When Daingerfield Phelps (William Boyd) finds he has been blown into the same fox hole as the Sergeant who has bullied him from Hoboken to France they decide to finish each other off before the Germans get to them. Instead they are taken Prisoners of War and once at camp O'Gaffney's (Louis Wolheim) true background comes out. He is "Taxicab Pete", a con man who usually practices his craft "on women and those of trusting natures". Phelps is the rich kid and both believe their time in the camp is going to be Hell!! but an incident in the "Cootie's Crematory" sees them best buddies.
"What Price Glory" released the same year was a huge success with it's realistic depiction of war and the endless bickering between it's two main characters, Flagg and Quirt. All studios then wanted to hop on the "buddy" bandwagon. Boyd and Wolheim made a terrific team and it is a pity they didn't make more together although Wolheim was re-united with Astor and Ian Keith for the 1931 "Sin Ship" in which, unbelievably, he ended up with Astor - although Mary could make you believe anything!!!
Together they escape the camp by masquerading as two Arabs. One comic adventure follows another until they find themselves on a ship bound for Turkey (with Boris Karloff as a purser) where they make the acquaintance of Mirza, a beautiful Arabian princess whom they rescue from an overturned boat. Mary Astor considered a lot of her silent roles "drivel". Her father, only interested in how much she was worth, pushed her into whatever film came her way, he wasn't interested in the quality of the script so neither was she but she very much liked "Two Arabian Knights". Even though Mirza spends quite a bit of time veiled Astor managed to give her a personality but, for me, Louis Wolheim was the film's big plus. Madly mugging for the camera -his expressions just broke me up, especially when he finds out what a eunuch is!!! (and for the questioning reviewer that was who Wolheim's pitying expression was for at the film's end). Another favourite scene was when the boys are about to "get theirs" from two bands of marauding Arabs but a call to prayer has the whole street on it's knees, so our heroes can escape. Another was the fight in the dugout and in a super piece of cinematography, the outline of the hole becomes framed with muskets!!
Fortunately the film was caught just before deterioration set in, although some of the scenes are very spotty. Last but not least the film is help immeasurably by the stirring score by Robert Israel. His use of the plaintively popular song "My Buddy" adds a lot to the comedy moments.
"What Price Glory" released the same year was a huge success with it's realistic depiction of war and the endless bickering between it's two main characters, Flagg and Quirt. All studios then wanted to hop on the "buddy" bandwagon. Boyd and Wolheim made a terrific team and it is a pity they didn't make more together although Wolheim was re-united with Astor and Ian Keith for the 1931 "Sin Ship" in which, unbelievably, he ended up with Astor - although Mary could make you believe anything!!!
Together they escape the camp by masquerading as two Arabs. One comic adventure follows another until they find themselves on a ship bound for Turkey (with Boris Karloff as a purser) where they make the acquaintance of Mirza, a beautiful Arabian princess whom they rescue from an overturned boat. Mary Astor considered a lot of her silent roles "drivel". Her father, only interested in how much she was worth, pushed her into whatever film came her way, he wasn't interested in the quality of the script so neither was she but she very much liked "Two Arabian Knights". Even though Mirza spends quite a bit of time veiled Astor managed to give her a personality but, for me, Louis Wolheim was the film's big plus. Madly mugging for the camera -his expressions just broke me up, especially when he finds out what a eunuch is!!! (and for the questioning reviewer that was who Wolheim's pitying expression was for at the film's end). Another favourite scene was when the boys are about to "get theirs" from two bands of marauding Arabs but a call to prayer has the whole street on it's knees, so our heroes can escape. Another was the fight in the dugout and in a super piece of cinematography, the outline of the hole becomes framed with muskets!!
Fortunately the film was caught just before deterioration set in, although some of the scenes are very spotty. Last but not least the film is help immeasurably by the stirring score by Robert Israel. His use of the plaintively popular song "My Buddy" adds a lot to the comedy moments.