Laurel and Hardy at last functioning as a team
after just missing each other in "All-Star" Roach comedies tone deaf
to their potential. As defective detectives, silly-named "Ferdinand
Finkleberry" and "Sherlock Pinkham" (inspired title writer H.M.
Walker coasting a little here), L&H go in pursuit of slash-killing Noah
Young, who's sworn revenge on Judge James Finlayson, unaccountably wed here to
stunner Clara Bow lookalike Viola Richard. Stan and Babe's hat switch routine
is used for a first time, and you'd think for such expertise they'd been at it
for years. What helped these boys most in fact was both having come to teaming
from long experience before cameras and mastery of character/gags gleaned from
felicitous work with others. A hook-up ten, or even five, years earlier might
not have worked so well. Had any comedians up to then (or since) come to
pairing so seasoned? I'd like to know who (if anyone) counseled L&H at
this beginner point. Was Leo McCarey already a participant, or did Stan and
Babe work out details on their own?
After a string of hit and miss efforts, DO DETECTIVES THINK? is suddenly so spot on Laurel and Hardy, the last few not-quite-there details stand out in stark relief (Ollie's mustache is a little off, Stan's hat has an inappropriately jaunty tilt, etc.) Just wish there was a really good version of this one from sharp 35mm materials.
You mention the Viola Richard/Clara Bow resemblance. For years I could never get over Hal Roach supporting actor Noah Young's likeness to 1950's regular Robert Strauss. The fact that both specialized in pop-eyed out of control bad guys just underscores the similarity. Or does it? Does anyone else see this?
I enjoy these early L&H shorts, just to see how they developed over time -- or, rather, how Stan developed, since Ollie seems to have found his own character immediately. Stan goes back and forth from cocky to timid in some of these movies, as if unsure who he's supposed to be.
John - your readers may enjoy my review of DO DETECTIVES THINK from my blog-to-book project, "Scared Silly: Classic Hollywood Horror Comedies." Here is the link: http://scaredsillybypaulcastiglia.blogspot.com/2010/12/do-detectives-think-1927.html
4 Comments:
After a string of hit and miss efforts, DO DETECTIVES THINK? is suddenly so spot on Laurel and Hardy, the last few not-quite-there details stand out in stark relief (Ollie's mustache is a little off, Stan's hat has an inappropriately jaunty tilt, etc.) Just wish there was a really good version of this one from sharp 35mm materials.
You mention the Viola Richard/Clara Bow resemblance. For years I could never get over Hal Roach supporting actor Noah Young's likeness to 1950's regular Robert Strauss. The fact that both specialized in pop-eyed out of control bad guys just underscores the similarity. Or does it? Does anyone else see this?
I enjoy these early L&H shorts, just to see how they developed over time -- or, rather, how Stan developed, since Ollie seems to have found his own character immediately. Stan goes back and forth from cocky to timid in some of these movies, as if unsure who he's supposed to be.
Dave K: you know I never thought of it, but you're right on the money about Noah Young = Robert Strauss!
John - your readers may enjoy my review of DO DETECTIVES THINK from my blog-to-book project, "Scared Silly: Classic Hollywood Horror Comedies." Here is the link: http://scaredsillybypaulcastiglia.blogspot.com/2010/12/do-detectives-think-1927.html
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