Following 'Below Zero', 'Hog Wild' is a return to the gag-packed comedy format that merrily bounces along to a jaunty soundtrack, and I would say, is arguably one of Laurel and Hardy's best short subjects. It's such a simple plot - Ollie has to fix a radio aerial onto his roof, oh yes...and to handicap… Continue reading 47. Hog Wild (1930)
'Brats' is a really interesting film and I say this for several reasons. Firstly, it's one of the only films where Laurel and Hardy carry the whole film completely on their own, with no supporting cast. Second, its the first film where we see the boys playing dual roles. In 'Brats' the boys play both… Continue reading 45. Brats (1930)
'Blotto' is certainly a fan favourite, based on the amount of times I've seen clips posted on social media fan pages. This is mostly due to just one scene at the end of the film, where the boys are laughing uncontrollably, in the belief that they are drunk (or blotto). It's quite an interesting film… Continue reading 44. Blotto (1930)
After their brief sojourn at MGM, filming 'The Rogue Song', the boys were soon back in front of the cameras at the Hal Roach 'Lot of Fun' for business as usual...and that business was 'Night Owls'. The story of 'Night Owls' is an interesting one, as Laurel & Hardy historians, including Randy Skretvedt, Glenn Mitchell… Continue reading 43. Night Owls (1930)
Just like the silent short 'Hats Off' (1927), The Rogue Song has frustrated Laurel & Hardy fans for decades, as it is another 'lost' film. However, whereas 'Hats Off' is lost in its entirety, fragments of varying length and quality of 'The Rogue Song' have surfaced across the globe over the years, giving us tantalising glimpses… Continue reading 42. The Rogue Song (1930) (Lost Film)
As soon as 'They Go Boom' was in the can, the Roach Studios closed down for their annual month-long vacation. This was certainly a well-earned break for the boys who had already turned out twelve fantastic comedy shorts in the first seven months of that year alone, not including their cameo appearance in 'The Hollywood… Continue reading 41. The Hoose-Gow (1929)
Despite it's title, 'They Go Boom!' is not an explosive Laurel & Hardy comedy - at least not compared with their own high standards anyway! Yet, to be fair, it does have its funny moments, as you would expect with Messrs. Laurel, Hardy and Charlie Hall pitted once more against each other. Although I never like… Continue reading 40. They Go Boom! (1929)
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)
I've always known that Laurel & Hardy are magic, but seeing them here playing a pair of magicians seals it! One particular magic trick they manage to pull off is to make 'The Hollywood Revue of 1929' actually worth watching - well, for about six minutes anyway. Okay, so perhaps I'm being a little unfair,… Continue reading 38. The Hollywood Revue of 1929
It really is quite hard to believe that 'Men O'War' was only Laurel & Hardy's third talking picture! Early talkies just don't get much better than this. Whilst their first outing, 'Unaccustomed As We Are' (1929), was over-loaded with dialogue and their second offering, 'Berth Marks' (1929), was mostly visual pantomime, the team at the… Continue reading 37. Men O’ War (1929)
