Les amants fugitifs

This film is a perfect example of how to turn a pot-boiler into an art form. Each shot is expertly staged, lit and photographed - a stunning example of what a major studio can do with behind-the-scenes-talent in all fields with a minor script. The director is not well known but some of his films, notably Les Miserables, are well loved. The kind of quality he brought to such major films is here just as clearly in a minor one. Each person photographed on the bus could well be a Steichen portrait. The snow scenes have a beauty seldom captured, particularly on a studio set. I recommend everyone record this film on DVD the next time it's on TCM. After seeing it you'll want to go back and study individual frames.

An interesting mix of comedy and drama. I found it interesting that the Three Stooges along with Ted Healy had parts in the movie. This was made the year that the Stooges made their split with Healy. Moe, Larry and Curly were not exactly in character here and while their screen time was limited, it was great to see them. While Healy was in the movie with the Stooges, they did not appear to be together. Healy clearly had a larger part in the movie, interacting with Robert Montgomery. Moe and Curly had more screen time than Larry. There was no "leader" in the group. There was no slapping and poking as they later became famous for. They did however harmonize a tune that later would show up in one of their shorts. I wish they had more screen time! This movie was made the same year that the Three Stooges made their debut in the Columbia short "Women Haters".

Chorus girl Madge Evans collects money from her associates and leaves New York for California. She hopes for a Hollywood career, but she also wants to get away from gangster Nat Pendleton. He says he'll make her a star. She won't pay the price. He gets on the bus and hounds her. She takes refuge with Robert Montgomery. He's just escaped from prison, and everyone is looking for him, especially detective C. Henry Gordon.

'Bus pictures' were a drug on the market when this came out, and you can see why; the scenes set in the bus are static, enlivened a bit by cameraman Ted Tetzlaff's sharply lit, Dutch Angle shots, alternating with foggy or snow-driven exteriors. The story is likewise raised above average by the supporting players working near but out of their usual roles. Pendleton doesn't talk out of the side of his mouth, but sounds human; Ted Healy is a friendly guy; his stooges don't interact with him at all, and look like normal show biz people discussing work. Montgomery seems bewildered and desperate. Miss Evans is still a nice girl, but wise to the ways of the world.

Broadway dancer Letty Morris (Madge Evans) is escaping from the advances of small time gangster Legs Caffey. She takes a bus to Hollywood, but he manages to get onboard. There is a large prison break. One of the prisoners, Paul Porter (Robert Montgomery), steals a suit and buys a bus ticket. One of the oddest and most noteable group of passengers are The Three Stooges who are playing The Three Julians in this movie.

This is a little weird. I kept wanting something intense and comparing this to The Fugitive. Instead, this is going all over the place and not that intense at all. I'm not in the right mind for this.

Nat Pendleton is Caffey, producer, who tries to pick up Letty (Madge Evans). there's a jail break, and here comes Blaine (Robert Montgomery), who joins Caffey and Letty on long a bus trip. Caffey figgers out who Blaine is, and tries to give him a break if he exits now, but Blaine won't leave. co-stars the Three Stooges, although here, they are called the Three Julians. in much more low key roles than they ever had before! un-credited appearance by Milton Kibbee... had TONS of small parts, but older brother Guy was so much better known. and the awesome Walter Brennan is a bus driver. everybody starts closing in on Blaine, but he seems to get away every time. it's all pretty light weight. some fun characters on that bus ride! and then things start to snowball. literally. in the snow! Directed by Richard Boleslawski. he died so young a couple years later, during the filming of Mrs Cheyney.