Post by Angus McLaurel on Sept 13, 2008 16:20:10 GMT
Laurel & Hardy are currently going from job to job. They try their hand at being maid and butler for a very short time, but this doesn`t work out.
Their next job as street cleaners works out more positively for them as they accidentally intercept a bank robbery. As a reward, they ask to be given an education at Oxford.
They have a bit of trouble settling in at Oxford, especially when Stan hears that he is in fact Oxford`s finest ever student, Lord Paddington.
A Chump at Oxford is a great Laurel & Hardy feature film considering it was one of their last efforts for Hal Roach. The first twenty minutes works great and could be a short film in itself. There are some good opening scenes, particularly when they try to hitch a ride on a truck. But the truck driver just takes the piss out of Stan & Ollie by drenching them both. The film then moves on nicely to yet another collapsing model T Ford.
The scenes in the job agency are pure Laurel & Hardy through and through. Then we get to seing them pose as maid and butler, with several scenes being re-worked sequences from earlier films such as `Duck Soup`, `From Soup To Nuts` and `Another Fine Mess`. Stan even takes on the character name Agnes again. And not forgetting the classic `Serve the salad undressed` routine which is done well.
There`s a nice moment as Stan (dressed as Agnes) is handing out a tray of snacks but tucks well into them himself. Whereas Ollie at this point is having trouble with seating arrangements. Eventually after a long switcharound on Ollie`s part, Stan very casually walks in relaxed, partly drunk having cleared several cocktails and enjoying a good smoke from a pipe!
There`s a quite disturbing scene (but very funny) when the champagne is cracked open. The cork lands in Fin`s dish. There`s pure comedy here as Fin unknowingly tucks in and eats the cork. His eating habits very similar to Stan`s!
The litter cleaning scene which follows is very reminiscent of that in Bonnie Scotland, but without the dance routine. There are also some good comedy moments throughout the scene as they clean the road...
STAN: You know what the trouble is don`t you. We`ve never had no education. That`s what`s the matter. You see, were just not illiterate enough
OLLIE: I guess you`re right
STAN: Sure I`m right. You see if we went to school like other people, we would learn our three R`s and today, there`d be no job too small for us, believe me
OLLIE: What do you mean, three R`s?
STAN: Well, reading, writing.....and.......figuring
OLLIE: Figuring?
STAN: Sure, you know two and two makes seven, and four and four makes...seven...
OLLIE: You mean rithmatic
STAN: Yeah, I knew what it meant, but I couldn`t say it
Another nice scene when it`s lunchtime with Stan`s extra thick bread and not forgetting his choice of eggs, A nice hard boiled one for him, and a not so hard boiled (raw) one for Ollie, who slaps it open over his knee, making a mess, but gaining a good laugh for the audience.
Then they arrive at Oxford. The directions they are given to guide them through the maze would confuse anybody. There are some good scenes within the maze, particularly where Stan gets Ollie to carry all the luggage on his back. Stan being empty handed and strolling round the maze comfortably. I also like the time-delay horn Stan has. Very funny.
OLLIE: Will you come and find me
STAN: I will as soon as I find myself
There are some great scenes in the maze but after Stan`s three hands (finger wiggle) routine, the film slows down a bit as the following scenes seem to be a bit of padding.
The 1st scene in the dean`s office is interesting as it looks like a James Finlayson lookalike contest, with one of the contestants being a young Peter Cushing (Long before Hammer Horror and Star Wars)The scenes in the Dean`s office are great though, especially the boyish behaviour with the squirty bottle and the Dean`s portrait.
Stan`s reaction to being told about Lord Paddington is classic. The expressions on his face are pure comedy genius!
OLLIE: well I`ve known him for years and he`s the dumbest guy I ever saw... Aren`t you Stanley?
STAN: I certainly am
Stan`s performance as Lord Paddington is brilliant, as is his ear wiggling (very clever) You almost feel sorry for Ollie when he gets all that abuse from Lord Paddington. Being called `Fatty` and of course, the double chin gag!
A great piece of work from Stan & Ollie. Apart from a bit of padding in the maze, the film moves along nicely and has some great comedy throughout. Watching Stan play Lord Paddington is an interesting insight to Stan Laurel`s true talent, as you only see Stan play the dumb fool. Definately a film you can watch several times. 8/10
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