The Devil's Brother
Encyclopedia
The Devil's Brother or Bogus Bandits or Fra Diavolo is a 1933 comedy film
starring Laurel and Hardy
. It is based on Daniel Auber
's operetta Fra Diavolo
about the Italian bandit Fra Diavolo
.
Diavolo once again disguises himself as the Marquis and takes Stanlio and Ollio with him as his servants. His plan is to steal the money sum of 500.000 francs from Rocberg. In an inn where Diavolo once again romances Lady Pamela Stanlio and Ollio unwittingly capture Lord Rocberg, who had disguised himself as the marquis in an attempt to win back his wife. Diavolo's attempt to find the francs is however foiled once again when Stanlio accidentally drinks a sleeping potion meant for Rocberg. Diavolo does succeed in stealing Pamela's medallion, and the loss is blamed on young Captain Lorenzo. Lorenzo is the sweetheart of Zerlina, who is to marry the next day with a boring merchant named Francesco on orders of her father, Matteo the innkeeper. Lorenzo swears he will prove his innocence before Zerlina is forced to marry Francesco.
Meanhile, Diavolo romances Pamela once again and finds out that Rocberg's fortune is hidden in her petticoat
. Just as Diavolo steals the petticoat, Lorenzo finds out his true identity from Stanlio, who is "spiffed" after a visit to Matteo's wine cellar. Lorenzo's soldiers surround the inn and he then duels with Diavolo, whom he bests with a little inadvertent help from Stanlio. The good-natured Diavolo returns the jewels, and when Rocberg will not pay the reward for them to Lorenzo, Diavolo gives Lorenzo the money that he stole from Pamela's petticoat. While the jealous husband rushes upstairs to confront his wife, Lorenzo gives the money to Matteo, thereby saving him from having to sell the inn. Diavolo, Stanlio and Ollio are then taken away to be shot by a firing squad. Stanlio asks permission to blow his nose and takes out his red handkerchief
, a bull
is enraged by the color and breaks up the ranks when he charges. Diavolo escapes on his horse
, and Stanlio and Ollio escape while riding the bull.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
. It is based on Daniel Auber
Daniel Auber
Daniel François Esprit Auber was a French composer.-Biography:The son of a Paris print-seller, Auber was born in Caen in Normandy. Though his father expected him to continue in the print-selling business, he also allowed his son to learn how to play several musical instruments...
's operetta Fra Diavolo
Fra Diavolo (opera)
Fra Diavolo, ou L'hôtellerie de Terracine is an opéra comique in three acts by the French composer Daniel Auber, from a libretto by Auber's regular collaborator Eugène Scribe...
about the Italian bandit Fra Diavolo
Fra Diavolo
Fra Diavolo , is the popular name given to Michele Pezza, a famous Neapolitan guerrilla leader who resisted the French occupation of Naples, proving an “inspirational practicioner of popular insurrection”. Pezza figures prominently in folk lore and fiction...
.
Plot
In the early 18th century the bandit Fra Diavolo returns to his camp in Northern Italy to tell his gang members about his encounter with Lord Rocberg and Lady Pamela. Via a disguise (as the Marquis de San Marco) he rode with them in their carriage. He charmed Lady Pamela into telling where she hides her jewels. He orders his thieves to ride to Rocberg's castle and rob Rocberg's belongings and Pamela's jewels. At the same time, Stanlio and Ollio, have also been robbed. Stanlio suggests to Ollio that they should become robbers themselves. After an unsuccessful attempt to rob a woodchopper the duo encounters Fra Diavolo. The notorious bandit wants Stanlio to hang Ollio, because Ollio was impersonating him. Then he is informed that his men have stolen Lady Pamela's jewels, but have not brought 500,000 francs hidden by Rocberg.Diavolo once again disguises himself as the Marquis and takes Stanlio and Ollio with him as his servants. His plan is to steal the money sum of 500.000 francs from Rocberg. In an inn where Diavolo once again romances Lady Pamela Stanlio and Ollio unwittingly capture Lord Rocberg, who had disguised himself as the marquis in an attempt to win back his wife. Diavolo's attempt to find the francs is however foiled once again when Stanlio accidentally drinks a sleeping potion meant for Rocberg. Diavolo does succeed in stealing Pamela's medallion, and the loss is blamed on young Captain Lorenzo. Lorenzo is the sweetheart of Zerlina, who is to marry the next day with a boring merchant named Francesco on orders of her father, Matteo the innkeeper. Lorenzo swears he will prove his innocence before Zerlina is forced to marry Francesco.
