Laurel and Hardy: Hands up - or not

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Movie
German title Hands up - or not
Original title The Devil's Brother
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1933
length about 90 minutes
Rod
Director Hal Roach ,
Charley Rogers
script Jeanie Macpherson
production Hal Roach
music Daniel-François-Esprit Auber
camera Hap Depew ,
Art Lloyd
cut Bert Jordan ,
William H. Terhune
occupation
synchronization

Hands up - or not is a US American comedy film directed by Hal Roach from 1933. The film is based on the opera Fra Diavolo from 1830 with texts by Eugène Scribe and music by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber . The main roles played the comedian duo Laurel and Hardy . The film is also known in German-speaking countries under the titles Die Sittenstrolche or Fra Diavolo .

action

Northern Italy at the beginning of the 19th century: Numerous thieves are up to mischief, the most daring of them is Fra Diavolo. He introduces himself as the elegant “Marquis de San Marco” to the beautiful but equally naive Lady Pamela and her much older, boring husband Lord Rocburg. His charm leads Pamela to tell him where she hides her jewels and that her husband has 500,000 francs. Around the same time, Stanlio and Ollio (in the older dubbing "Stanilo" and "Olivero") are robbed of their entire wealth, which they have earned through years of work. They therefore decide to become robbers themselves. After pity they were unable to rob an allegedly poor woodcutter (who actually has a lot of money), their second victim is said to be Fra Diavolo of all people. However, the two amateurs are captured by his men. Stanlio is supposed to hang Ollio so that he can stay alive. Meanwhile, Diavolo receives news that his men were able to steal some of the jewels but not the 500,000 francs. Thereupon he wants to steal the money himself in the old disguise as a marquis.

Since the faces of the other robbers are known to the guards, he takes Stanlio and Ollio with him as servants. In an inn he continues his advances to Lady Pamela. Stanlio and Ollio, on the other hand, work against him with more or less intent: In order to collect reward money, they want to arrest Diavolo, but accidentally arrest Lord Rocburg and beat him. Later they are supposed to give Rocburg a sleeping pill so that Diavolo can safely search for the 500,000 francs during the night, but Stanlio drinks the sleeping pill (with corresponding consequences). At least Diavolo manages to steal Pamela's necklace. He first puts the blame on the officer Lorenzo, who is chasing Diavolo. He stole the chain for his lover. However, since her father Matteo, the host of the inn, is short of money, Zerlina is supposed to marry the rich but boring farmer Francesco tomorrow. Since love was the motive, so Diavolo, Lady Pamela should show mercy towards Lorenzo - which she does.

Through another conversation with Lady Pamela, Diavolo finds out that the money is hidden in the petticoat . He can steal it when she changes. Meanwhile, however, Stanlio got drunk in the wine cellar and reveals to Lorenzo that the so-called Marquis de San Marco is in fact Fra Diavolo. Lorenzo is able to defeat Diavolo after a short fight (with the unintentional help of Stanlios and Ollios) and take away the money and jewelry. Since he receives money for the capture of Diavolo, he is finally allowed to marry Zerlina and financially save the inn of his future father-in-law. Fra Diavolo and his two servants Stanlio and Ollio are to be shot, but Stanlio wants to blow his nose with a red cloth as a last wish before the execution, whereupon (for the second time in the film) a bull breaks out. Diavolo flees in the turmoil with a horse, Stanlio and Ollio on the bull.

backgrounds

The film is based on the opera Fra Diavolo from 1830 with texts by Eugène Scribe and the music by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber , which is also used in the film. Producer and director Hal Roach had seen the opera as a child and was determined to make a film. Dennis King sings several songs from the opera as Fra Diavolo, which have been transposed down from the original tenor position for King's baritone . The characters of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are based on Diavolo's accomplices in the play, Giacomo and Beppo. These are a bit silly in the piece too, that's how the wine scene actually occurs. However, the roles were expanded significantly to give the comedians more space. In addition, the opera ends tragically for Diavolo and his servants, there is a happy ending .

