• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Casa Bouquet

let your joy bloom

  • Home
  • About
  • Culture
  • Home-making
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Style
  • Series
You are here: Home / Culture / Lisa’s Home Bijou: The Flying Deuces

Lisa’s Home Bijou: The Flying Deuces

September 23, 2016 by Lisa Grable 1 Comment

Film Festival: Aviation

In The Flying Deuces (1939) Laurel and Hardy are unable to resist the lure of the desert, and airborne hilarity is the result. For romance and adventure, nothing quite equals the image of the French Foreign Legion during its heyday in 1920s – 1930s Morocco. During this time, the airplane emerged as the desert fighter’s chosen tool.The Flying Deuces stars Laurel and Hardy in a comedy romp through Paris and Morocco. Don’t miss the Shine on Harvest Moon soft shoe! Lisa's Home Bijou: The Flying Deuces (1939)

The Flying Deuces opens in Paris, where Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (aka “The Boys”), two Des Moines fishmongers, are taking their dream vacation. When it comes time to go home, Ollie refuses to get on the boat because he has fallen in love with Georgette (Jean Parker), the innkeeper’s daughter.The Flying Deuces stars Laurel and Hardy in a comedy romp through Paris and Morocco. Don’t miss the Shine on Harvest Moon soft shoe! Lisa's Home Bijou: The Flying Deuces (1939)

“Stanley, can you keep a secret? –Sure –You don’t tell me! Who is it? –The most gorgeous creature in the world! Georgette, the innkeeper’s daughter. –Well, I don’t blame you. She sure is a swell dish! –Don’t call her a dish! She’s the girl I’m going to marry.” –Ollie and Stan

Unbeknownst to The Boys, Georgette is married to François (Reginald Owen) who is off serving his country in the French Foreign Legion in Morocco. When Ollie finds out about François, his life becomes pointless.

ollie-sweetie
francois

Ollie decides to drown himself in the Seine. At this moment, a man-eating shark escapes from the Paris Aquarium into the river. Ollie is sure he wants to drown, but he has no interest in being eaten by a shark.

“Remember once you were telling me when we passed away we come back on this earth in some other form? Like a bird, or a dog, or a horse or something? –Oh you mean reincarnation. –Yeah, yeah, that’s it. Well, now that we are going to go, what would you like to be when you come back? –I don’t know, I’d never given it much thought. I like horses. I guess I’d like to come back as a horse. What would you like to be when you come back? —Oh, I’d like to come back as myself. I always got along swell with myself.” — Stan and Ollie

With Stan as his faithful helper, Ollie just can’t seem to successfully commit suicide. In the midst of their absurd pre-suicide discussions by the Seine, they meet François, who advises them to join the French Foreign Legion to help them forget their troubles.

“No woman is worth that! –I should say not. –You haven’t seen her. If you knew her as I know her. –I understand, but don’t forget there are plenty more fish in the sea. –He’s not in love with a fish, it’s a girl. … —Life is too precious to throw away on account of some woman who probably isn’t worthy of you. …–What is your suggestion? –Join the Foreign Legion. –What for? –To forget!” –François, Stan, and Ollie

In Morocco, the Boys’ first big assignment as Legionnaires is to wash, dry and press a veritable mountain of laundry. Ollie suddenly realizes that he’s accomplished his goal to forget his troubles.

foreign-legion
laundry

Since he’s over his problems, he feels he’s now free to quit. But the Legion doesn’t quite see it that way and The Boys get taken into custody. Waiting for their guards out in the yard, Ollie is moved to sing “Shine on Harvest Moon,” resulting in a charming soft shoe performed by Stan and Ollie. Their dancing helps them to escape from the guards, and the chase is on.harvest-moon

The Boys try to hop a train back to Paris, but they are caught during their escape and sentenced to die for desertion.chase

“There’s a nice pickle we’re in. Shot at sunrise! –I hope it’s cloudy tomorrow.” —Ollie and Stan

Amazingly, they manage to escape again, but now the entire post is chasing them. To elude the Legion, they decide to hide out in an airplane. Naturally, these two former fishmongers have no idea how to fly an airplane, so a crazy, scary flight ensues, with the stunt pilot truly outdoing himself to capture these scenes on a wild 6 minutes of film.

plane
plane-2

“Now there’s another nice mess you’ve got me into!” –Ollie

It’s amazing how Laurel and Hardy’s humor makes you feel such affection. It’s closely tied up with the loyalty they have to each other, through thick and thin (hah!).  Any movie with these two is a great stress-reliever, so make the time to take a fun-filled flight with The Flying Deuces.

Related Links for The Flying Deuces

  • http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031322/?ref_=nv_sr_1
    • The Flying Deuces (1939) at IMDb
  • http://www.laurel-and-hardy.com
    • Laurel and Hardy official website
  • http://www.businessinsider.com/5-surprising-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-french-foreign-legion-2015-9
    • 5 Foreign Legion facts from Business Insider
  • http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=19415
    • Shine on Harvest Moon from Song Facts
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StU7jmfdCok
    • 1930s video of Morocco from Travel Film Archive
  • http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/585/Jean+Parker/index.html
    • Jean Parker timeline from Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen

horizontal bar with plumeriaAffiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

 

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Share this post:
error
fb-share-icon
Tweet
fb-share-icon

Filed Under: Culture, Movies Tagged With: 1939, aviation, aviation films, classic films, French Foreign Legion, Jean Parker, Lisa's Home Bijou, Morocco, Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, The Boys, The Flying Deuces

Previous Post: « Central Oahu – Dole, Schofield, Kukaniloko, Manulele
Next Post: Banana pudding pie with scuppernong wine »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. marilyn1998

    July 18, 2020 at 7:36 pm

    ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************

    Reply

What are your thoughts? Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hey, I’m Lisa

Lisa Grable, Casa BouquetI’m an educator, grandmother, classic movie fan, sewer and crafter, and I love Hawaii. Read more about me …

Subscribe for email updates

Don't miss a post! Receive an email when new posts are published. Get freebies!

Please follow & like us :)

Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Instagram
Follow by Email
RSS

Amazon

Zoom hula classes from Kanoe Miller

kanoe miller hula Oct. 2022Kanoe Miller teaches 5 week hula sessions on Zoom. Kanoe dances at the Hale Kulani in Waikiki and began her hula studies with Maiki Aiu Lake. Call or email to register. Times listed are Hawaii Standard.

More in Lisa’s Home Bijou

vintage movie theater sign

Recent Posts

joy of giving giveaway hostesses Nov 2022

Joy of Giving giveaway 11.12.22 – 12.15.22

back to school giveaway 08.27.22 - 09.27.22

Back to school giveaway 08.27.22 – 09.27.22

summer cash giveaway

Summer Cash Giveaway 07.23 – 08.23.2022

College preparation at the end of high school includes planning, tips, and checklists. Entrance tests, applications, financial aid, and more!

6 tips for college preparation – applying, FAFSA

Posts by Category

Casa Bouquet parties

Over the Moon

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party
Wonderful Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things

Featured series

Casa Bouquet pie recipes series.
College planning posts for middle and high school students. Download free checklist, cost calculation, and career interest worksheets. Resource links!

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework · Design by Stephanie Jones

 

Loading Comments...