Studio: MGM. Runtime: 82 minutes. Production Number: 716. Release Date: January 05, 1934. Director: Richard Boleslavsky. Screenplay: George B. Seitz, Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett. Story: Ferdinand Reyher, Frank Wead. Producer: Lucien Hubbard. Cast: Robert Montgomery (Paul Porter), Madge Evans (Letty Morris), Ted Healy (Hector Withington, Jr.), Nat Pendleton (Legs Caffey), C. Henry Gordon (Detective Daly), Ruth Selwyn (Babe Callahan), Imogene Coca (Peanuts), Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Jerome "Curly" Howard (The Three Julians), Lester Allen (Parker), Wade Boteler (Policeman arresting Parker), James Burke (Joe Cobb), Walter Brennan (2nd bus driver), Syd Saylor (3rd bus driver), Don Brodie (Lefty), Al Hill (Joe), Heinie Conklin (Man at bus with Hector), Milton Kibbee, Harrison Greene (drunks), Ray Cooke (bellboy), Nell Craig (Cashier), Richard Cramer (Police Lieutenant), Frank Sheridan (Police Chief), Edward Hearn (Detective), Harry Tenbrook, Edward Gargan, Ben Hendricks, Jr. (Policemen), Louise Emmons (Newspaper hawker), Sherry Hall (Bus station clerk), Virginia Hammond (Older woman bus passenger), Carl Stockdale (Older woman bus passenger's husband), Wilbur Mack (Theatre manager), Akim Tamiroff (Deaf mute bus passenger), Red Pearson (Sailor), Leo White (passenger), DeWitt Jennings (Prison warden), Walter Long, Budd Fine (Prison Guards), Bobby Watson (Eddie), Dad Mills (Blind man), Margaret Mann (old lady), Sam McDaniel (Station attendant), Charles R. Moore (Porter), Inez Palange (Maria), Fred 'Snowflake' Toones (Driver), Maidel Turner (Mother), Delmar Watson (Tommy). Cinematographer: Ted Tetzlaff. Editor: William S. Gray. Art Director: Arnold Gillespie. Recording Director: Douglas Shearer. Set Decoration: Edwin B. Willis. Shooting Days: 10-13-1933 to 11-22-1933.
In this feature length movie, Letty Morris is a New York dancer, who runs away when gangster 'Legs' Caffey makes unwanted advances towards her. To escape she goes on a cross-country bus to Hollywood. There she falls in love with fugitive Paul Porter.
This is a flawed but fun little movie. The idea of a comedy/drama aboard a bus full of colorful characters is a marvelous one. The filmmakers take full advantage of that and many of the characters are delightful to spend time with. Ted Healy's character is a highlight here in one of his best roles as a boisterous and often drunk bus passenger. He is often funny but there is also a bit of heart to this over-the-top character that truly endear him to us. The older woman he is sitting next to is also a lot of fun and the exchanges between them are truly funny. The Stooges don't get a lot of screen time, but they are a lot of fun. Nat Pendelton (who is best known by comedy fans for playing Sgt. Collins in the Abbott and Costello films Buck Privates (1941) and Buck Privates Come Home (1947) as well as villains in The Marx Brothers movies Horse Feathers (1932) and At the Circus (1939)) however steals the show as the gangster Legs Caffey. He makes what could have been a two-dimensional villain into a fully realized three-dimensional character with massive faults but also some good points underneath. He also commands the screen whenever he is on with a strong presence. The dialogue is often sharp and quite witty.
The romantic leads are quite underdeveloped, but they are likable enough to serve their purpose. Though this is mostly due to the charms of Madge Evans and Robert Montgomery.
Unfortunately, the final act of this film is too melodramatic and over-the-top. It also seems to throw too many story points directly at us at one time. In this last act it loses the simplistic charm that makes the first two acts so much fun. It is always a shame when an otherwise good movie loses itself in an overly complicated third act.
Also in the cast of this film are many actors who would later appear with the Stooges in other films.
Don Brodie (Born May 29, 1904, in Cincinnati; passed away January 8, 2001, in Los Angles) appeared with the Stooges in Turn Back the Clock (1933), Meet the Baron (1933), Hollywood Party (1934), Punch Drunks (1934), Start Cheering (1938), I'll Never Heil Again (1941) and The Ghost Talks (1949).
Lester Allen (Born November 11, 1891, in Utica, New York; passed away June 11, 1949, in Los Angles) appeared in Crime on Their Hands (1948) and in archival footage Hot Ice (1955).
