Why a 1939 Laurel and Hardy comedy remains a staple of public domain cinema
In short: The Flying Deuces, a 1939 buddy comedy, follows Laurel and Hardy as they join the French Foreign Legion to cure a broken heart. Beyond its slapstick, the film is a technical curiosity, featuring reused aerial footage and a complex history of missing scenes, restorations, and public domain status.
Released in 1939, The Flying Deuces marked a departure for Laurel and Hardy, who were no longer under an exclusive contract with Hal Roach. Produced by independent producer Boris Morros and directed by A. Edward Sutherland, the film is a partial remake of the 1931 short Beau Hunks. The production was reportedly fraught with tension; Sutherland famously remarked that he would prefer eating a tarantula to working with Stan Laurel again. Despite this, the film is often cited for its faster pace compared to other entries in the duo's filmography.
The film is perhaps best known for its laundry scene, filmed on the Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth, California. A massive facsimile of laundry was constructed atop a giant sandstone boulder in the Garden of the Gods. This footage proved remarkably durable, appearing in later productions such as the 1945 serial Manhunt of Mystery Island and the 1957 film The Cyclops. The film's own history is equally fragmented; for years, many home video versions were edited, omitting a scene involving a model shark in a river. A complete version was only restored in 2004 by Lobster Films using a nitrate 35mm negative found in France.
Today, The Flying Deuces occupies a unique place in film history as one of only two Laurel and Hardy features in the public domain. While Turner/Warner Bros. holds the original negative, they have not released it, leading to the film's frequent appearance in inexpensive compilations. Modern collectors can now access the uncut version, which includes the original closing music, through various international releases from companies like VCI Entertainment and Network. The film holds an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting its enduring legacy as a piece of classic, if occasionally patchy, comedy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Flying Deuces
- Also: Wikidata — The Flying Deuces · CC0
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