I've headed my review 'Gay Paree' as it spends as much time in the City of Light as 'Bonnie Scotland' did north of the Border.
Laurel & Hardy's final feature to be released during the thirties remains one of their least known, completing an unofficial trio beginning with 'Beau Chumps'. Basically a series of episodes it again begins with Ollie having his heart broken by a girl called 'Jeannie Weeny' - the 'Jeannie' in this particular case being Miss Jean Parker playing a a French popsie called Genette - whereupon he once again demonstrates what a stupid peabrain he is by taking Stan's advice to end it all by jumping in the Seine. Being in the birthplace of existentialism they briefly get all philosophical and engage in a discussion of reincarnation (Hardy offering the extraordinary insight that with him gone "People would stare at you and wonder what you are, and I wouldn't be there to tell them...!"), before changing their minds and joining the foreign legion instead; where they find their old nemesis Charles Middleton as the Commandant who once again reminds them when they change their minds that they're in for keeps.
The humour is markedly less subtle than in their earlier films but it's pleasant enough and provides the opportunity to briefly savour Hardy's rich baritone as the Boys step out to 'Shine On Harvest Moon'.
Laurel & Hardy's final feature to be released during the thirties remains one of their least known, completing an unofficial trio beginning with 'Beau Chumps'. Basically a series of episodes it again begins with Ollie having his heart broken by a girl called 'Jeannie Weeny' - the 'Jeannie' in this particular case being Miss Jean Parker playing a a French popsie called Genette - whereupon he once again demonstrates what a stupid peabrain he is by taking Stan's advice to end it all by jumping in the Seine. Being in the birthplace of existentialism they briefly get all philosophical and engage in a discussion of reincarnation (Hardy offering the extraordinary insight that with him gone "People would stare at you and wonder what you are, and I wouldn't be there to tell them...!"), before changing their minds and joining the foreign legion instead; where they find their old nemesis Charles Middleton as the Commandant who once again reminds them when they change their minds that they're in for keeps.
The humour is markedly less subtle than in their earlier films but it's pleasant enough and provides the opportunity to briefly savour Hardy's rich baritone as the Boys step out to 'Shine On Harvest Moon'.