Beau Hunks

[Angus McLaurel]

Ollie is planning to marry the love of his life, Jean, until he receives a telegram stating that she has fallen in love with another.
A very sad Ollie decides to join the foreign legion in order to forget all about her. Stan is also forced into joining.


Beau Hunks starts off quite well, with the usual array of comedy from Stan & Ollie. Ollie is singing a dedication to his sweetheart, whereas Stan is cutting out a fertilizer ad from the newspaper and accidentally cutting part of the cloth from the chair he`s leaning on, then hiding the evidence from Ollie who`s too busy singing `You`re the ideal of my dreams`. Followed by a nice good dialogue scene...


STAN: What are you getting so mushy about?
OLLIE: Well, I`m glad you asked me. I couldn`t keep it from you much longer
STAN: What?
OLLIE: Life`s biggest moment. I`m going to be married
STAN: You don`t believe me
OLLIE: Yes I don`t be... What do you mean you don`t believe me? Didn`t I just tell you I was going to be married
STAN: Who to?
OLLIE: Why, a woman of course. Did you ever hear of anyone marrying a man?
STAN: Sure
OLLIE: Who?
STAN: My sister

I love the spring that Ollie bounces on and lands on his piano. The film is very good up to now, then they enrol in the foreign legion.

Again, some good comedy scenes for the biggest part of the legion stuff, particularly the first scene and the roll call. Each soldier shouts their number in seqence. Then it`s Stan`s turn...


GENERAL: Come come my man, what is your number?
STAN: Hollywood 4-3-6-8

This is followed by Stan & Ollie`s explanation to the general as to why they`ve joined


GENERAL: What on Earth ever prompted you to join the legion?
OLLIE: Well you see Brigadier it was like this...
STAN: I came here to help him forget
GENERAL: Forget... Forget what?... Well Well Well?
STAN: I forgot

It`s interesting to see that Jean Harlow (Ollie`s true love) turns out to be nothing but a dirty little slapper! After this there`s a good little hat confusion scene in the general`s office, which is different to the usual hat changing sequence.

The gags move on nicely, to the barracks where Ollie needs to massage his foot after a long march. He inadvertently massages Stan`s by mistake. Stan enjoys this a bit too much and asks Ollie to scratch his back. A funny scene this but because of it`s age, it`s now a bit camp!

There`s another scene I like which follows the massage. Stan takes off his boot and notices there`s some sand in it. He tips out the sand, which seems to be an endless amount!

There`s also a good moment when they go out for another march and things get a little too hot for them, Stan suggests turning their hats around to keep the sun out of their eyes, which is a good idea at first, until they wonder off away from their troop.

After this sequence, the film slows down dramatically, as a plot twist is introduced and the comedy is forgotten about. Stan and Ollie are ordered to stand guard, which leads to a very poor scene, which is milked far too much and isn`t that funny.

Luckily, there is a couple more laughs at the end as Ollie demonstrates to Stan to throw the hand grenade over the gate. Stan is unsure, and throws the pin instead, which leads to chaos and a good scene.

The end sequence is good though, and very interesing too. What a way to defeat an enemy without shoes, by bombarding them with bucket fulls of nails. Very painful, but succesful!

A forty minute film which could have done been better left at thirty as there are signs of padding, but nevertheless a decent film, with some very good gags. 7/10