The Flying Deuces (1939)

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Ralph Spence (original story and screenplay) &
Charley Rogers (original story and screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 November 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

HERE'S HYSTERICAL HISTORY! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Oliver is heartbroken when he finds that Georgette, the inkeeper's daughter he's fallen in love with...

Plot Keywords:

Foreign Legion | Desertion | Escape | Notre Dame Cathedral Paris | Eiffel Tower Paris

Cast

Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie
Jean Parker	...	Georgette
Reginald Gardiner	...	Francois
Charles Middleton	...	Commandant
Jean Del Val	...	Sergeant
Crane Whitley	...	Corporal (as Clem Wilenchick)
James Finlayson	...	Jailor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monica Bannister	...	Georgette's Girl Friend (uncredited)
Bonnie Bannon	...	Georgette's Girl Friend (uncredited)
Eddie Borden	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Christine Cabanne	...	Georgette's Girl Friend (uncredited)
Mary Jane Carey	...	Georgette's Girl Friend (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Frank Clarke	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Richard Cramer	...	Laundry Truck Driver (uncredited)
Billy Engle	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Kit Guard	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Sam Lufkin	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Michael Visaroff	...	Innkeeper (uncredited)

Directed by
A. Edward Sutherland

Writing credits
Ralph Spence		(original story and screenplay) &
Charley Rogers		(original story and screenplay) (as Charles Rogers) &
Fred Schiller		(original story and screenplay) (as Alfred Schiller) &
Harry Langdon		(original story and screenplay)

Produced by
Boris Morros	....	producer

Original Music by
John Leipold
Leo Shuken

Cinematography by
Art Lloyd		(photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Dennis

Art Direction by
Boris Leven

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph H. Nadel	....	production manager (as Joe Nadel)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Stillman	....	assistant director
John London	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
William A. Wilmarth	....	sound recordist (as Wm. Wilmarth)

Special Effects by
Howard A. Anderson	....	special effects (as Howard Anderson)

Stunts
Frank Clarke	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Elmer Dyer	....	aerial photographer

Music Department
Edward Paul	....	musical director

Other crew
Frank Clarke	....	chief pilot and technical advisor
Rudolph Maté	....	production advisor
Virginia Lucille Jones	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Boris Morros Productions

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1939) (USA) (theatrical)
• Astor Pictures Corporation (1946) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Vídeo Network (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Platinum Disc (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Unicorn Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Art Free (2003) (Greece) (VHS)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Passport International Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• St. Clair Vision (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Filmituonti (1941) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Lii-Filmi (1941) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures (1961) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Republic-Filmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1961) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• YLE Teema (2003) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1988) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Flying Aces

Runtime:

69 min | USA:65 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #5668) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Sweden:Btl | Finland:S | Spain:T | UK:U

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Boris Morros Productions

Trivia:

The sketch of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in the first scene was drawn by Harry Langdon.

Goofs:

Continuity: The water pitcher changes position before and after Laurel slides the desk in front of the window.

Quotes:

Stanley: [watching a pair of airplanes doing acrobatics] I wonder what keeps them up?
Oliver: I don't know. But I do know what keeps me DOWN!
[firmly and deliberately taps his shoe on the pavement in front of him to indicate how safe and solid it is and how he never intends to let his feet leave the ground]
Stanley: Yes, sir - good old Terracotta Firma for me!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Blue Sunshine (1976)

Soundtrack:

Shine On, Harvest Moon

One of their best

Another great comedy. DVD review.

Stan and Ollie join the Foreign Legion but don't like it much so they decide to quit.

Featuring the song Shine On Harvest Moon this movie is one of the duo's best features. Starting off in Paris where the pair try to kill themselves over a woman (who turns up again later in the movie) they then join the French Legion. Only it's not up to their expectations and they try to leave. The comedy comes from the zany team antagonising the bureaucratic soldiers. The ending is really good and there's a bizarre appearance of a shark in a Paris river.

The Flying Deuces is one of the pair's best features.