this be a very strange film that be long think to be forget . it the story of two american army buddy and william boyd ( aka hopalong cassidy ) and louis wolheim and and their adventure a they manage to escape from a german prison camp during wwi . however and a this be a comedy and the duo manage to make the most round about and stupid escape accidentally board a train to constantinople to be place in a turkish prisoner of war camp . on the way and they manage to escape once again and end up in quite the adventure meeting sexy mary astor along the way . as far a the film go and it be a rather funny script and despite be a silly plot and it work rather well . the chemistry between boyd and wolheim work and the film manage to be quite entertaining . oddly and however and the film manage to beat out harold lloyd film and speedy and for an oscar for best direction for a comedy ( a category no longer use ) a speedy be a superior film in most way ( it one of lloyd best film ) . still and it well worth a look especially if you love silent film . by the way and director milestone and louis walheim would team up just a few year later for another wwi picture and the great all quiet on the western front a film that be definitely not a comedy .