Zenobia (1939) User Reviews

Unique one time partnership

[Derbyhat · 7/10 · 6 November 2005]

For those looking for the magic of Laurel and Hardy, "Zenobia" offers an alternative that occurred because of Laurel's contract negotiations. Made the same year as "Gone With The Wind", Zenobia takes place in a time before the Civil War, where a small Southern plantation town at peace, is disrupted when the excitable traveling promoter (Harry Langdon), seeks aid for his ailing partner. A beloved country doctor (Oliver Hardy) is surprised and resists, but is coerced into treating a fully grown elephant for a terrible condition. Proving that a good deed never goes unpunished for Hardy, the patient, attempting to say 'thanks', relentlessly follows the good doctor and there is no place to hide, not even a formal social gathering. With the town in an uproar and his wife (Billie Burke) embarrassed at the spectacle, Dr Tibbetts is the focus of laughter, ridicule and a lawsuit. Twelve year old Philip Hurlic turns in a memorable performance that needs to be seen in the context of today.

Langdon is little known by most and seems very much like Buster Keaton, but just a bit more shy. Although, Langdon is not as appreciated for his works as Stan and Ollie, his touching performance in "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp!" when he meets Joan Crawford, the girl of his dreams, face to face for the first time is something to behold. If you can look past Laurel's absence in this rare partnership, Zenobia will have you laughing at a moment in time when fate put two funny men and an elephant on a collision course. On such paths they prove there is just no dignified way to get around a loving elephant.

An elephant never forgets

[banse · 7/10 · 18 December 2001]

Oliver Hardy shines as a small town doctor in this amusing comedy set in the Old South. After tending to an ailing elephant Hardy can't get rid of the beast since she is so appreciative and an elephant never forgets. It's a fun path as Zenobia follows the portly doctor just about everywhere he goes. This is one of the few times that Hardy appeared in a film without his partner Stan Laurel however he handles it quite well. Co-starring are Jean Parker, James Ellison, Alice Brady, Billie Burke as the doctors befuddled wife and the ever dependable Hattie McDaniel. It's available on VSH folks.

Love Pachyderm Style

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 4 April 2009]

For those wondering what Oliver Hardy was doing in a film without Stan Laurel, we have to remember that Hal Roach created the team back in silent days when he had these two comedians both signed to contracts with him. Their contracts were negotiated separately unlike Abbott and Costello or the Ritz Brothers, etc. So with Ollie signed with studio again and Stan balking at terms, Hal Roach decided to pair Hardy with Harry Langdon who was trying to recapture the stardom he enjoyed in the silent era.

Ollie is a country doctor in post Civil War Mississippi who lives with wife Billie Burke and daughter Jean Parker in genteel poverty. James Ellison, late of the Hopalong Cassidy series, wants her hand in marriage, but his mother Alice Brady forbids it as Jean's parents are just not her sort.

Nevertheless Ollie and Billie try to help Jean with her romance, but Ollie gets himself entangled with traveling medicine show man Harry Langdon and his performing elephant Zenobia. When the pachyderm becomes ill, Ollie effects a cure and the beast's gratitude makes his life miserable.

Though they were advertised as a team, Langdon and Hardy are not a team really in this film, though their scenes with Zenobia are pretty funny. They're like Abbott and Costello in The Time Of Their Lives, a comedy team in two separate roles in which they only interact occasionally. Actually Burke and Brady, a couple of veteran Broadway performers, have some scenes together and they're pretty good in and of themselves.

Getting Alice Brady and Billie Burke was a casting coup of sorts for Hal Roach. Look at the rest of his cast which he got from the major studios, if he was to have a new comedy team, they would be launched properly.

Of course Stan Laurel came to terms and Langdon and Hardy were no more. But Zenobia is a film filled with gentle humor and some good comic situations.

Oliver Hardy Stars Solo

[drednm · 5 January 2006]

Oliver Hardy stars as a small-town doctor in Mississippi who hits on hard times when he insults the local rich woman (Alice Brady). Meanwhile his daughter (Jean Parker) is engaged to the rich woman's son (James Ellison). Brady will not have Parker as a daughter-in-law because the the family's low social standing. Hardy's wife (Billie Burke)invites everyone to dinner to try to smooth thing over. Disaster.

When Hardy is summoned to come help someone who is sick, he races across town only to find that the patient is an elephant (Zenobia) in a traveling carnival. Zenobia's owner (silent comic great, Harry Langdon) helps Hardy figure out how to treat an elephant. Zenobia is so grateful, she falls in love with Hardy and refuses to leave his side. Langdon gets mad and sues Hardy (with the help of mean-spirited Brady). There is a good court room scene and the usual ending.