Al Hill (Born July 14, 1892, in New York City; passed away July 14, 1952, in Los Angles) appeared in Punch Drunks (1934), Good Luck Mr. Yates (1943) and A Gem of a Jam (1943).
Hennie Conklin (Born July 16, 1880 in San Fransico; passed away July 30, 1959 in Los Angles) appeared in Soup to Nuts (1930), The Big Idea (1934), The Captain Hates the Sea (1934), Flat Foot Stooges (1938), Loco Boy Makes Good (1942), Even as IOU (1942), Back From the Front (1943), Three Pest in a Mess (1945), Micro-Phonies (1945), Uncivil War Birds (1946), Fright Night (1947), Out West (1947), Hold that Lion (1947), I'm a Monkey's Uncle (1948), Crime on Their Hands (1948), Punchy Cowpunchers (1950), Hu-La-La (1951), Pest Man Wins (1951), Up in Daisy's Penthouse (1953), Booty and the Beast (1953), Musky Musketeers (1954), Pals and Gals (1954), Fling in the Ring (1955) and Fifi Blows Her Top (1958).
Harrison Greene (Born January 18, 1884, in Portland Oregan; passed away, September 28, 1945, in Los Angles) appeared in The Captain Hates the Sea (1934), Ants in the Pantry (1936) and Grips, Grunts and Groans (1937).
Budd Fine (Born September 9, 1894, in Hartford, Connecticut; passed away February 19, 1966, in Los Angles) appeared in The Captain Hates the Sea (1934), Grips, Grunts and Groans (1937), Back to the Woods (1937), Beer Barrel Polecats (1946), Crime on Their Hands (1948) and Hot Ice (1955).
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| The Film Daily, 1934 |
It is always fascinating to see the ways that movies were advertised by local theaters during Hollywood's golden age. Here are some examples of how Fugitive Lovers was advertised.
The following is from an issue of Motion Picture Herald dated January 27, 1934.
"A ten day 'search' contest put on with the New York Mirror, and a street parade of Greyhound busses were two of the high spots of the New York campaign for 'Fugitive Lovers' at the Capital Theatre.
"The newspaper tie-up was an elaboration of the identification idea with two 'fugitive lovers,' a boy and a girl, making the rounds, visiting the local stores, and appearing at different places where readers were requested to spot them, daily cash prizes and free tickets being rewarded to those who made the proper identification.
"In addition to the daily advance parades of busses in many sections of the city, each of these conveyances carried banners advertising free rides to the theatre, copy of course including mention of the attraction as well. Induvial busses were also stationed at many of the local terminals, from which many who accepted the advertised invitation were carried to the Capital.
"It is expected that many members will compete for the $200 in prizes M-G-M is offering for the best campaigns on 'Fugitive Lovers.' The contest runs until March 5th."
The following is from an issue of The Philadelphia Exhibitor dated January 15, 1934.
"George Jones, Loews Theatre, ballyhooing 'Fugitive Lovers' brightened up an old gag with a radio angle.
"It is not the first time that the hunt for a mystery woman or man has been staged in Wilmington, so this part wasn't so original, but with the use of WDEL, and the name 'Fugitive Lovers,' new glamor was added to it. During the day on Friday, Saturday and Monday, the WDEL announcer would say mysteriously, 'Wanted the 'Fugitive Lover,' tune in at six P.M.' Then the instructions that were broadcast at that hour were that between the hours of 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 the 'Fugitive Lovers' would be in, around or not far from the lobby of Loews Theatre, and that a $10 reward would be offered for the first person who would identify the proper pair as the dupes that had been planted."
The following is from an issue of Motion Picture Herald dated March 3, 1934.
"The 'Fugitive Lovers' newspaper contest put over by Oscar Dobb's staff on the New York engagement was adapted successfully by Manager Ben Cohen, College, New Haven, Conn., who tied the stunt in a co-op page in which 12 merchants participated.
"At the head of the page was a two-column box showing the backs of the two 'Fugitive Lovers' and copy explaining that during the day they would be seen in various stores advertised. Tickets were given to those who stopped them and said, 'You are the Fugitive Lovers coming to the College Theatre on Thursday." To further aid the search, a detailed description of the 'Lovers' was also printed."
-Michael J. Ruhland
Resources Used
The Three Stooges Scrapbook by Jeff Lenburg, Joan Howard Maurer and Greg Lenburg
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