The title 'White Wings' refers to the elaborate white uniforms (with solar topees!) that American street-cleaners wore in the early 20th century. Fans of Laurel & Hardy will be intrigued that Laurel appears here, pre-Hardy but with James Finlayson, who was so memorably a foil for 'the boys' in their classic comedies. In fact, Stan and 'Fin' had been friends and colleagues ever since their variety-hall days in Finlayson's native Scotland, where Laurel's father was a theatre manager.
For me, the most interesting thing about this dullish comedy is that it was directed by George Jeske, who was one of the original Keystone Cops but failed to parlay that credit into a successful comedy career. In 'White Wings', well-photographed by Frank Young, Jeske shows some genuine directorial talent. At the very end of the film, just as a fight is about to break out, a curtain descends between the actors and the camera. We 'see' the violence only in the form of movements bulging the curtain ... then, at the end, the curtain is gone and we see the results. Quite funny! But very little preceding it in this movie raises any laughs.
Finlayson is impressive as a dental patient who bids fair to be a mental patient, but even Stan Laurel's most loyal fans will admit that there's not much to laugh at hereabouts. I'll rate 'White Wings' just 4 out of 10.
For me, the most interesting thing about this dullish comedy is that it was directed by George Jeske, who was one of the original Keystone Cops but failed to parlay that credit into a successful comedy career. In 'White Wings', well-photographed by Frank Young, Jeske shows some genuine directorial talent. At the very end of the film, just as a fight is about to break out, a curtain descends between the actors and the camera. We 'see' the violence only in the form of movements bulging the curtain ... then, at the end, the curtain is gone and we see the results. Quite funny! But very little preceding it in this movie raises any laughs.
Finlayson is impressive as a dental patient who bids fair to be a mental patient, but even Stan Laurel's most loyal fans will admit that there's not much to laugh at hereabouts. I'll rate 'White Wings' just 4 out of 10.