The cast works well in this mild but pleasant comedy. Many will be disappointed by Langdon's standing in for Stan Laurel, but it's interesting to see Langdon in a talkie. Definitely a B film, but not without its good points.

Hardy is very good in a comic role that allows him a little room to act. Burke and Brady are total pros, and Jean Parker is pretty and pleasing. Ellison is a blank.

Hattie McDaniel plays the cook, J. Farrell McDonald is the judge, Olin Howland is the lawyer, Hobart Cavanaugh plays a patient, Philip Hurlic (as the kid) has a great scene, June Lang plays a rival, and Stepin Fetchit plays himself. William Bakewell can be spotted in a bit part.

Zenobia is a mostly entertaining Oliver Hardy vehicle with Harry Langdon in fine support

[tavm · 7/10 · 11 February 2008]

Since this is Black History Month and I'm reviewing African-Americans on film in mostly chronological order, let's start my review of Zenobia by mentioning three of the players: Stepin Fetchit, Hattie McDaniel, and Philip Hurlic. Stepin (spelled Step'n in the credits) is Zero-the butler. He's quite funny with his talking under his breath about his thoughts every time he gets ordered. Having seen quite a few of his performances now, I have tolerated his presence a bit more because of some of the subtle brightness he brings to his parts. Hattie (whose last name has an 's' added in the credits) brings the same commanding presence that I last saw in Show Boat, which I just watched this morning. And Philip, the kid here that I just saw in The Green Pastures, as Zeke proves to be the most intelligent one in the movie when he recites The Declaration of Independence with the reward being a quarter from Oliver Hardy's character of Dr. Tibbett. They all were fine performances here despite some of the stereotypes they're forced to play. Now, with Hardy briefly split from Stan Laurel (because of the latter's dispute with Hal Roach), he's the carrier of this movie and he does just fine especially in his scenes with Harry Langdon and an elephant, Zenobia, that Langdon-as Professor McCrackle-owns. Those scenes are the most "Laurel and Hardy"-like in the film. Also in fine form were Billie Burke as Hardy's wife, Bessie Tibbett, Olin Howard as Attorney Culpepper, and J. Farrell McDonald, another supporting player from my favorite movie-It's a Wonderful Life (he played the old man whose tree was hit by George Bailey's car), as the Judge. One other note: Jean Parker who plays Hardy's daughter Mary Tibbett here, would later in the year play his potential fiancée in The Flying Deuces which marked Laurel and Hardy's re-teaming. So on that note, I highly recommend Zenobia. Oh, and having just seen the Hall Johnson Choir in The Green Pastures, it's nice hearing them here too.

An amiable time-passer

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 8 October 2006]

While this certainly isn't a great movie and is in many ways pretty forgettable, it is a decent time-passer and worth seeing from a historic sense. This is the only film that Oliver Hardy starred in without Stan Laurel since they became a team in the late 1920s. However, when Laurel's contract expired he refuses to re-sign as he and Hardy (who was still under contract) wanted to explore other career options other than to continue with Hal Roach Studios. So, Roach decided to try pairing Hardy with a new partner--hoping he and Hardy would catch on and Hardy would soon re-sign with the studio.

However, the film lacks the balance of a true Laural and Hardy film, as Hardy is definitely in the leading role. And, fortunately, Hardy does a pretty good job as the kindly doctor who is befriended by an elephant and he's able to carry this amiable film. Additionally, the movie is very interesting because in a supporting role (one that could have been played by Stan Laurel) was the silent film comedian, Harry Langdon. As there are few of his films still in existence, this is one of the rare chances you'll get to see,...as well as hear him. The story itself is pretty silly but handled so well, you probably will forgive this.

Despite being a story about an Elephant that falls in love with Hardy, about the only thing you may not like about the film is Stepin Fetchit--the horribly stereotyped Black actor who made a career out of playing some who is dumb and lazy. It's quite a contrast to the role played by Philip Hurlic as 'Zeke'--a smart, precocious and cute Black child. At least there were contrasts, as most of Fetchit's earlier roles provided nothing to balance the negative image.

