Great Guns

[Angus McLaurel]

Laurel & Hardy are servants to Daniel Forrester. The doctor diagnoses Daniel as being unfit and suffering from all kinds of illnessess. When he gets his draft papers for the army, Stan & Ollie accompany him to look after him. Daniel falls in love with a girl called `Ginger`. Stan & Ollie try to make him avoid association with her but fail.


This is the first film Stan and Ollie did for 20th Century Fox, where they lost all control over the way the film was put together, and it shows. Instead of the freedom they had at the `Hal Roach` studios, they had to just simply act out their roles.

There gags are quite weak and not well delivered. Stan cutting the grass with scissors is an interesting and funny idea when you think about it, but when you watch it, it doesn`t seem to work.

The only gags that deserve a laugh are recycled ones from previous films.


"If you must make a noise, make it quietly"

(BRATS)


OLLIE: We haven`t eaten for three days...
STAN: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

(ONE GOOD TURN)


Another attempt, which isn`t bad is the scene where Ollie pours himself a beer...

STAN: What time is it?

Ollie looks at his watch, spilling the beer all over himself


This gag is re-used later in the film with Stan pouring a drink. Ollie asks the time. Stan, close to Ollie looks at his watch, spilling the beer over Ollie!

There`s also a nice scene in which Stan has a shave, with the aid of a faulty lightbulb, which is quite funny.

Another re-used gag, milked dry is the `extra long plank` routine with Stan carrying a plank holding one end and as the plank passes our view, he`s also at the other end. (Previously used in `Busy Bodies`).

Despite the comedy sequences with Stan & Ollie, the film is quite weak. The supporting actors aren`t comedy actors, so they don`t blend in with the boys` humour. To enjoy this film, you have to put aside what they had previously done well at the `Roach` studios and watch it from a different angle. But even with that said, it`s not a great piece of their work. 4/10

[mgm]

The Boys join the army to look after their employer...Hilarity follows

Hmm, can you guess from the above description that I may have a slight irritation with the Post roach films?...Your right, If ever a comedy team were treated badly by a big studio (And many have been) then Stan and Ollie are a prime example.
The sad thing is it was done as a 1 picture deal, optimistically they thought things would get better.

You know, I’m watching this and can’t think of anything to say about the film itself...Anyone seeing it will wonder why they are so loved...

RATING
2/10