KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Lightdeossk Captivating movie !

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

kevin olzak 1933's "Lucky Devils" is an often fascinating look at Hollywood stuntmen and the dangerous feats they perform anonymously for the benefit of cinema-goers around the world. Not long before Hopalong Cassidy, William Boyd toplines as the leader of the close knit group, Skipper Clark, with others portrayed by William Gargan, Bruce Cabot, Creighton Chaney (Lon Jr.), William Bakewell, and real life stuntman Robert Rose, who co-wrote the screen story. A breakneck pace is established right off the bat, with a daring daylight bank robbery that turns out to be a frenetic scene being filmed for a picture titled "Right Living," bullets and bodies flying all over the lot. Skipper's oft repeated phrase to his comrades involves any daredevil who loses his edge by marrying a dame: "a good stuntman makes a bad husband, and a good husband makes a bad stuntman." The picture veers toward predictability when Skipper himself falls for an attempted suicide whose life he'd saved, after which he does indeed lose his nerve on a swinging rope above a burning building, resulting in a near fatal fall for his buddy (William Gargan). All does end happily for husband and wife, a breathless rush back to LA buttressed by several clearly dangerous driving stunts just in case the audience hungers for more! The good outweighs the bad overall, and among the cast is a young Lon Chaney Jr., still using his real name in only his second RKO feature. As stuntman Frankie Wilde, he is always seen with the other group members, introduced right behind William Gargan during the opening scene. It's a decent role providing much screen time, if little dialogue, though he does get a laugh when fellow performer Roscoe Ates stammers through a toast on the upcoming marriage of one of their own with 'long life and prosperity,' Chaney interrupting his stuttering with 'progeny' in place of 'prosperity' (the New York Times reviewer noticed the novice newcomer: "Creighton Chaney figures in a minor role"). I wasn't able to spot Ward Bond among the on screen crewmen, but gorgeous Marion Byron can be seen virtually playing herself, a sexy flapper named Peanuts (her actual nickname).

kidboots There is a robbery taking place at the First Street Bank - robbers have broken the skylight and are descending via the chandeliers, a telephonist is thrown down the stairs, a teller is shot for sounding the alarm - very powerful stuff, too bad it is only a scene from a movie!!! The men who make it exciting are the stunt men, although they don't get much praise from anyone except the giddy fans (sweet Rochelle Hudson plays one). The cardinal rule for being a stunt man is they should not be married, once they are, as Skipper Clark (Bill Boyd) says "they are always thinking of the little woman" and that's when accidents happen. When Slugger (William Bakewell) accidentally breaks a bottle, that is a sobering wake up call as a broken bottle always means death to one of the fraternity. Of course now Slugger is about to marry Doris (beautiful Julie Haydon) he is now a bundle of nerves and bungles his driving stunt, going through a plate glass window.Skipper and Bob (William Gargan) are going through their own romantic woes - both are in love with the same girl, Fran (Dorothy Wilson) who they both rescued from a suicide attempt. Skipper, being the star, wins Fran but after their honeymoon (he has conveniently waived the "no marriage" rule) nerves get to him and he mistimes a stunt that sees Bob go to hospital.This is just a terrific little movie that packs so much action into it's 62 minutes, more than most films twice its length. Also it's one of the very few films that turn the attention to the unsung heroes of the action movie, the stunt men and the hazards of their working life!!Even though the burns are superficial Skipper feels responsible and quits but finds the real world tough and jobless and it is back with his "reel" crew that he finally finds work as a road digger. When the director offers $100 to anyone who can pull off a hazardous stunt involving a dinghy going over what looks like Niagara Falls, Skipper's nerve returns along with his good standing.Dorothy Wilson proved once again what a talented young actress she was and that talent isn't always found on the stage or in acting schools. She was director Gregory La Cava's stenographer and was given a well publicized movie contract when the director was looking for new talent for his movie "The Age of Consent". William Boyd, at this time, just before he found fame and fortune as Hopalong Cassidy, was trying to rebuild his career after he had been wrongly identified as the actor William "Stage" Boyd who had been arrested for attending a very wild party.

Michael_Elliott Lucky Devils (1933) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Last month I watched a short called Thrills for Spills, which focused on stunt players in movies and this film here features one intense stunt, which was featured in that short. This RKO film, based on stories by two real-life stuntmen, stars William Boyd as the leader of a group of stuntmen who always tells his men not to fall in love because this will get them killed in their stunts because their minds will be on their wife and not the job. Boys eventually falls for a woman (Dorothy Wilson) who never makes it in Hollywood and his love for her costs a stunt to go horribly wrong. Soon Boyd is without a job and when his wife needs $100 to get into a hospital he must try one of the most dangerous stunts out there for the money. This film is pretty silly but it moves incredibly well in its short 64-minute running time. Boyd is very energetic in his role and the supporting cast is just as impressive. Bruce Cabot and Lon Chaney, Jr. (still using his real name Creighton) plays two of the stuntmen and it's always nice seeing them in these types of roles. Roscoe Ates, the stutterer in Freaks, has a role here as well, which requires him to be humiliated throughout. The stunt scenes are all very well done and it's nice seeing a movie taking a look at these men who never get enough credit.

Connie P. A fun romp, Starring William Boyd, (best known as Hopalong Cassidy)about a group of Hollywood stunt men. The story by Bob Rose and Casey Robinson, two of the top stunt men of the era, follows the men through the up and downs of the stunt world in early films. Complete with a rousing song,sung several times in the film, about the trials and tribulations of the Hollywood stunt man, not unlike the "Fall Guy" theme. You get a glimpse of "state of the art" stunts of that time and it ends with William Boyd using all of his "stunt" skills to race from Big Bear back to Hollywood to make the birth of his child. It's fun, and gives a good look at old Hollywood as it plays as the backdrop for the story. Just a look at the size of the palm trees lets you know just how long ago this took place. Enjoy!