Ollie should stick with Stan

[argento-4 · 6/10 · 22 May 2000]

I am a great lover of the Laurel and Hardy movies and so it was with some excitement that I was finally able to rent one of only two movies that Oliver Hardy made without Stan Laurel since their teamwork began (the other, Fighting Kentuckian, also stars another one of my favorite actors, John Wayne, and I enjoyed that one quite a bit). This however was a huge disappointment. It seemed to be Hal Roach's attempt at a prestige piece but it belies its poor roots. The story of a country doctor in the 19th century who treats an carnival elephant named Zenobia and then can't lose the elephant and its affections is poorly written, with little real humour. The performances are lackluster, with the exception of Billie Burke as Ollie's long suffering yet dim-witted wife. Her performance injects each scene she is in with the kind of manic craziness the rest of the movie aspires to but can't deliver. Another major bone of contention was the hideously racist performance of Stepin Fetchit as the servant, Zero. Ollie's later speech on equality can not even begin to make up for this truly offensive addition to an already poor movie. An early L&H sound short, Laughing Gravy, was included on the tape and showed us what Ollie could really do when given the proper material with Stan and I laughed out loud many times. I only wish that Zenobia could have made me do that just once.

We feel that we can proclaim with reasonable certainty that ZENOBIA is "The Leading Pachydermal Comedy of the 1930's!" ( Also it's the only one!)

[redryan64 · 7/10 · 11 February 2011]

IT HAS LONG been conventional wisdom that, "Children and Dogs bring people together. The old proverb had adapted itself quite handily to the motion picture business long, long ago. W.C. Fields, for example, was a leading exponent of this belief; although his creed concentrated much more on the human portion of the statement.

WHILE DOGS MAY well reign supreme in the four-legged category, most any animal has at least a portion of this screen magic. Throughout motion picture, there has been a veritable menagerie of creatures, great and small, who have shared the spotlight with their partners of the species homo sapiens sapiens. In many an instant, they stole many a scene; if, indeed, the entire picture.

RATHER THAN HAVING humans competing with Dogs (Lassie, Benji, Yukon King, Rinty, etc.), or a Chimp (Cheetah, Zippy, J. Fred Muggs) or a Fish (Flipper*, Mr. Limpet), we have an elephant (Zenobia) in an eternal triangle with her owner (Harry Langdon) and the kindly town Doctor (Oliver Hardy). The humor is broad and varied. It is quite different;so, please don't expect this to be a Laurel & Hardy comedy; you see, Schultz, SONS OF THE DESERT it's not! IT WOULD SEEM that at this point in film history, being Anno Domini MCMXXXIX (that's 1939 A.D.), that there was a deluge of news and interest in anything and everything which even remotely related to the American Civil War was in. Although there is no specific date given in the picture, it would seem to be Ante-Bellum, that's Latin for "before the War." The costuming and situation with the Black Actors (Hattie McDaniel, Lincoln Perry) would seem to suggest neither Wartime nor the Reconstruction.

THERE IS ALSO a speech by Oliver Hardy to the young boy about how matters concerning Whites have nothing to do with Black Folks and the concerns of Black People aren't any business of Whites. We concluded that this is sort of a disclaimer for Hal Roach Studios in any historical matters that might arise; such as had been the case of the D.W. Griffith epic silent, BIRTH OF A NATION. (This may sound silly today, but one must view things through the eyes of those in that period; as well as through contemporary lenses.)

WITH RESPECT TO the film itself, it is quite amusing. Whereas we had previously said that it was no L&H Comedy, it did strike several chords wit its audience. It was a fine showcase to the versatility of Mr. Hardy, who demonstrated that he was truly an actor; with "Ollie" being his most successful character.

IN THE CASE of Oliver's co-star, Mr. Harry Langdon, it was a true tour de force; for he did a fine job of bringing a somewhat updated version of his "Adult Baby" persona from his Silent Screen days, when his name was at one time mentioned in the same breath with those of Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd.

FOLLOWING HIS APPEARANCE in ZENOBIA, he returned to work as a behind the scenes gag man and to making two reelers for Roach and Columbia; all of which were okay, but mediocre shorts and surely a far cry from his salad days at Sennett and First National.

TAKING THE TIME to stop and view the film, which was known as ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET in the U.K. will not be totally wasted time. You will most probably enjoy it a lot more than you would have thought. We certainly did.

NOTE * Alright, we know Flipper was a Dolfin, and hence a warm-blooded, live bearing MAMMAL!!

