Stan Laurel (1890-1965) and Oliver Norvell Hardy (1892-1957)
It is time for a week of merriment and memories as the Classic Movie Blog Association celebrates Classic Comedies with a blogathon running from January 22nd to the 27th. Click HERE for the laughs.
"You may be a movie buff if … you have more pictures of Laurel and Hardy about the house than of actual relatives."
- Caftan Woman
Stan Jefferson was born in England to a show business family so it is no surprise that the acting bug bit early in life. His father, A.J., was a theatre manager, writer, producer, director, and actor. Stan’s mother acted in her husband’s plays. Stan’s comedic ambitions were encouraged and nurtured by his parents who found him an apprentice job with a touring pantomime company during his teen years.
Eventually, Stan became a member of Fred Karno’s well-known music hall troupe, honing his craft alongside young Charlie Chaplin. It was on his second tour of the U.S. with Karno that Stan decided to stay on the Vaudeville circuit in acts with various partners and changed his name to the more euphonious and, hopefully lucky, Laurel. Stan had some moderate success in film, notably with producer Joe Rock, but by the mid-1920s was happily and busily engaged as a gag man and director at the Hal Roach Studio and seriously considered giving up performing.
Eventually, Stan became a member of Fred Karno’s well-known music hall troupe, honing his craft alongside young Charlie Chaplin. It was on his second tour of the U.S. with Karno that Stan decided to stay on the Vaudeville circuit in acts with various partners and changed his name to the more euphonious and, hopefully lucky, Laurel. Stan had some moderate success in film, notably with producer Joe Rock, but by the mid-1920s was happily and busily engaged as a gag man and director at the Hal Roach Studio and seriously considered giving up performing.
Norvell Hardy was the adored baby in his Georgia family. His father, Oliver, passed away when Norvell was a baby and in his teens, Norvell took the name Oliver as his own as a tribute. While his family had no theatrical background, young Oliver’s musical ability and longing for the spotlight led to his mother agreeing to let him travel with the Charles Coburn (cousin of the future Academy Award-winning actor of that name) Minstrel show before he was even 10 years old. Later, Hardy opened a movie theatre and studied music seriously for a time.
Eager to enter the movie business, he moved to Florida where he learned about the movies from the ground up working for the VIM comedies while singing in nightclubs. He gained a reputation as a good “heavy” and inspired comedian. In fact, while Hardy was working with the popular Billy West, it was suggested to Stan by producer Joe Rock that he should consider working with “Babe” Hardy. Still seeking to establish his own screen persona, Stan thought it unwise to team with such a scene stealer.
Eager to enter the movie business, he moved to Florida where he learned about the movies from the ground up working for the VIM comedies while singing in nightclubs. He gained a reputation as a good “heavy” and inspired comedian. In fact, while Hardy was working with the popular Billy West, it was suggested to Stan by producer Joe Rock that he should consider working with “Babe” Hardy. Still seeking to establish his own screen persona, Stan thought it unwise to team with such a scene stealer.
The Roach Studio in the 1920s could boast of their Little Rascals and their Comedy All Stars including Charley Chase, Billy Gilbert, Edgar Kennedy, James Finlayson and Oliver Hardy. Leo McCarey, James Parrott, James Horne, Frank Butler, Stan Laurel and others were crafting the movies audiences loved. Stan was prevailed upon to return to the screen and when he appeared with Babe found their styles and dedicated approach to comedy were a perfect match. The creative minds on the lot, especially McCarey, the happy exhibitors, and audiences took to the evolving team and the All Star Comedy output became the Laurel and Hardy films.
The Laurel and Hardy characters of the screen are a couple of well-meaning dolts. Well, aren’t we all at one time or another? Stanley of the halting thought process is the dumb guy. Ollie of the grand manners is the dumber guy because he thinks he is smarter than Stanley. Stan immersed himself in the creating, timing and editing of their films. Babe contributed his thorough preparation technique and total commitment to the team. The congenial working relationship between the two men grew into an abiding friendship during their years in film and most certainly their stage tours when the movies thought they could do without Laurel and Hardy.
Stan always felt that the short subject best suited the team because it is difficult for comedy – their type of comedy - to carry a feature-length story. I’m not one to argue with a genius about his business, but there are copious laughs to be found in the Laurel and Hardy features such as the two remembered here.
Laurel and Hardy did not create the domestic comedy, but there was no better match for their naïve characters than the Battle of the Sexes and Sons of the Desert is that battle played out to perfection. The director was William Seiter, well known for Roberta, Shirley Temple pictures and Wheeler and Woolsey’s Diplomaniacs. The story is by Our Town’s famous stage manager Frank Craven and the screenplay was worked on by Seiter, Stan, Babe, Eddie Welch, Jack Barty and Glenn Tryon.
Members of the fraternal order the Sons of the Desert, Los Angeles Chapter, have sworn to one hundred percent attendance at the annual convention in Chicago. Stan is worried about having taken the oath without his wife’s permission causing a frustrated Ollie to remark: "Why don’t you pattern your life after mine? I go places and do things and then tell my wife.”
Few things are funnier than watching Ollie’s transitions from coy to assertive to cowed as he tried to wrangle his way to Chicago over the objections of his wife played by Mae Busch. The Australian born Mae has an interesting filmography having worked with Lon Chaney in While the City Sleeps and The Unholy Three, and Erich Von Stroheim in Foolish Wives, Souls for Sale and The Devil's Passkey. She joined Laurel and Hardy for 14 pictures and was a great foil for the boys in pictures such as Them Thar Hills, Tit for Tat, Their First Mistake and Oliver the Eighth.