The Devil's Brother was filmed at Hal Roach Studios in Culver City . The film was released in American cinemas on May 5, 1933, and in German cinemas in September of that year. In 1952 it came back to German cinemas. With a running time of 90 minutes, it is the second longest film by the comedian duo, and the original version is said to have had 117 minutes.

The popular skill game knee, ear, nose developed from the film , which can be performed alone without any aids. Although the course of action appears very simple when watching, it is almost impossible for an inexperienced person to perform. It takes some practice to make an error-free attempt. This is also clear in the film mentioned, when Stan Laurel brings his film partner Oliver Hardy and the landlord Matteo to despair (as well as with the second skill exercise, waving a finger ).

synchronization

  • The first version, entitled Hands up - or not! was created in 1957 at MGM's dubbing department in Berlin. Hermann Gressieker was responsible for the dialogue script and dialogue direction . Walter Bluhm spoke to Stanilo and Arno Paulsen Olivero. The incompletely preserved version was processed into three episodes within the series "Dick und Doof" and is available on DVD.
  • The second version was created in 1968 by Berliner Synchron and was entitled Die Sittenstrolche . Franz Otto Krüger wrote the lyrics and directed the dialogue. Walter Bluhm spoke again to Stanilo and Gerd Duwner took over Olivero. This version is available on DVD.
  • The third version was created in 1975 at the dubbing company Beta-Technik in Munich under the title Fra Diavolo . For the recorded dialogue director Wolfgang Schick responsible dialog book by Hermann Gressieker was reused. The Italianized names of the two main actors were changed for this. Stanilo was now called Stanlio and was spoken again by Walter Bluhm, Olivero was spoken to Ollio and Michael Habeck . This version was released on VHS and DVD.
  • The fourth version was created in 1987 in DEFA's studio for dubbing under the title The Devil Brothers . Gert Kießling spoke to Stanlio and Hans-Joachim Leschnitz Ollio.
role actor MGM version
from 1957		 BSG version
from 1968		 Beta version
from 1975		 DEFA version
from 1987
Stanilo Stan Laurel Walter Bluhm Walter Bluhm Walter Bluhm as Stanlio Gert Kießling
Olivero Oliver Hardy Arno Paulsen Gerd Duwner Michael Habeck as Ollio Hans-Joachim Leschnitz
Fra Diavolo Dennis King Axel Monjé Sebastian Fischer Gert Günther Hoffmann Otto Mellies
Lady Pamela Thelma Todd Ingeborg Wellmann Brigitte Grothum Rose-Marie Kirstein Karin Ugowski
Lord Rocburg James Finlayson Siegfried Schürenberg Franz Otto Kruger Leo Bardischewski
as Lord Cockburn 		Joachim Konrad
Zerlina Lucile Browne Renate Danz Heidi Treutler Blanche Kommerell
Matteo, host Henry Armetta Alfred Balthoff Horst Sachtleben Helmut Müller-Lankow
Capitano Lorenzo Arthur Pierson Randolf Kronberg Klaus Kindler
Old wood chopper James C. Morton Erich Kestin Harry Kalenberg
Francesco Matt McHugh Peter Schiff Rolf Schult Fred Klaus

Reviews

“Integrated into the plot motifs of the opera 'Fra Diavolo' by Auber and enriched with some musical interludes in a stage-like, clichéd staging, there is ample opportunity for the two comedians for their grotesque jokes. Irresistible to the point of silliness is the children's game 'knees, noses, ears' and, as a showpiece of the film, the contagious orgy of laughter in the wine cellar. "

- Lexicon of international film

“The comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as clumsy robbers and servants in a film based on the French opera 'Fra Diavolo' by Auber. Naive jokes that young and old can laugh about. "

- Protestant film observer

literature

  • Rainer Dick: Laurel & Hardy and the women . Foreword: Ottfried Fischer. Specialized publisher for film literature, Landshut 2015, ISBN 978-3-943127-05-8 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Norbert Aping: Das kleine Dick-und-Doof-Buch . Schüren, Marburg 2014, Appendix p. 353 ff.
  2. ↑ Hands up - or not in the dictionary of international filmsTemplate: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used
  3. ↑ Evangelical Press Association Munich, Review No. 345/1969