Oliver Hardy solo movie

[martinnd · 5/10 · 4 June 2006]

I have read the post before mine about this movie. Much I do agree with, but I wish to comment a bit more in defense of this movie. At the time, Hal Roach had a contract dispute with Stan. In short, Stan was offered more money then Oliver, and Stan said either pay us equal, or you don't have us anymore. That loyalty is amazing in any era. This movie was suppose to be for the both of them, but had to be re-written for just Oliver. Yes, the movie's writing suffers in many places, as it gets to be too silly, and even racist. However, the actual acting of Oliver, and Billie are truly wonderful, even if their lines were not. I view this movie as a rare treat, a historical footnote in the years of Laurel and Hardy. No, not a classic, nor anywhere near one, but entertaining? Yes. One can not compare this with any Laurel and Hardy movie. That would be unfair. They never knew if they would work together ever again at this point. True, at times I thought the concept of this movie was childish, but in an innocent entertaining way. As if to say we know it is silly, but it is just a silly movie. So no huge amount of thumbs up for this movie, but a nice treat for hardcore Laurel and Hardy fans. I will say though, thank God they got back together again! Ha! Two movies like this would have been a bit much to take Ha!

A swell, classic 30s comedy (if less than essential)

[I_Ailurophile · 7/10 · 30 November 2023]

Seeing silent star Harry Langdon in a sound picture is one matter; seeing Oliver Hardy in a picture without Stan Laurel beside him is all but confounding. Somehow it seems fitting that it should famously be a contractual issue, and not really anything else, that led to the creation of 'Zenobia' as we see it, and that made this scenario short-lived. Then again, maybe it wasn't just the impatience of Laurel and Hardy to be reunited on-screen: filmmaker Gordon Douglas may have subsequently directed 'Saps at Sea,' one of my favorite Laurel and Hardy flicks, and Hal Roach may have been an established and esteemed producer. Langdon and Hardy, in and of themselves, may have been highly regarded icons, and I recognize the fame of co-star Lincoln Perry, also known as Stepin Fetchit. Be all that as it may, the one thing that this 1939 feature lacks is the brilliance and unfailing humor that broadly characterized the works of all these figures under other circumstances. Rest assured that it is enjoyable, and worthwhile, but if one approaches the film with the expectations that it will be an especially kindred experience, one may find themselves somewhat disappointed.

The problems this faces aren't so severe as to wholly dampen the entertainment, but they do diminish it somewhat. Douglas' direction feels a tad lax here, resulting in considerable reduction of the high energy that usually characterizes the antics of these actors elsewhere. In the broadest of terms the humor herein is of a notably lighter, gentler variety, to an extent exceeding how I would already tend to describe the oeuvre of (Laurel and) Hardy. There's also the fact that we're largely bereft of the central dynamics of a comedic duo; as much as Roach may have tried to tout Hardy and Langdon as a pair, Langdon has far less presence in these proceedings. And, well, though the incidence here is earnest, and even softly rebukes the antiquated, harmful attitudes of old, the fact remains that this is set in 1870, the only black characters are servants, and the language surrounding them and the mannerisms the actors are instructed to adopt are in no small measure reflective of those same antiquated values. To these facets add others that grow tiresome quickly - including and not limited to Billie Burke's high-pitched gibbering as Mrs. Tibbett, or the flimsiness of the key story idea of poor reactions to Zenobia's affections. The movie is fun, but it's not without its troubles.

Still, while such matters are unfortunate, they are relatively minor and handily outweighed by the strengths the title otherwise boasts. For whatever faults may be laid upon Douglas' direction, or Corey Ford's writing, there remains substantial wit and good cheer that ultimately make the more lasting impression. If fewer than in the stars' most renowned endeavors, we're greeted with some delightful gags on top of swell situational comedy and some clever dialogue. The cast give commendable performances - not just Hardy, or Langdon, but also Jean Parker, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Philip Hurlic, among others. Zenobia herself is a joy, with kudos as well to her uncredited trainer; simple and uncomplicated as they are, what minor stunts or effects are employed here are quite fine. The costume design, hair, makeup, and sets are lovely, and in all other regards is well made. For that matter the root story is splendid, and the scene writing in and of itself maybe even more so; that there are nits to pick with the finished screenplay, well, that's subjective, anyway. The long and short of it is that 'Zenobia' is definitely a great time overall, just not a premier exemplar of contemporary comedy fare.

Whether one is a huge fan of someone involved or just looking for something good to watch, this is no major must-see but is still worthwhile on its own merits. There are other pictures I'd suggest more highly, yet that just says more about them than it does about this. One way or another there is perhaps no need to go out of your way for 'Zenobia,' but if you do have the opportunity to watch, then even with imperfections I'm pleased to give it my fair recommendation.

