In the slang of the time "Bohunk", a conflation of "Bohemian" and "Hungarian", was a very pejorative term for a person (almost always a male). The title is a play on this word as well as a reference to the novel "Beau Geste" published in 1924 and turned into the film Beau Geste (1926). Also, sometimes "Bohunk" was reduced to "hunk"; so to call a man a hunk was not a compliment.
According to producer Hal Roach, this film was to have been only a two-reeler, but the comedy was expanded so well that he financed the movie at twice its proposed length.
Roach filmed this as a four reeler, designed to complete with the double features that theaters began offering. It turned out to be a poor experiment, as they were too long for shorts and too short for features. This was the only Laurel and Hardy comedy produced at this length, and at 37 minutes it is their longest "short" .
Jean Harlow had played bits in three Laurel and Hardy films before achieving stardom. She had small parts in Bacon Grabbers (1929) and Liberty (1929), and a memorable featured bit in Double Whoopee (1929). Roach asked for permission to use her photo, and, always the good sport, Harlow agreed. Although she doesn't appear in this picture, she provides the major impetus to the plot. Who else but Jeannie Weenie could drive the plot of a picture without even showing up.
Filling out the ranks of the "ruffians" was composer, and head of Hal Roach's music department, Marvin Hatley. He wrote "The Cuckoo Song" which became Laurel and Hardy's theme.