Post by Angus McLaurel on Sept 13, 2008 16:25:11 GMT
Stan and Ollie are vagrants in the park. They are called upon to help out with forest fires, but are not too keen on the idea. They decide against it and run away from the police, who chase them. Stan and Ollie escape on a bicycle and end up hiding in a deserted house.
While they are in the house, two possible tenants arrive to rent the house. Ollie pretends to be the owner of the house, colonel Blood, Stan poses as the butler and maid. Eventually the real owner of the house turns up and isn`t too pleased at what he finds.
Not a bad film for a silent. You can see that Stan and Ollie, weren`t, at this point, `a team`, as such. Ollie is unshaven and wearing a knackered top hat and a monicle. Stan is the one supporting the traditional Bowler, but his character name is `Hives`.
Although the film isn`t packed with gags, it makes a pleasant film to watch. The escape on the bike is a good silent comedy moment. The scenes in the house in which Stan has to play the role of the butler and the maid, `Agnes` are funny to watch. The obvious searching for rooms they know nothing about makes it well humoured.
If you`re reading this, you might be thinking, that sounds like `Another Fine Mess`. Basically, that`s what it is. The same story, the same gags, but not in the same order. And of course, no dialogue. It`s an interesting film to watch if you`re aware of `Another Fine Mess`. The only difference in it was the supporting cast and the character `Colonel Blood`, re-worked in `Another Fine Mess` as `Colonel Buckshot`, and played by James Finlayson. Even the excuse from the colonel to return home because he`s forgot his bow and arrow is the same.
A nice pleasant film. A good example of their early work together. 6/10
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