ZENOBIA (Gordon Douglas, 1939) **

[Bunuel1976 · 5/10 · 10 November 2006]

I had always been interested in watching this curiosity (Oliver Hardy without Stan Laurel!) - however, it finally came about by way of a colorized and atrociously-dubbed version on Italian TV! I don't know if it was intended as such but, rather than Harry Langdon, the character that was made to fill Stan's shoes, as it were (complete with the Italian voice typically associated with him), was Billie Burke - playing Hardy's wife - but she came off as such an irritating dim-wit that I wanted to strangle her!! To make matters worse, with the story taking place in the Old South, we're treated to the unenviable comic relief of Stepin Fetchit (though his antics proved reasonably tolerable, under the circumstances).

Hardy's character, then, isn't the pompous, bumbling and flustered one we'd come to love! Langdon, as the owner of a traveling medicine-show and a pachyderm, is okay (especially during his scenes in court - having learned his deposition by heart, every time he's asked to speak he starts from the very top!); this was only his second Talkie that I've watched - the first occurred only recently with HALLELUJAH, I'M A BUM (1933). Jean Parker and James Ellison provide bland romantic interest and the supporting cast also features Oscar winners Alice Brady and Hattie MacDaniel, but their stereotypical characters - snooty matriarch and black cook, respectively - add very little of substance to the proceedings!

In the end, while the elephant's persistent and awkward devotion to doctor Hardy for having cured her (even disrupting a society party and following him into the court-room!) provides some undeniably charming moments, I think I'd still prefer Laurel & Hardy's maligned vehicles of the 1940s over it...

Zenobia: Significant Symbol of Bigotry or Just an Elephant?

[rasxyz · 8/10 · 9 January 2006]

It is real cool the way this simple and seemingly silly movie has a big story to tell about bigotry and slavery and not just the obvious retrenches to the declaration of independence and "black pills" and "red pills". I wonder how many people who saw Zenobia in 1939 got the hidden messages subtle and obvious. Everyone reviewing Zenobia here in IMDb may have missed or did not mention an underling theme in the symbol represented by Zenobia the "elephant" that is big and always present like an elephant. Did anyone guess that maybe Zenobia represented a symbol of ….(you put your own word here about bigotry)? This is a great movie for using humorous subtleness to expose race, bigotry and prejudice at a time (1939) when people did not want to hear about race problems. It seems no coincidence that the most prejudice state Mississippi was chosen for the location and not Georgia or any other southern state.

One sees the film with the view to the more subtle inferences to race with a Big Elephant named Zenobia. You may have a whole new perspective on the film and what appears to be "poorly written", "little real humour (humor)", "racist performance of Stepin Fetchit", etc. is really a great presentation. Considering the times (1939), and the subtle symbol of "Zenobia", then this movie is a down right genius of production! I think Stepin Fetchit knew what the movie meant and was a lot smarter than people think.

The Elephant Doctor

[lugonian · 7/10 · 26 March 2018]

ZENOBIA (United Artists, 1939), directed by Gordon Douglas for the Hal Roach Studios, stars Oliver Hardy from the Laurel and Hardy comedy team fame, in his first solo performance since his union with Stan Laurel dating back to 1926. The story is not set in some far away place called Zenobia, nor are there any characters in this photoplay going by the name of Zenobia. In fact, Zenobia happens to be an elephant. No not the chubby Oliver Hardy, but a 6,132 pound elephant belonging to his Stan Laurel-type co-star, played by former silent screen comedian, Harry Langdon. Although labeled a comedy, it's more of a wholesome post Civil War story set in 1870 Carterville, Mississippi, where slapstick and chases normally found in Laurel and Hardy comedies are non-existent here. In fact, for the first time since his union with Laurel, Oliver Hardy assumes a character name rather than his very own, indicating how Ollie shows his flare of being a capable actor without losing any of his dignity.

Plot: Doctor Emory Tibbitt (Oliver Hardy) is a kind-hearted Southern doctor with a dizzy wife, Bessie (Billie Burke) and beautiful daughter Mary (Jean Parker), engaged to marry Jeff Carter (James Ellison). Carter invites his mother, Emily (Alice Brady) to their engagement party. Being a social climber and self-centered woman, Mrs. Carter brings Virginia Randall (June Lang) to the affair, hoping that the presence of Jeff's childhood sweetheart would break up the engagement. In the meantime at the Spangler Carnival, Professor McCrackle (Harry Langdon), a medicine man selling bottles, has an elephant named Zenobia, who happens to be ill. Doctor Tibbett is called to examine. Although not an animal doctor, he assists the elephant in her time of need. Now that the elephant is cured, Zenobia shows her very much appreciation for the good doctor by following him wherever he goes, even to a point of disrupting the engagement party and his personal life. This situation soon leads McCrackle to take Tibbett to court for abduction of his prize possession.

