Ever since Laurel and Hardy’s last-minute insertion into The Rogue Song, Hal Roach had wanted to put them into a feature-length operetta. He chose Fra Diavolo, a one-hundred-year old work by Daniel Auber; the film was known by that title outside the United States.
Stanlio (Stan Laurel) listens as Ollio (Oliver Hardy) explains why they have nothing to fear from Fra Diavolo
The Devil’s Brother (a meaningless title) is essentially an editing together of two separate films. Hal Roach directed the musical and dramatic sequences, using Hap Depew as cinematographer, while Charley Rogers (and Stan Laurel) directed the comedy sequences, photographed by Art Lloyd. This ended up proving that Roach was a better producer than he was director: the parts attributed to Rogers were highly praised, while those for which Roach was responsible were not. In fact, previews led to the excision of a significant amount of the non-comedic footage.
This was an untypical Laurel and Hardy picture (historical setting, no bowler hats) and the pair were hesitant about making it. But it turned out to be one of their favourites amongst their films, as well as the most commercially successful. It features some classic Laurel and Hardy routines, including the introduction of ‘Kneesy-Earsy-Nosy’, the frustratingly difficult coordination game that Stan made look so easy.
Lady Pamela (Thelma Todd) is pleased that the Marquis de San Marco has arrived at the inn
There is a third excellent performance in The Devil’s Brother, with Thelma Todd being given a rare opportunity to show her range. She plays Lady Pamela, an English aristocrat, and actually sounds more convincing than British-born James Finlayson, playing her husband. Todd is almost unrecognizable as the fast-talking working girl she played in most of her films.
Dennis King, as might be expected, carries off the musical sequences with aplomb, though it cannot be said he is totally convincing as a ruthless cutthroat. He holds his own in his scenes with Stan and Ollie, though he later admitted to finding their improvisations very challenging. Lucile Brown is an effective ingenue and handles her one song capably (and fetchingly, since she is in lingerie). But Arthur Pierson’s Lorenzo demonstrates why he gave up acting to move behind the camera.
Stanlio demonstrates Kneesy-Earsy-Nosey
A feature musical with the MGM imprimatur, The Devil’s Brother clearly has a larger budget than was normal for Hal Roach productions. This is demonstrated by the number of actors and extras on screen, and by Dolly Tree’s costumes.
Diavolo is returning to his camp [By Yonder Rock Reclining]. He tells his men he has found “a skinny old lord who stinks of gold”, who has a pretty wife with sparkling jewels. He could not steal from them, because he was disguised as the Marquis de San Marco, though he did steal the lady’s heart. Diavolo had travelled in a coach with them, and now describes what happened.
Lady Pamela (Thelma Todd) shows off her jewellery to Diavolo (Dennis King), who is disguised as the Marquis de San Marco
Lord Rocburg was sleeping as Diavolo sang to Lady Pamela [The Gondolier, Fond Passion’s Slave]. He flirts with her and she shows off her jewellery, some of which is hidden inside a fruit cake. Diavolo asks if she is not afraid of bandits, but Pamela assures him they would never find her jewels, nor her husband’s 500,000 francs. Rocberg wakes when he hears his money mentioned and glares at the Marquis, expressing his dislike of popinjays.
Back in the present, Diavolo tells his men to go and rob the coach.
In a nearby town, soldiers are gathered outside the Taverna del CuCu [Drink, For Joy Bestowing]. Inside, the tavern owner Matteo tells Zerlina, his daughter, to stay away from soldiers or his plans for her will be spoiled. Zerlina tells him she loves Lorenzo, but he insists she will marry Francesco tomorrow.
Zerlina runs to tell Lorenzo, who tells her to just refuse to marry Francesco. She explains that Matteo has no money and will lose the tavern if she does not marry a wealthy husband. Lorenzo hopes to catch Diavolo and get the reward money, but Zerlina reminds him he has been searching for months. Lorenzo assured her he is getting closer.
Meanwhile, Stanlio and Ollio are riding through the mountains, on a mule and a horse respectively. Ollio tells Stanlio to give him their money, because it will be safer with him. Holding the two bags, he talks about all the sacrifices they have made to save the money, so that now they can settle down and live off the fat of the land. Two bandits hold them up and take the money.
Ollio says they will have to start all over again, right at the bottom, but Stanlio suggests they start at the top by becoming bandits themselves. Ollio likes the idea, pointing out that they can do it because being a bandit does not require any brains.
Stanlio (Stan Laurel) and Ollio (Oliver Hardy) make a failed attempt to rob an old woodchopper (James C Morton)
They approach an elderly woodchopper and, holding him at gunpoint, demand his money. The woodchopper begs them not to rob him, explaining that he struggles to feed his sixteen children. His story moves the pair to tears and they give him what money they have, only to see him drop it into a big bag of cash.
The woodchoppers flee in panic when they hear Diavolo singing [On Yonder Rock Reclining]. Stanlio and Ollio hide, and a large woodchopper explains that Fra Diavolo will cut their throats. Stanlio is scared, but Ollio assures him that he knows a bandit when she sees one.
Rocberg’s coach arrives in the town and they tell the soldiers they have been robbed and Pamela’s jewels taken {My Lord and Lady Have Been Robbed]. Certain it was Diavolo, Lorenzo leaves with his troops.
In the forest, Stanlio and Ollio come across Diavolo and hold him up. Ollio claims to be Diavolo, and sings ‘On Yonder Rock Reclining’. He forgets the words, but the song is completed by the real Diavolo. Realizing their mistake, Stanlio and Ollio turn to run away, and are confronted by the bandits. Diavolo decides to hang them. When Stanlio pleads for his life, Diavolo says he will be spared if he hangs his friend.