In Sons of the Desert, Ollie gets no support from the dough-headed wax-eating Stan who is most certainly under the thumb of his rifle toting wife played by Dorothy Christy. Clearly, a Byzantine plan involving a feigned nervous breakdown, a veterinarian and a cruise to Hawaii is the only way to fulfill the oath.
The diversions of the convention are joyously and innocently enjoyed by our heroes. Much admired comic actor Charley Chase is a loudmouthed practical joker who almost blows the boy’s cover. The night club floor show features a catchy Island inspired tune (they were all the rage at the time), Honolulu Baby performed by Ty Parvis with some bright-eyed and clunky chorus girls. The tune was written by Roach music director Marvin Hatley, who also composed the Sons of the Desert Song and the beloved Laurel and Hardy theme, Dance of the Cuckoos.
The boys return to hearth and home with a song of the islands and some pineapples. What could possibly go wrong? Well, what if the cruise ship was caught in a storm with the safety of the passengers in doubt? What if Mrs. Laurel and Mrs. Hardy were to see a newsreel of the Chicago convention highlighting two familiar fez-topped fellows? What if it rains? Rain can dampen even the most “finely formulated machinations in extricating us from this devastating dilemma”. Each complication, each reaction and the capper to it all brings forth gales of laughter after 70 years.
Stan and Babe both felt that costume pictures such as The Devil’s Brother, The Bohemian Girl and March of the Wooden Soldiers were a perfect setting for their none too bright, but optimistic screen characters. Along that line we come to the oh-so-funny singing cowboy/melodrama/spoof Way Out West written by Jack Jevne, Charley Rogers, Felix Adler and James Parrott, and directed by James W. Horne, whose collaborations with Laurel and Hardy include Liberty, Laughing Gravy, Beau Hunks, Big Business, The Bohemian Girl and others.
Our heroes are entrusted (apparently no one else was available) with delivering the deed to a gold mine to a sweet-faced, sweet-natured heroine working as a servant in a rough and wild western town. Canadian born Rosina Lawrence, who graced many Little Rascal shorts plus Charlie Chan’s Secret, plays Mary Roberts. Mary works for penny-pinching saloon keeper Mickey Finn. Naturally, frequent and favourite co-star James Finlayson plays that role with his accustomed bluster. A beauty contest winner who appeared in pictures in the 1920s and 1930s, Sharon Lynn plays Finn’s wife, saloon singer Lola Marcel. Like her hubby, Lola is looking for a windfall to better their social position and honesty is not a factor.
Stan and Babe both felt that costume pictures such as The Devil’s Brother, The Bohemian Girl and March of the Wooden Soldiers were a perfect setting for their none too bright, but optimistic screen characters. Along that line we come to the oh-so-funny singing cowboy/melodrama/spoof Way Out West written by Jack Jevne, Charley Rogers, Felix Adler and James Parrott, and directed by James W. Horne, whose collaborations with Laurel and Hardy include Liberty, Laughing Gravy, Beau Hunks, Big Business, The Bohemian Girl and others.
Our heroes are entrusted (apparently no one else was available) with delivering the deed to a gold mine to a sweet-faced, sweet-natured heroine working as a servant in a rough and wild western town. Canadian born Rosina Lawrence, who graced many Little Rascal shorts plus Charlie Chan’s Secret, plays Mary Roberts. Mary works for penny-pinching saloon keeper Mickey Finn. Naturally, frequent and favourite co-star James Finlayson plays that role with his accustomed bluster. A beauty contest winner who appeared in pictures in the 1920s and 1930s, Sharon Lynn plays Finn’s wife, saloon singer Lola Marcel. Like her hubby, Lola is looking for a windfall to better their social position and honesty is not a factor.
The villains will have much to do with the boys, but first Stan and Ollie must reach town. Stan utilizes Claudette Colbert’s system from It Happened One Night to hitch a ride on a stagecoach. Upon reaching the town, the boy’s find a mixed reception. The sheriff is not their friend as his wife was annoyed by their feeble attempt at flirting during the trip. On a more pleasant note, Chill Wills and his Avalon Boys are loafing and singing in front of the saloon leading to an impromptu dance that is one of the delights of this or any movie.
I find a musicality in all that Laurel and Hardy present, a rhythm to their physical gags as well as their dialogue. The At the Ball, That's All (Commence to Dancin’) number showcases the two performers at their best, light on their feet and communicating pure joy to their audience. In second place for charm is the rendition of The Trail of the Lonesome Pine where we are treated to Ollie’s lovely voice and a little vocal trickery from Stan with dubbing help from Rosina Lawrence and Chill Wills. It is worth noting that Marvin Hatley received an Oscar nomination for "Best Music, Score" for Way Out West. The award was given to Charles Previn for One Hundred Men and a Girl.
Swindled out of the deed by the duplicitous Finns, Stan and Ollie (like all true heroes) do not hesitate for a moment upon learning of their mistake. However, their efforts to retrieve the stolen document are doomed to hilarious failure especially when Lola traps a ticklish Stan in a locked room. Thrown out of town by the still irate sheriff, the boys must resort to burglary and their catlike tread resembles a Roman Legion in full attack mode. Success is ensured through the demand for a happy ending and includes a bucket as camouflage, a grand piano and a flying donkey.
The popularity of westerns is equaled by the popularity of western spoofs. Way Out West can be counted among the best and you need look no further than its stars to know why.
“People have always loved our pictures. I guess that's because they saw how much love we put into them.”
- Stan Laurel