Also in the cast are: Stepin Fetchit (Zero); Hattie McDaniel (Dahlia, the Maid); J. Farrell MacDonald (Judge John); Hobart Cavanaugh (Mr,. Dover); and Clem Bevans (The Sheriff). Philip Hurlic stands out in the cast as Zeke, the Negro boy, who earns his quarter from the doctor by reciting the Declaration of Independence from July 4, 1776, verbatim. This scene is reminiscent to Charles Laughton's excellently reciting Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" from RUGGLES OF RED GAP (1935). The Hall Johnson Choir perform some traditional early American songs, along with Oliver Hardy vocalizing "I Dreamnt I Dwelt in Marble Halls" (from Michael Balfe's "The Bohemian Girl") and Jean Parker and The Hall Johnson Choir doing "In the Evening By the Moonlight."

While it's been said that ZENOBIA had been considered a project for Laurel and Hardy, but became a Hardy and Langdon project instead. It's a wonder how this would have turned out with the story as it is, having Laurel and Hardy split teaming playing characters who meet as opposed to them already friends from the moment the film begins. Maybe not so good, but even just this once, would have been a welcome change of pace for this comedy team. Even if Laurel wasn't able to appear in ZENOBIA due to contract disputes, Harry Langdon fits in quite satisfactory as do the period settings, costumes and plantation background. The scene involving the examination of Zenobia, Langdon and Hardy is done in similar style to a Laurel and Hardy routine. Following its theatrical release, Laurel and Hardy reunited and resumed their on-screen chemistry well into the 1940s.

Available on video cassette (followed by Laurel and Hardy's comedy short LAUGHING GRAVY from 1931) and later on DVD, ZENOBIA, the elephant who never forgets, has turned up from time to time for observation on Turner Classic Movies. (TCM premiere: January 5, 2006) A real curio at best. (**)

Elephantine

[highclark · 5/10 · 4 March 2006]

Plodding along clumsily through themes of race and class, 'Zenobia' is the movie equivalent of a television after school special that tries desperately to force feed its audience a plate of moral fiber for digestion. This morality feeding does not go down smoothly at all, even with a spoonful of humor provided by the antics of Oliver Hardy and company. Hardy is decent, but the humor in the film is never up to his standard and the preachings of the other plot lines is just incredibly lame.

The irony of 'Zenobia' is that when it begins to preach, it comes of as comical, when it tries to be funny, it falls seriously flat. The problem I have in slamming this movie is that its heart seems to be in the right place, sort of. Besides, how can you hate an Oliver Hardy film?

I spent most of my time laughing AT THE MOVIE. Hardy, a doctor by trade, explains race to his black child servant simply as being the difference between white pills and black pills. He mentions that the Declaration of Independence is made up of black, white, red and yellow pills. When Hardy asks the child if he understands, the child answers back, "No, Suh". What does Hardy mean? Is he saying that all pills are created equal? Hardy finally appeases the child's questions by bargaining a quarter to the child if he can memorize the Declaration of Independence. Well, that settles it. Now Hardy can go to the all white party where no colored people are allowed to attend.

When Hardy gets to the party he is subjected to a bit of class-ism. Hardy squints a shade of disapproval, but is able to carry on happily enough until Zenobia the elephant crashes the party. Suddenly Hardy finds himself in a confusing lawsuit over the affections of an elephant or from an attempt to embarrass his daughter into not marrying into another family, or something, I'm not really sure.

One thing is certain, this was the first film where the comedy duo consisted of Oliver Hardy being the skinny one.

Pretty dire stuff. Stay away if you like comedy.

A pleasant curio!

[joemigliore · 3 October 2001]

Oliver Hardy exhibits his talent as a character actor in this well-cast Roach feature. People often make the mistake of expecting a Laurel & Hardy film, which isn't really fair. This is a pleasant diversion, filled with rich characters, including Langdon in perfect form as the owner of a sick elephant.

Too racist to watch today

[HotToastyRag · 3/10 · 2 January 2021]

Those of you who watched the fantastic biopic Stan & Ollie may have heard about "the elephant movie" that Oliver Hardy made without his comic partner. Now that I've seen this obscure movie, I can't believe anyone's preserved it, but for the only reason of watching "the elephant movie." It's so unbelievably secure in its racism, it's sickening.

