FRA DIAVOLO (1933)
Directed by Hal Roach and Charley Rogers
90 minutes
"In 18th-century Italy, a bold bandit known as Fra Diavolo (The Devil's Brother) roams the countryside, stealing fortunes while mingling with the wealthy. Meanwhile, two less colorful bandits rob the life savings from Stanlio and Ollio, who decide that if that's the way things are, they'll become bandits, too. Who should they try to rob but Fra Diavolo himself? This delightful comic opera gives Stan and Ollie the opportunity to play some wonderfully funny routines against a colorful period backdrop. The result is one of their very best feature films. There are many memorable moments including a hilarious scene in which Stan gets happily soused in wine and another where he sets Ollie off into an incurable laughing jag. But best of all is Stan's eye-hand game, known as kneesie-earsie-nosie." – Leonard Maltin