Night Owls

[Angus McLaurel]

The chief of police gives officer Edgar Kennedy the job of catching burglars, as there have been numerous burglaries and no arrests. He has the task of either making an arrest or he loses his job. Officer Kennedy finds Stan & Ollie asleep on a park bench. He threatens to send them to the rock pile unless they help him. Stan & Ollie agree to help, and are given the duty to carry out a burglary on the Chief`s house.

They manage to get into the chief`s house and make a very noisy job of it. Eventually they are disturbed by butler James Finlayson and they escape just as officer Kennedy turns up to arrest them, instead Kennedy is arrested and Stan & Ollie escape, Stan exits wedged in a dustbin and Ollie loses his trousers as he climbs eagerly over the wall.


I like this film, although the editing is a bit patchy. It is mainly a silent film with more action sequences rather than dialogue. Dialogue is used only when required (basically to establish the plot). I particularly like the scene when Stan & Ollie arrive at the house, near the wall, Stan is holding the candlestick, shaking. Ollie assures him there`s nothing to be scared of and takes the candlestick from him, and he too starts shaking. Moments later the nerves are still there with Stan as he climbs on the wall and an unexpected cat runs across the wall. Stan shits himself (probably literally) and they both run of for a moment.

The idea to have Stan & Ollie as burglars is very good, because you know they will make more noise than you could ever imagine. Moments of this are when Stan picks up the musical ornament. It plays for quite a while before they realise, and when the swag bag is quite full, Stan gives it a good loud shake. Even more noise is achieved when the pianola is accidentally switched on waking butler James Finlayson and the police chief.. Another moment in the film I like is when the chief tells Fin that he is nuts, he gives one of his best ever `Double takes`. A good film this, but it seems to be rushed towards the end. (7/10)

[mgm]

A lesser short with yet again a simple plot but more Gags than most feature comedies can manage in 3 times the length. They are rather violent to each other in this. Can't you tell I've not wrote much recently, I can't think of much to put! (But that filled in a line) (as did that bracket and this!)(Yes, I'm getting desperate!)

Kennedy (to Ollie): You look like you have intelligence (he looks at Stan) ...and so do y..

Seeing Stan's face suddenly changes his mind. 4/10