Stepin Fetchit, an actor who famously turned "the system" on its ear by playing horrifyingly characters in movies but becoming a millionaire in real life, puts his act on incredibly thick in this movie. It's quite painful to watch. Hattie McDaniel also plays a "pseudo slave" in this 1870s period piece, but as she bustles around in the kitchen, at least she doesn't have to humiliate herself like he does. And while their son, Philip Hurlic, has a long conversation with Oliver Hardy about racism-during which Ollie basically praises the separate but equal philosophy-it's heartbreaking when he asks, "Will I ever grow up to be white?" because he can't go to a fancy party that the rest of the house is attending. Philip has the last laugh, though: he recites the entire Declaration of Independence in front of the entire town.

But what's the plot of Zenobia? Ollie plays a country doctor, married to the ridiculous Billie Burke, and their daughter Jean Parker wants to marry the wealthy Alice Brady's son, James Ellison. For no other reason than to bring an elephant into the story, a traveling circus has an ailing elephant and calls on the doctor for help. Harry Langdon, the elephant's handler, was obviously the Stan Laurel substitute, but even with the comic team together, this movie would be far too silly to be enjoyable. Unless you really want to see "the elephant movie", you can skip this one.

Goodbye Laurel, Hello, Stepin!

[JohnHowardReid · 2/10 · 31 August 2014]

Zenobia (1939) stars Oliver Hardy and Harry Langdon. Stan Laurel's contract with producer Hal Roach had expired and Stan refused to renew the contract unless Roach agreed to increase Hardy's salary to the same figure as Stan's. Roach refused on the grounds that Hardy's box office lure was not as powerful as Stan's, and to prove his point he cast Oliver as the lead in Zenobia. The movie was not a success. In fact, it actually lost money when first exhibited, and in a desperate move to bolster its appeal, the title was changed to Elephants Never Forget. That didn't work either. The movie was lucky to find a niche at New York's newsreel theatre, The Globe, on May 14, 1939, where it actually lasted the whole week before being replaced by Columbia's Chester Morris "B", Blind Alley. (I wouldn't mind seeing that one. It was directed by Charles Vidor). Anyway, even with the best will in the world, Zenobia is a chore to sit through. Furthermore, it boasts Stepin Fetchit in its roll-up of support players. I'll admit that Mr. Fetchit is only half as obnoxious in some movies, but in this one, Stepin takes up a great deal of the footage with his full, nauseating zombie treatment, so that further reduces Zenobia to a one-joke story that – despite the clumsy efforts of Hardy and Langdon – was neither particularly funny to begin with nor amusingly developed,

Rich and Poor, Black and White and an ELEPHANT in the room.

[lisa4a · 8/10 · 10 June 2015]

It is a fun movie with many fun joyful moments. It's about 2 families one rich, one poor coming to grips with the rich boy falling in love with the poor girl. I will say for being poor she lives in a grand house and wears really nice clothes. I loved each actor in their role. I love old movies that dare to address what is usually whispered. Racism is boldly addressed when the black child asks the white doctor why he can't go to the white parties. The Doc is colorblind and only sees people as people because of his love of the Declaration of Independence. The young black child ends up stirring not only the movie actors but the movie's audience. I had no idea who the actors were, just recognizing them as the movie progressed. I was watching in the lunch room and at the end of the movie 5 people had sat down with me enjoying the movie. I really enjoyed this film and will be adding it to my collection.

Gone with the trunk.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 18 May 2021]

This sweet little adorable comedy was the first time that Oliver Hardy had been once out his partner Stan Laurel since the silent era. Instead of Stanley, he has silent comic Harry Langdon and the affectionate elephant known as Zenobia. As a kindly doctor who lives on a plantation in the south, he's apparently anti-slave even though he has several well-treated servants played by Stepin Fetchit, Hattie McDaniel and Philip Hurlic, a youngster he explains his ideas of freedom to. They may be dated ideals, but they are obviously liberal for their time and come from the ideals of the film's creator, Hal Roach.

Medicine show entertainer Langdon is worried about Zenobia who is ailing, and at Hurlic's suggestion, asks Dr. Hardy to treat him. All that's bothering Zenobia really is that his tail has somehow become tied, and when Hardy fixes that, Zenobia for some reason takes a shine to him and wants to abandon Langdon and carry around the aggravated Oliver.

