The Fixer Uppers

[Angus McLaurel]

Stan and Ollie are Christmas card salesmen. They go door to door, trying to sell their delightful cards. They arrive at the home of Pierre Gustave, a french artist, whose wife (Mae Busch) is all alone. She explains to Stan and Ollie about her unhappy marriage and asks for their advice.

Stan suggests making the husband jealous, by faking a love affair in the hope that her husband will be so jealous, he`ll realise how much he loves his wife.

The plan goes ahead, but backfires when Ollie pretends to be Mae`s other man and is challenged to a duel.


A nice pleasant film this one, it get`s you in the Christmas spirit early on, and remains watchable throughout. The Christmas card verses are interesting as they read them to Arthur Housman and Mae Busch...


Twas Christmas in the poor house
and the boys were feeling blue
The boys in grey were fighting
A merry Christmas to you


One for the ladies...

Jingle Bells, Jingle bells coming thorugh the rye
I wish you a merry Christmas, even as you and I


Especially for mothers...


Merry Christmas Mother
Merry Christmas Ma
Hi Mommy Mommy
and a ha cha cha


And not forgetting, the four in one card...


A merry Christmas husband
Happy New Year`s nye
I wish you Easter greetings
Hooray for the fourth of July


After this bout of Christmas feel, the film continues in usual L & H style, as Stan comes up with the plan to make Mae`s husband jealous...


OLLIE: Tell me again what happened to the fella that made love to the wife

STAN: Well, the husband found out that the other fella was jealous, he took him in his arms and then gave his wife a lot of money, and then he kissed the other fella `cause he made him jealous and they went out, and they all lived happily ever after!


Good dialogue, and manages to confuse you entirely, regarding the jealousy story of Stan`s.


Another fine moment in the film is when Stan & Ollie are in the bar. The phone rings. Stan answers...


STAN: Hello....... It sure is! (He returns to Ollie)

OLLIE: Who was it?

STAN: Oh, some fella having a joke

OLLIE: Well who was it?

STAN: Well, I said `Hello`, and he said `It`s a long distance from Atlanta Georgia`, and I said `It sure is`

OLLIE: I wish there was a way to putting a stop to those practical jokers!


The end sequence is not brilliant, but the film moves nicely and makes it a joy to watch. 7/10

[mgm]

Where can I get some of their cards?. The opening is brilliant but sadly it's downhill from there. Why does Ollie listen to any of Stan's plans?.


Go on there Stan get stuck in lad!, fill yer boots. Or does Mae want a threesome. Is this set in Paris?, if so what are the boys and for that matter Arthur Houseman doing there?. The music in the bar is French.


Has Ollie got enough mind to spare a piece?.


STAN: Hello... this is me... yep... Say listen, if you had a face like mine you'd punch me right in the nose and I'm just the fellow that can do it


And the long distance phone call dialogue, well, pure class. Great overacting from Ollie during his death scene. As ever Ollie ends up in the shit. You can do it much cheaper by the week!. Rating 7/10