Rent Laurel and Hardy: Sons of the Desert (1933)

Classic Comedy. - Laurel and Hardy: Sons of the Desert review by Steve

 This is one of the Stan and Ollie scenarios in which they have jobs, a home and wives, which always feels a stretch because they are incapable of carrying out even the simplest of instruction. We never find out what their work is, only they want to go to their fraternity's yearly convention to make business connections!

 Which of course their wives will not allow. The duo inhabit a domestic world of bullying and fear. Ollie's wife is often wielding a big knife and Stan's invariably is holding a huge rifle for killing ducks. They go anyway and are inevitably found out. Ollie is punished ruthlessly, with crockery.  

As ever, it's the characters of Stan and Ollie and the comic performances of the great stars that are the best parts of the film; their clowning, their optimism, their aspirations and their inevitable failures justified by the pair through the distorting lens of self delusion.    

There is a good script too and Charlie Chase is memorable as the drunk, middle aged practical joker they get lumbered with at the convention. Mae Busch spars well with Ollie, and Dorothy Christy is really quite scary as Mrs. Laurel. Laurel and Hardy often suffered with inauspicious directors and meagre budgets, but this is among their very best.