LAUGH AT THE WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1940, Page 9

LAUGH AT THE WAR

LAUREL AND HARDY IN THE FOREIGN LEGION. History repeats itself in many ways. In 1916 Charlie Chaplin came out with “Shoulder Arms,” which caused a wartorn world to forget the terror and horror which were raging throughout civilisation to take time to laugh at the antics of the ace pantomimist. Now we have Laurel and Hardy in “The Flying Deuces” ready to furnish a world in the throes of another period of war, filled with the threats of modern warfare, laughter that will help appease the tenseness of the situation. It is a comedy in which a Foreign Legion post finds itself in an uproar —not because of attacking Arabs, but because of two nit-wits who make the legion a convenience instead of a necessity. Their deportment definitely is not becoming of a soldier and -a gentleman. They complain about' their pay, they insult the commandant, they destroy the post’s uniforms. They drop from the ranks to pay a visit to the coinman - ding officer. They break out of gaol, steal a military plane, and play havoc in a well-appointed wine cellar. Of course, nothing of the kind could happen in the legion, but when Laurel and Hardy enter the scene strict adherence to facts go out of the window. Fortunately, nobody will care, because they will be too glad for the opportunity of enjoying the luxury of laughter.