Kinématoscope

Opérette d'après Auber (Fra Diavolo, ou l'hôtellerie de Terracine, 1830).
"Greats lords lost their gold to him. Great ladies their hearts" (Premier carton).
Laurel et Hardy, apprentis bandits, rencontrent le vrai Fra Diavolo, un Robin des bois chantant dont la seule voix suffit à terroriser la région :
"On yonder rock reclining
That fierce and swarthy form behold!
Fast his hands his carbine hold,
'Tis his best friend of old!
This way his steps inclining,
His scarlet plume waves o'er his brow,
And his velvet cloak hangs low
Playing in careless flow.
Tremble!
E'en while the storm is beating,
Afar hear Echo repeating:
Diavolo, Diavolo, Diavolo."
(Adaptation de l'air "Voyez sur cette roche…" à l'acte I de l'opéra).
Le duo comique fournit de trop rares intermèdes (dont la plus célèbre scène de fou-rire de l'histoire du cinéma) entre les morceaux de Dennis King, star de Broadway.