Although Oliver Hardy was a good friend of John Wayne's, he initially balked at acting in this movie, for fear that it would make people think that he and Stan Laurel had broken up as a team. When Laurel insisted that Hardy take the role, he acquiesced.
John Wayne was so pleased with the chemistry between himself and Oliver Hardy that he offered Hardy the role of "permanent comic sidekick" in subsequent movies. By the time this picture was released, Stan Laurel had recovered from illness and was able to return to the Laurel & Hardy team, so Hardy (graciously, of course) declined Wayne's offer.
One of two movies that Oliver Hardy acted in during the 23 year period he made comedies with his partner Stan Laurel.