Beau Hunks
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| Beau Hunks | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster for Beau Hunks (1931) | |
| Directed by | James W. Horne |
| Written by | H.M. Walker |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy |
| Cinematography | Art Lloyd Jack Stevens |
| Edited by | Richard C. Currier |
| Music by | Leroy Shield |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date | December 12, 1931 |
Running time | 37' 21" |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Beau Hunks is a 1931 American Pre-Code Laurel and Hardy film, directed by James W. Horne. Beau Hunks is a reference to Beau Geste, and to the common ethnic slur of the time, "bohunk". At 37 minutes, it is the longest L&H short. The French Foreign Legion scenario was remade as The Flying Deuces with Charles B. Middleton again playing their commanding officer.
Plot
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy join the French Foreign Legion after Ollie's sweetheart Jeanie-Weenie (only ever seen as a photograph) rejects him, as it is the only place where Ollie can forget her. When they arrive at the barracks in French Algeria, they discover that not only are the other soldiers trying to forget lost loves, their lost loves all happen to be the one and the same woman Ollie is trying to forget: Jeanie-Weenie!
On an expedition to Ft. Arid, a fortress besieged by native Riffian tribesmen, the duo get cut off from the rest of the regiment in a sandstorm and reach the fortress before the others. Surprisingly, the boys defeat the Riffians by themselves and the leader of the Riffians is revealed as another one of Jeanie-Weenie's conquests.
Cast
- Stan Laurel as Stan
- Oliver Hardy as Ollie
- Jean Harlow as Jeannie-Weenie (Uncredited)
- James W. Horne as the Chief of the Riff Raff
- Charles B. Middleton as the Commandant
- Broderick O'Farrell as Ft. Arid Commander
- Harry Schultz as Captain Schultz
- Billy Bletcher as New Recruit #11
- Charlie Hall as New Recruit #13
- Sam Lufkin as Riffian
- Tiny Sandford as Legion Officer
Hal Roach's Favorite Movie
In January 1992, seven days after Hal Roach celebrated his hundredth birthday, the centenarian appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show. Jay Leno was subbing for host Johnny Carson that night. When Leno asked Roach which of the movies he had made was his favorite, he selected Beau Hunks. Roach said it was strictly because "leading lady" Jean Harlow--who had started at Roach's studio but had moved on to become a huge star at RKO Pictures--appeared in Beau Hunks for nothing. Of course Harlow "appeared" in the film only through old publicity photographs from the Roach archives.
The Dutch musical group
A Dutch musical ensemble, named The Beau Hunks Orchestra after that film, was formed in early 1992 for the purpose of performing some of the soundtrack music at an Oliver Hardy centennial celebration in Amsterdam. They went on to release a number of recordings of the film music of Leroy Shield and some other composers, notably Raymond Scott.[1]