Meanhile, Diavolo romances Pamela once again and finds out that Rocberg's fortune is hidden in her petticoat
Petticoat
A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist ....
. Just as Diavolo steals the petticoat, Lorenzo finds out his true identity from Stanlio, who is "spiffed" after a visit to Matteo's wine cellar. Lorenzo's soldiers surround the inn and he then duels with Diavolo, whom he bests with a little inadvertent help from Stanlio. The good-natured Diavolo returns the jewels, and when Rocberg will not pay the reward for them to Lorenzo, Diavolo gives Lorenzo the money that he stole from Pamela's petticoat. While the jealous husband rushes upstairs to confront his wife, Lorenzo gives the money to Matteo, thereby saving him from having to sell the inn. Diavolo, Stanlio and Ollio are then taken away to be shot by a firing squad. Stanlio asks permission to blow his nose and takes out his red handkerchief
Handkerchief
A handkerchief , also called a handkercher or hanky, is a form of a kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose...
, a bull
Bull
Bull usually refers to an uncastrated adult male bovine.Bull may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Bull , an original show on the TNT Network* "Bull" , an episode of television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation...
is enraged by the color and breaks up the ranks when he charges. Diavolo escapes on his horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, and Stanlio and Ollio escape while riding the bull.
Kneesy-Earsy-Nosey
Kneesy-Earsy-Nosey was the game of coordination and dexterity played by Stanlio within this film, to the great despair of Olio . The game became a fad shortly after this film was released. The game consisted of clapping the knees with both hands, and then alternatively grabbing the left ear with right hand while grabbing the nose with the left hand, again clapping the knees, and then grabbing the right ear with left hand while grabbing the nose with the right hand. Participants proceeded to do it with increasing speed. The processes seem easy to acquire, but require time and training, as they require constant shifting of coordination of the left and right control areas of the brain. Once the right coordination has been acquired, it is possible to do it extremely fast, and it can be redone after years of hiatus.Cast
- Stan LaurelStan LaurelArthur Stanley "Stan" Jefferson , better known as Stan Laurel, was an English comic actor, writer and film director, famous as the first half of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy. His film acting career stretched between 1917 and 1951 and included a starring role in the Academy Award winning film...
as Stanlio - Oliver HardyOliver HardyOliver Hardy was an American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy, the classic double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted nearly 30 years, from 1927 to 1955.-Early life:...
as Ollio - Dennis KingDennis KingDennis King was an English actor and singer.Born in Coventry as Dennis Pratt, King had a stage career in both drama and musicals. He emigrated to the USA in 1921 and went on to a successful career on the Broadway stage. He appeared in two musical films and played non-singing roles in two other...
as Fra Diavolo/Marquis de San Marco - Thelma ToddThelma ToddThelma Alice Todd was an American actress. Appearing in about 120 pictures between 1926 and 1935, she is best remembered for her comedic roles in films like Marx Brothers' Monkey Business and Horse Feathers, a number of Charley Chase's short comedies, and co-starring with Buster Keaton and Jimmy...
as Lady Pamela - James Finlayson as Lord Rocburg
- Lucile BrowneLucile BrowneLucile Browne was an American film actress. She starred opposite John Wayne in the 1935 films Texas Terror and Rainbow Valley....
as Zerlina - Arthur Pierson as Lorenzo
- Henry ArmettaHenry ArmettaHenry Armetta was an Italian movie character actor who appeared in at least 150 films, starting in silents as early as 1915 to a movie released in 1946, after his death.-Biography:...
as Matteo - Matt McHughMatt McHughMatt McHugh was an American film actor who appeared in over 200 films between 1931 and 1955, primarily in small parts.-Career:...
as Francesco - Lane ChandlerLane ChandlerLane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
as Lieutenant - Nina QuarteroNina QuarteroNina Quartero was a motion picture actress from New York City, whose career spanned the years 1928 - 1943. Often she played supporting roles and sometimes a diversive love interest for the lead male actor....
as Rita - Wilfred LucasWilfred LucasWilfred Lucas was a Canadian stage and film actor, film director, and screenwriter.-Career:A native of Ontario, Canada, Lucas headed to New York City to work in the theater, making his Broadway acting debut in 1904 at the Savoy Theater in the production of The Superstition of Sue...
as Alessandro - James C. MortonJames C. MortonJames C. Morton was an American character actor. He appeared in 187 films between 1922 and 1943.-Career:...
as Woodchopper