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Synopsis
A romantic disappointment in Paris sends Laurel and Hardy into the Foreign Legion, where they expect to find distraction and instead encounter discipline. Their resistance to ordinary duties soon becomes a much larger problem. The partnership moves from barracks mishaps toward an escape attempt that gives their incompetence an entirely new altitude.
Cast
DirectorsA. Edward Sutherland
Inspirations
The film revisits material from Laurel and Hardy's earlier short Beau Hunks. Their Foreign Legion adventure was made for independent producer Boris Morros and released through RKO, outside their best-known association with Hal Roach.
Behind the scenes
A large artificial mound of laundry was built around a rock formation at the Iverson Movie Ranch. The location turns an ordinary punishment into the enormous visual obstacle required by the duo's comedy.
Sources and availability
The synopsis and editorial text were written for this collection. The references below were cross-checked to identify the film and its copy; each editorial section identifies its reference.
Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.
The reference concerns the original work. Restorations, colorization, translations and other territories may have different conditions. This site uses the player enabled by the channel.
Availability checked on September 10, 2026.
Photograph credit
Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.
- Stan Laurel — Photo by Stax · Public domain
- Oliver Hardy — Harry Warnecke, 1900 - 1984 · CC0
- Jean Parker — Unknown; credited to Hollywood Mirror newspaper · Public domain
- Reginald Gardiner — Trailer screenshot · Public domain
