Based on the comic opera Fra Diavolo by French composer Daniel Auber, Bogus Bandits is set in Northern Italy and stars Laurel and Hardy as wandering friends Stanlio and Ollio, who, after being robbed on the road, decide to become bandits themselves. This being Laurel and Hardy, robbing the rich proves much harder than it seems: their first victim gives them a sob story, and they wind up giving HIM money. Their next attempt is even worse: the man they try to rob is Fra Diavolo (Dennis King), a charming but cut-throat criminal, who decides to hang the friends for their impudence. However, they are spared a cruel death when Diavolo finds himself in need of two men to pose as his servants so that he can steal a fortune from aristocrat Lord Rocburg (James Finlayson) and his wife, Lady Pamela (tragic beauty Thelma Todd). Of course, teaming up with such a pair of bumbling fools proves to be a big mistake, and much chaos ensues, with Diavolo's plans going far from smoothly.
This period piece features lots of operatic singing by King, but not so much in the way of big laughs from Laurel and Hardy: their performances are more amusing than hilarious, with fewer elaborate comedic set-pieces than I have come to expect from the guys. The most memorable moments from the pair see Stan Laurel engaging in silly games of coordination and dexterity - Kneesy Earsy Nosey and Finger Wiggle - much to the annoyance of the less dextrous Hardy (and most viewers who give it a try, I suspect). A drunk routine shows promise, but never really delivers the goods (set in a wine cellar, it should have provided barrels of laughter - bad-dum tish!).
5.5/10, rounded up to 6 for tasty Thelma Todd, whose neckline is deep, and for lovely Lucile Browne as Zerlina, romantic interest of soldier Lorenzo, whose job is to catch the bandit: she sings a song while stripping to her underwear, which makes the warbling easier to bear.
This period piece features lots of operatic singing by King, but not so much in the way of big laughs from Laurel and Hardy: their performances are more amusing than hilarious, with fewer elaborate comedic set-pieces than I have come to expect from the guys. The most memorable moments from the pair see Stan Laurel engaging in silly games of coordination and dexterity - Kneesy Earsy Nosey and Finger Wiggle - much to the annoyance of the less dextrous Hardy (and most viewers who give it a try, I suspect). A drunk routine shows promise, but never really delivers the goods (set in a wine cellar, it should have provided barrels of laughter - bad-dum tish!).
5.5/10, rounded up to 6 for tasty Thelma Todd, whose neckline is deep, and for lovely Lucile Browne as Zerlina, romantic interest of soldier Lorenzo, whose job is to catch the bandit: she sings a song while stripping to her underwear, which makes the warbling easier to bear.