Filming began October 30, 1929, to November 11, 1929 Released January 4, 1930, Two Reels Produced by Hal Roach, Directed by James Parrott, Photographed by George Stevens, Sound by Elmer Raguse Main Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Edgar Kennedy, James Finlayson, Anders Randolf After their brief… Continue reading 43. Night Owls (1930)
For Stan, Ollie, their wives and of course the gout-ridden Uncle Edgar Kennedy, this was far from a perfect day. Yet, all of the film's ingredients and especially the talent on display make the film almost the perfect comedy. Indeed Glenn Mitchell in his 'Laurel & Hardy Encyclopedia' describes 'Perfect Day' as one of the… Continue reading 39. Perfect Day (1929)
This is such an interesting little film. Laurel & Hardy's very first talking picture, 'Unaccustomed As We Are' is a truly historic and pivotal moment in the boys' career and one can only wonder at the anxieties Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy must have felt leading up to the filming and ultimately the release of… Continue reading 35. Unaccustomed As We Are (1929)
Angora Love, as well as being a typically funny Laurel & Hardy comedy, is also a very significant film in Stan & Ollie's canon, as it has the distinction of being the very last silent film they ever made together (with the exception of 'The Tree in a Test Tube' (1943), but that doesn't really… Continue reading Tipping the hat to Laurel and Hardy’s Silent Shorts (1921 – 1929)
Well, this is it! Laurel & Hardy's farewell to silent pictures. The end of an era, the last of a dying breed. If you've joined us on the Blog's journey so far, or independently actually sat and watched each film in order (the order that they were made, not released), I hope you've gotten as… Continue reading 34. Angora Love (1929)
Filmed Feb 18 to Feb 27, 1929, Produced by Hal Roach Directed by Lewis R. Foster, Titles by H.M. Walker, Two Reels Main Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Edgar Kennedy, Jean Harlow, Charlie Hall Bacon Grabbers is a really solid Laurel and Hardy silent short. So, why then does it appear to be one of… Continue reading 33. Bacon Grabbers (1929)
'Two Tars' is a spectacular return to form for Laurel & Hardy - and thank goodness for that! This is exactly what was required following the confusing and, without wanting to sound melodramatic, traumatic experience of watching the boys' previous film 'Early to Bed'. What a relief to read the opening title cards. Gone is… Continue reading 25. Two Tars (1928)
Filmed during the Spring of 1928, the opening scene of 'Should Married Men Go Home?' is one in contrast to reality. Here we see a picture of domestic bliss, as Ollie and his wife (played by Kay Deslys, returning for the second film in a row) sit cuddling on the sofa, yet behind closed doors,… Continue reading 23. Should Married Men Go Home? (1928)
Forget Silas Barnaby, Walter Long, Noah Young, Tiny Sandford, Charlie Hall, even Jimmy Finlayson. Laurel & Hardy's biggest and certainly most intimidating nemesis had to be their on-screen wives! Although the boys had had female co-stars playing their girlfriends in earlier films and also whilst acknowledging that there would be better examples to come in… Continue reading 22. Their Purple Moment (1928)
The dawn of 1928 was a busy time for everyone at the Hal Roach Studios, and the wind of change was blowing across the ‘Lot of Fun’. In January, following stories circulated in the press about marital problems, Hal Roach took off for an extended vacation and didn’t return to Culver City until June. The… Continue reading 21. You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928)
