashing officer in the French Foreign Legion. Ollie’s heartbreak leads him to contemplate drastic measures, including suicide.

Joining the Foreign Legion

To help Ollie forget Georgette, Francois suggests that they join the French Foreign Legion. Believing this is the best course of action, Ollie convinces Stan to join him. They enlist, hoping the rigorous military life will distract Ollie from his heartbreak. However, they quickly discover that the Foreign Legion is not what they expected.

Trouble in the Legion

Stan and Ollie’s incompetence and bumbling nature quickly get them into trouble with their superiors. They struggle to adapt to the strict military discipline and find themselves assigned to undesirable tasks, such as laundry duty. Their antics and constant mistakes lead to frustration and escalating conflicts with the Commandant and other Legionnaires.

Desertion and Escape

Disgruntled with their meager pay and harsh treatment, Stan and Ollie decide to desert the Foreign Legion. They are caught and sentenced to be shot at sunrise for desertion. While imprisoned, they receive a mysterious note offering an escape route. They find a tunnel leading outside the prison walls, but their escape leads to even more chaos.

The Flying Deuces

During their escape, Stan and Ollie stumble upon an airplane. Neither of them knows how to fly, but they accidentally start the engine and take off. They embark on a wild and uncontrolled flight, narrowly avoiding obstacles and causing mayhem across the Foreign Legion’s base. Their aerial escapade ends in a crash.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Stan (Stan Laurel): A well-meaning but dimwitted friend who is dragged along on Ollie’s misadventures.
• Ollie (Oliver Hardy): A hopeless romantic who joins the Foreign Legion to forget a lost love, bringing Stan along.
• Georgette (Jean Parker): The innkeeper’s daughter whose marriage to Francois causes Ollie’s heartbreak.
• Francois (Reginald Gardiner): The Foreign Legion officer who inadvertently convinces Stan and Ollie to join the legion and the husband of Georgette.
• Commandant (Charles Middleton): The strict and humorless commandant of the Foreign Legion post.
• Jailor (James Finlayson): The exasperated jailor who deals with Stan and Ollie’s antics after they are sentenced.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Oliver: “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!” – A classic line, said in various forms by Ollie to Stan when their antics land them in trouble, in this case, in the Foreign Legion.
• Oliver: “It’s a nice pickle we’re in. Shot at sunrise!” – Ollie’s reaction upon learning they are sentenced to death for desertion.
• Stan: “I hope it’s cloudy tomorrow!” – Stan’s reply to Ollie’s dismay, showing his simple-minded optimism.

💰Box Office

• Budget: None
• Domestic Gross: None
• Worldwide Gross: None

💥 The Flying Deuces Reviews

Personal Review

I’ve always been a fan of classic comedy, and The Flying Deuces is a perfect example of Laurel and Hardy’s timeless appeal. The scene where they attempt to drown themselves is hilarious, and the ‘Shine on Harvest Moon’ musical number is pure joy. I especially loved the ending where Ollie comes back as a horse; it’s so unexpected and funny! I found myself smiling throughout the entire movie.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic comedy”
  • “Admirers of Laurel and Hardy’s slapstick humor”
  • “Viewers seeking lighthearted and family-friendly entertainment”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Slapstick violence”
  • “Mild comical situations”
  • “Cartoonish depictions of peril”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “One of the better and more funnier Laurel & Hardy movies. This movie has a solid story, filled with some delicious ridiculous moments. The ending escape sequence is priceless and memorable. They are in their element in the foreign legion and the movie has a pre-WW II innocence. The cast is really solid.
• IMDb: “While not one of their classics, Stan & Ollie make this a very enjoyable film to watch. By this point in their partnership, the Boys worked so well together that it was almost impossible to imagine one without the other. Highlights: Stan’s Bedsprings Serenade, and a delightful little soft-shoe to `Shine On, Harvest Moon’ (Ollie does the vocalizing).
• IMDb: “THE FLYING DEUCES is one of the team’s last outings and while it’s good, it’s definitely not one of their best. It’s got a good director an the story is fairly typical for L&H. They still look good too, but this is really very close to the end of their careers. It’s a partial remake of Beau Hunks, which is much better.

Audience Reactions

The ‘Shine on Harvest Moon’ sequence is a heartwarming and hilarious highlight.: Viewers consistently praise the unexpected musical interlude and the duo’s dance.

The ending twist with Ollie’s reincarnation is a memorable and funny surprise.: Many viewers find the ending creative and surprisingly comedic.

Overall Consensus: The Flying Deuces is a solid Laurel and Hardy film, though not their best, with many funny moments and a memorable musical number that will delight fans of classic comedy.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This was Laurel and Hardy’s first feature film made outside of the Hal Roach Studios.”
• “The film reuses the basic premise of their earlier short film ‘Beau Hunks’ (1931), where they join the Foreign Legion after a romantic disappointment.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Flying Deuces?

As a classic film, The Flying Deuces may occasionally air on classic movie channels. Check listings for Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and similar networks. As of now, it is not available on major streaming services such as Prime Video, Netflix, or Hulu. However, it is available for purchase digitally from various online retailers such as Amazon and Apple TV.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Flying Deuces, you might like these similar films:

• Beau Hunks (1931): Shares the same core plot of Laurel and Hardy joining the Foreign Legion after a romantic heartbreak.
• Sons of the Desert (1933): Another classic Laurel and Hardy film featuring their comedic mishaps and friendship.
• Block-Heads (1938): Another good film from the duo, the last one with Hal Roach, that has similar themes of comedic mishaps.

🛒 The Flying Deuces Related Products

• Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restored Collection: Experience Laurel and Hardy’s best work in restored quality, with rare shorts and features. A must-have for any true fan!
• Laurel and Hardy – Bobblehead Set: Showcase your love with highly detailed, hand-painted bobbleheads. A fun and quirky addition to any collection!
• Laurel and Hardy T-Shirt – ‘Another Fine Mess’: Wear your favorite comedy duo with a high-quality, comfortable t-shirt featuring a classic quote. A stylish way to celebrate timeless humor.
• Laurel and Hardy: Their Lives and Magic: Delve into the history of Laurel and Hardy with a biography uncovering the secrets of their enduring comedy. Filled with rare photos and insights!

🎧 Soundtrack

The Flying Deuces features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Shine On, Harvest Moon” – performed by Oliver Hardy
• “The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise” – performed by Instrumental (Stan Laurel)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Try Not To Laugh | Laurel & Hardy In The Flying Deuces #Shorts

Seriously, try not to laugh while watching this! Laurel and Hardy’s slapstick is pure genius, and this little moment from ‘The Flying Deuces’ is just gold.

laurel and hardy – bed harp

Ever seen someone play a bed like a harp? Well, Laurel and Hardy did! It’s a hilarious scene from ‘The Flying Deuces’ that you won’t want to miss – pure silliness!

What A Sweet Boy | Laurel & Hardy In The Flying Deuces (1939)

See how Ollie uses all his charm on a girl. So smooth! Gotta love these guys!

✨ Rate