Beau Hunks (1931)

Beau Hunks Poster

Stan and Ollie join the French Foreign Legion after Ollie's sweetheart rejects him.

Film Overview
"Beau Hunks" is a 1931 pre-Code funny short movie directed by James W. Horne and produced by Hal Roach. The film stars famous comedic duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, often described as Laurel and Hardy. The movie, belonging to the genre of funny, presents a spoof of the French Foreign Legion where the 2 primary actors employ. The title, Beau Hunks, cleverly refers to both the French Foreign Legion and to Rudolph Valentino's 1926 romantic experience movie "Beau Geste".

Plot Summary
In this 37-minute comedy, the movie opens with Ollie (played by Oliver Hardy) sad by a woman, "Jeanie-Weenie", embodied by a picture. Seeing his good friend devastated, Stan Laurel's character, Stan, recommends that they ought to register for the French Foreign Legion to assist Hardy forget about his previous love. While it seems extreme, they embrace the idea "The higher the challenge, the greater the love", ready to sustain hard times to conquer Ollie's emotional turmoil.

Moving into The French Foreign Legion
Reaching the French Foreign Legion base, the duo encounters Sergeant Gustav Adolf von Schwarzenhoffen, played by Charles Middleton, who makes their lives harder than ever. With repeated gags and slapstick funny, the film showcases numerous amusing occurrences including a riotous fingerprinting event, a comedic joke including wood mules, and the funny efforts of Stan and Ollie to leave the unflinching routine while dealing with the unyielding Sergeant.

Majority Fighting the Riffians
The closing of the movie moves toward a war-mode where Stan, Ollie, and the rest of their company make a stand at Fort Arid versus the assaulting Riffians. The comedic duo tries their best to defend the fort while triggering havoc with their clumsiness, making several blunders on the battleground. Regardless of their devastating shenanigans, they miraculously assist in holding off the enemy attack and saving the fort.

Realization and Conclusion
The twist in the tale comes at the ending when the set lastly discover Jeanie-Weenie, just to find she is really the other half of their strict Commandant. Discovering she's not the woman from the photograph that originally triggered Ollie's heartbreak, they laugh at the circumstance, revealing the significant quality of Laurel and Hardy laughing at their own problems. The film concludes on a funny note as Hardy, deflated by his discovery, participates in his renowned 'tie-twiddling' act.

Conclusion
In essence, "Beau Hunks" is a wonderful series of comic sequences, keeping a great balance in between a comedic take on war and camaraderie. The movie is an epitome of Laurel and Hardy's classic funny including a number of their well-known regimens, and especially highlighting Oliver Hardy's melodramatic performing. Even though the movie only runs for just over half an hour, it is packed with action, slapstick comedy, and authentic minutes of hilarity which still holds its beauty today. Despite the outdated recommendations and antiquated jokes, this movie showcases the timeless appeal of Laurel and Hardy's humor.

Top Cast

  • Stan Laurel (small)
    Stan Laurel
    Stan
  • Oliver Hardy (small)
    Oliver Hardy
    Ollie
  • Charles Middleton (small)
    Charles Middleton
    Commandant
  • Harry Schultz
    Captain Schultz
  • Broderick O'Farrell (small)
    Broderick O'Farrell
    Ft. Arid commander
  • James W. Horne (small)
    James W. Horne
    Chief of the Riff Raff (as Abdul Kasim K'Horne)
  • Jean Harlow (small)
    Jean Harlow
    Jeanie Weenie - in Photo