Hardy is married to the ditzy Billie Burke, busy worrying about her daughter Jean Parker who is engaged to James Ellison but dealing with the snootiness of Ellison's mother, Alice Brady. She would prefer that her son marry June Lang, but her son only has eyes for Ms. Parker. Brady (in her second to last film) tries to humiliate Parker by having her sing at a lavish party, but as it turns out, Jean does indeed have a lovely voice even though she thinks she doesn't. But Brady obviously doesn't want an elephant in the family so she continues to scheme, and Langton sues Hardy for alienations of affections.

This fantasia on the life of the Old South makes it look like a happy place for everybody, but it's pretty obvious that Brady doesn't treat her servants or slaves as well as Hardy and Burke do. Stepin Fetchit is his typical slow-witted lazy character, but fortunately McDaniel and Hurlic get to play more realistic characters. In fact, outside of Parker and Ellison, McDaniel is the most intelligent character in the film, while 12 year old Hurlic is wise behind his years, even reciting the declaration of Independence. That's a sweet touch to a surprisingly liberal film during a not-so-liberal era. Zenobia of course is a lot of fun, and being a civil war elephant, you wonder if he was sent over by the King of Siam as for the letter written for him by Mrs. Anna.

Nice Laughs

[Michael_Elliott · 23 December 2008]

Zenobia (1939)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Oliver Hardy plays a country doctor's whose life gets turned upside down when his daughter is about to marry into a rich family that doesn't want her. To make matters worse, the doctor is asked by a circus man (Harry Langdon) to look at his sick elephant. The doctor cures the creature but then the elephant refuses to leave his side. This was Hardy's first and only starring role without Stan Laurel but the screenplay really seems like it was originally meant for the two. Langdon, a silent screen star, fills in for Laurel and one can't help but think the duo could have made this film together but didn't for whatever reasons. The film takes place during the Old South and features a lot more than just laughs as the doctor always talks about he Declaration of Independence and how important that is to him. The battles between rich and poor as well as black and white are dealt with in a pretty honest manor considering the type of film this is. There's one sequence where a black boy asks Hardy if he'll ever be white so that he will be able to do more things. The response Hardy gives him makes for some good drama but it's also interesting in what's said. I was surprised at how honest they looked at the racial tensions but some of them are nearly thrown to the side with Step'n Fetchit playing his normal slow slave character. He's certainly very good at what he does but the performance does go against some of the speeches in the film. Hardy proves that he could carry a movie on his own and delivers many laughs including a very funny sequence where he tells Langdon that he isn't an elephant. Langdon's comeback is great and he also manages to do his part quite well and add plenty of laughs. I didn't care too much for any of the other supporting performances as I found them very annoying due to how they were written in the screenplay. This film certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a classic but it makes for a mildly entertaining 70-minutes.

I think Zenobia is a great movie despite the fact that Stan Laurel is absent.

[joyfullcook · 8/10 · 15 May 2008]

I have seen Zenobia several times and yes, while it is not standard L&H, it does show that comedy teams can work separately. I found Mr. Hardy to be an excellent actor in this character part and if I remember it also gave Mr. Hardy the opportunity to show off his excellent singing voice. In my book, Zenobia, stands apart for the routine L&H movies and it should be treated in that manner.People who think that comedy teams should only appear as comedy teams are all wrong. Take Abbott and Costgello. I have seen movies in which they did not work as a team and were great. Another A&C movie in which they were teamed, but not together, instead playing separate roles was equally good, where Lou played a Revolutionary War ghost and Abbott played a 20th century mortal. Take Martin and Lewis, everyone said they were finished when they broke up. Not so. They each went on to great careers. Stiller and Meara were great together as a radio and stage team and while still married, they now have separate careers. So folks, just because Stan Laurel is not scratching his head while standing next to the tie fluttering Norville Oliver Hardy, I still think Zenobia showed off Hardy's ability not to have to depend on Laurel.

Funny but....

[tles7 · 10 June 2013]

The racism of the movie outweighs the humor. No wonder this was never on TV when I was a kid. At one point, Hardy lectures a 10 year old black kid because he doesn't understand why he was not invited to white parties. The gist of the response is basically we are "equal" but separate. I don't go to black parties so why should you want to go to white ones. Go down to my office and look at the stuff there and learn about this, once you understand, I will give you a quarter. That scene is so painful to watch...and embarrassing. Look at it as a piece of history but those type of scenes kill the movie.

There are a lot of these types of scenes in the movies from the 30s but I have never seen one that thought that they needed to answer this young boy's question. Unfortunately, it was never...well...someday, things will be different.