Diavolo admires the jewels, but is angry that his men missed the 500,000 francs. He decides to follow the coach to the inn.
Prevented from running away, Stanlio, after much prevarication, tries to hang Ollio, but the tree breaks under his weight. Diavolo cannot take his men with him because they would be recognized, so he decides to spare Stanlio and Ollio, and take them with him.
At the inn, Rocburg has offered 10,000 francs for the return of the jewels. Pamela has retained one medallion, that was hidden in her cleavage, and the cash, which is sewn into her petticoat.
Stanlio and Ollio carry Diavolo, disguised as the Marquis, to the inn in a sedan chair. Flirting with two servant girls, Stanlio waves his red handkerchief at them and they are attacked by a nearby bull.
Meanwhile, Diavolo continues his flirtation with Pamela, rousing Rogberg’s jealousy.
Stanlio and Ollio see a notice offering 20,000 francs for the capture of Diavolo, and decide to get it for themselves.
Ollio and Stanlio sneak up on Lord Rocberg (James Finlayson), mistaking him for Diavolo
Rocberg attempts to trick Pamela by faking a note from the Marquis and slipping it under her door, but it disappears under a rug. He hides in the Marquis’s room, while Diavolo visits Pamela in her room. Stanlio and Ollio burst into the Marquis’s room and mistakenly bundle Rocberg under his cloak.
Diavolo tries to find out from Pamela the hiding place of the money, but fails. He hears Stanlio and Ollio outside, struggling with their captive, and looks down from the balcony, hearing their betrayal. Realizing their mistake, they flee, with Diavolo in pursuit. He gives them one more chance.
Later, Diavolo puts sleeping powders into wine and tells Stanlio and Ollio to take it to Rocberg, with his compliments. Rocberg refuses to accept it, so Stanlio drinks it himself.
Diavolo tells them to wait in the courtyard until it is quiet, then climb up to the balcony. Drowsy, Stanlio starts to sing ‘On Yonder Rock Reclining’, and Diavolo threatens to cut out his tongue if he ever does it again.
Zerlina sleeps in a bed outside Pamela’s door, in case she is needed in the night, while Ollio struggles to keep Stanlio awake. On his balcony, Diavolo gives the signal for them to climb up. They do so, though with great difficulty. Diavolo leads them across to Pamela’s balcony, while Zerlina settles herself to sleep [For a servant there’s no denying]. Diavolo gives his companions pistols, telling them to cover Rocberg while he searches the room. Then Diavolo hears the soldiers returning [Victory Crowned, Victoria, Victoria, Victoria]. Pamela and Rocberg are awakened. Zerlina rushes downstairs and Stanlio climbs into her bed.
Lorenzo tells Rocberg that they did not catch Diavolo, but they found his hiding place and killed twenty of his men. Rocberg returns to his bed. Diavolo, back on his own balcony, flirts with Pamela, then sees Lorenzo climbing up to Zerlina.
Next morning, preparations are made for Zerlina’s wedding [‘Tis Easter Day, ‘tis Easter Day]. Matteo welcomes Francesco.
Pamela rushes downstairs, crying that her medallion has been stolen. Lorenzo makes it clear that he suspects ‘the Marquis’. Diavolo responds by mentioning the figure he saw climbing up to the balcony during the night and asks Lorenzo what he was doing? Lorenzo refuses to say, but denies stealing the medallion. Diavolo suggests they are all searched, and offers to go first. The medallion is found in Lorenzo’s cloak. Diavolo then pleads for mercy towards Lorenzo, insinuating that he stole because he was in love with Zerlina. Pamela agrees not to press the case. Lorenzo thanks her, but vows to prove his innocence.
Lorenzo instructs his lieutenant to question the Marquis, who seems to be able travel freely without ever being robbed.
Matteo sends Stanlio and Ollio to the cellar to bring up the best wine.
Pamela shows Diavolo the petticoat with the hidden money
‘The Marquis’ tells the lieutenant that he did once see Diavolo singing. [Proudly and Wide, My Standard Flies].
In the cellar, Stanlio and Ollio get into a mess trying to get wine from the barrel. Unknown to Ollio, Stanlio is drinking it and gets drunk. Meanwhile, Diavolo searches again for Rocberg’s money.
Diavolo finally persuades Pamela to reveal where the money is hidden. He then persuades her to change her clothes, so that he can steal the petticoat.
Back upstairs, Stanlio is now very drunk, and embarrasses Zelrina by singing the song they had overheard her singing the previous evening. She explains to Lorenzo, and suggests that, if he was close enough to hear her sing, he might have seen the robber. Lorenzo questions Stanlio and Ollio, and they confusedly say enough to convince him that the Marquis is Diavolo. He orders his men to surround the inn.
Diavolo has the petticoat, but sees that he is trapped. He grabs a sword and prepares to fight his way out [On Yonder Rock Reclining]. All the wedding guests hide. Diavolo and Lorenzo fight. Stanlio stumbles into the duel, disarming Diavolo, who is captured, along with Stanlio and Ollio. Diavolo returns the stolen jewels and Zerlina asks for the 10,000 francs reward. Rocberg says he does not have the cash with him, but Diavolo produces the petticoat and hands over the money to Lorenzo. Rocberg rushes off to find Pamela. Matteo welcomes Lorenzo as his son. Rocberg finds Pamela still waiting for Diavolo.
Diavolo, Stanlio and Ollio are placed in front of a firing squad. Tearfully, Stanlio takes out his red handkerchief, causing the bull to run riot again. In the confusion, all three escape.
