Fugitive Lovers

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.

There is so many absurd plot elements in this movie it's a wonder it ever got past the writer's room. That it plays much better than it must read is a tribute to director Richard Boleslavsky and the wonderful cast: Robert Montgomery as an escaped convict; Madge Evans as a chorine fleeing from the attentions of a gangster by boarding a cross-country bus; and Nat Pendleton as the gangster, so convinced that Evans is crazy about him that he boards the bus too. You never learn just why Montgomery was in prison, but I rooted for him just the same, sensing he was a good man. Evans sensed this too, helping him even after she learns he was the object of a nationwide manhunt. There is a lot of comedy (Ted Healy and the Three Stooges are on the bus); there is suspense when a bus full of children is buried by a blinding snowstorm; and drama of the chase and attempted rescue, all pleasures to enjoy. There is also the surprise at seeing Akim Tamiroff, Walter Brennan and others in unbilled roles. Much of the movie was shot on the road using two buses as mobile sets.

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".

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.

When i started to watch this film it started to feel suspiciously like "It Happened One Night".The interesting thing is that this film was released just 6 weeks before "IHON.So i wonder who stole what from whom.Anyway whereas IHOO is still funny and famous this film is justly forgotten.It seems to have had the fingerprints of many writers on it,6 are credited ,but how many more actually worked on it i wonder.It starts out OK enlivened by Healy and the 3 stooges.However once they disappear and the dramatic plot takes over this film goes into freefall.It is the epitome of poor writing and plot development and to say it is unbelievable and formulaic is just to understate the case.Even Nat Pendleton with his overacting in the early part of the film was preferable to the miscast Robert Montgomery and the dreadful tear jerking 4 hankie stuff at the conclusion.My best advice is that if you are determined to watch this film then turn it off when Healy and the Stooges leave.Then you will feel that you have seen a reasonable film.