This film finds Wheeler & Woolsey in a costume comedy from what appears to the 17th century. As IMDb pointed out, after the success of Laurel & Hardy in such "The Devil's Brother", RKO decided to try their own comedy team in a period piece. And, considering that most of the team's films do NOT hold up well today, it was a welcome relief to see something different. It was also welcome to see a couple familiar faces--faces you often see in Laurel & Hardy films (Billy Gilbert and Thelma Todd--who was, incidentally, also in "The Devil's Brother").
Although Bert Wheeler usually played sweet characters, here he is an odd-ball because he's a sweet guy BUT also a compulsive thief--and his antics keep getting him and Robert Woolsey in trouble. Much of the first portion of the film is basically plot-less--seeing them go from one altercation after another. This is NOT a criticism, as most of this stuff is pretty good. Later, however, the film abruptly changes when the pair are accidentally assumed to be the King's physicians! And, because of their reputations, the two are called in to care for a nobleman. There, the pair meet the man's nice, Miss Todd, and Woolsey spends most of his time making time with the lovely lady and ignoring his rich patient. I guess you can't blame him! There is also a stupid plot in which an obviously good-looking woman is assumed by the pair to be a boy!! This 'boy' is their servant and unless you are blind (or Wheeler & Woolsey) it's obvious that he's a she!! I really wish they hadn't included this in the film--it just didn't work.
In addition to the plots, there is the usual singing that you'd expect from a Wheeler & Woolsey film. While I am NOT a fan of singing in comedies (even though it was very common in the 1930s-1950s), at least the songs in this film were a bit better than average and even occasionally enjoyable--such as the song about 'Dilly Dallying'. Also, while I am loathe to say this, this film is a very, very rare case where this team actually made a better film with better music than Laurel & Hardy. "The Devil's Brother" was the inspiration for "Cockeyed Cavaliers", but instead of cutesy songs had a lot of operetta-style music--which is simply dreadful. Plus, in "The Devil's Brother", Laurel & Hardy were clearly supporting actors and their material was pretty thin. Here in "Cockeyed Cavaliers", Wheeler & Woolsey clearly are the stars--and it's a bit better than their usual work as well. However, don't assume I am now a huge fan--this is a decent film but I still think the team is deservedly little-known.
By the way, although he sounded just like him, evidently Tedd Pierce did NOT provide the voice for Bluto in the Popeye cartoons--though he had done a lot of other voices for other cartoons! I sure thought he did when I heard him talk with his booming voice! Wow....and what a singing voice--he was one of the best bass singers I've ever heard!!
Although Bert Wheeler usually played sweet characters, here he is an odd-ball because he's a sweet guy BUT also a compulsive thief--and his antics keep getting him and Robert Woolsey in trouble. Much of the first portion of the film is basically plot-less--seeing them go from one altercation after another. This is NOT a criticism, as most of this stuff is pretty good. Later, however, the film abruptly changes when the pair are accidentally assumed to be the King's physicians! And, because of their reputations, the two are called in to care for a nobleman. There, the pair meet the man's nice, Miss Todd, and Woolsey spends most of his time making time with the lovely lady and ignoring his rich patient. I guess you can't blame him! There is also a stupid plot in which an obviously good-looking woman is assumed by the pair to be a boy!! This 'boy' is their servant and unless you are blind (or Wheeler & Woolsey) it's obvious that he's a she!! I really wish they hadn't included this in the film--it just didn't work.
In addition to the plots, there is the usual singing that you'd expect from a Wheeler & Woolsey film. While I am NOT a fan of singing in comedies (even though it was very common in the 1930s-1950s), at least the songs in this film were a bit better than average and even occasionally enjoyable--such as the song about 'Dilly Dallying'. Also, while I am loathe to say this, this film is a very, very rare case where this team actually made a better film with better music than Laurel & Hardy. "The Devil's Brother" was the inspiration for "Cockeyed Cavaliers", but instead of cutesy songs had a lot of operetta-style music--which is simply dreadful. Plus, in "The Devil's Brother", Laurel & Hardy were clearly supporting actors and their material was pretty thin. Here in "Cockeyed Cavaliers", Wheeler & Woolsey clearly are the stars--and it's a bit better than their usual work as well. However, don't assume I am now a huge fan--this is a decent film but I still think the team is deservedly little-known.
By the way, although he sounded just like him, evidently Tedd Pierce did NOT provide the voice for Bluto in the Popeye cartoons--though he had done a lot of other voices for other cartoons! I sure thought he did when I heard him talk with his booming voice! Wow....and what a singing voice--he was one of the best bass singers I've ever heard!!