Because of this Laurel and Hardy film's poor reputation, I decided to watch this with Scott MacGillivray's commentary first before seeing it without. With the commentary, I appreciated many of the visual gags like various accidents from Stan's umbrella or the entire rope trick with Stan rising and falling with it depending on Ollie's playing or not of the clarinet. Of note is that Sheila Ryan appears in her second L & H movie a year after her first with the boys, Great Guns. Also, a couple of men who bilk Stan and Ollie on the train, Richard Lane and Robert Emmett Keane, would subsequently appear with them on The Bullfighters (Lane), The Dancing Masters (Keane), and Jitterbugs (Keane). Anyone interested in African-American comics of the '40s will probably want to check this one out to see both Mantan Moreland and Wille Best as waiters on a train though Mantan makes more of an impression here when he laughs at the boys' obviously fake money they thought was real because of the machine they saw Lane and Keane make different dollar bills from that they bought. As a fan of It's a Wonderful Life, it was certainly a treat for me to see Frank Faylen (Ernie the taxi driver) try to throw L & H off the train. While Stan and Ollie do provide plenty of laughs especially in a scene concerning two telephone booths from Dante the Magician that provide some nice double exposure of them, the gangster scenes, with one of them being Elisa Cook, Jr. of The Maltese Falcon, are mostly too serious to suit a Laurel and Hardy flick. That lion segment with them was funny though. Compared to the boys' Hal Roach output, this Fox entry doesn't come close quality-wise but A-Haunting We Will Go shouldn't be considered bottom-of-the barrel either. P.S. One of the children that was admiring Dante on the train was Terry Moore, who later became the leading lady on Mighty Joe Young.
20 Reviews
Funnier than expected "later day" entry in Laurel & Hardy's canyon of comedies.
mark.waltz16 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
It is sad to note that the majority of Laurel and Hardy's post 1940 comedies are weak, minus the Hal Roach touch that made their shorts and features of the 1930's so beloved. This is one of the rare exceptions, a comedy that doesn't make the aging team look silly and uses the art of magic to enhance their gags. Kicked out of town for vagrancy, the boys need a one-way ticket and take advantage of an ad in the newspaper for a delivery man needed to take a casket to Dayton. They don't realize that the corpse is alive, and a criminal to boot! On the train, they encounter Dante the Magician and somehow get into his act. This is where the fun really begins. The gangsters show up looking for the coffin, which somehow ends up a prop in the show. Laurel & Hardy happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Laurel (literally) ends up with egg on his face.
I found myself laughing quite regularly at the series of gags and confusion with Dante's magic behind most of the visuals. Sheila Ryan, who appeared with the boys in "Great Guns", returns for this outing as Dante's assistant. The sight of Laurel and Hardy in their costumes working with Dante has the audience in stitches, as does the moment when Laurel must climb a magic rope as Hardy plays the clarinet to keep the rope standing straight up. Elisha Cook Jr. ("The Maltese Falcon") is instantly recognizable as one of the stereotypical dumb crooks. The ending is another one of the team's visual gags that will have you tearing up in laughter.
I found myself laughing quite regularly at the series of gags and confusion with Dante's magic behind most of the visuals. Sheila Ryan, who appeared with the boys in "Great Guns", returns for this outing as Dante's assistant. The sight of Laurel and Hardy in their costumes working with Dante has the audience in stitches, as does the moment when Laurel must climb a magic rope as Hardy plays the clarinet to keep the rope standing straight up. Elisha Cook Jr. ("The Maltese Falcon") is instantly recognizable as one of the stereotypical dumb crooks. The ending is another one of the team's visual gags that will have you tearing up in laughter.
A-Haunting We Will Go (1942) **
JoeKarlosi4 October 2006
First things first - this is not a "horror-comedy" as I presumed it would be by the title. I mean, even the opening credits have the name of the film in ghoulish lettering along with the spooky image of a ghost leering down at Stan and Ollie, for crying out loud! But getting past that -- this is one of those oft-despised latter day "Fox films" that the aging team of Laurel and Hardy made after their greatest works at Hal Roach Studios. It's not as "heinous" as most critics make it out to be, but it's not one of their better forties movies either. In this one, the "boys" get released from a stay in jail and are told to leave town. So they meet up with a group of swindling crooks (one of them is played by a very young Elisha Cook Jr.) who need their help in traveling to Dayton, Ohio. The dopey plot is all over the place, but along the way there are some small chuckles to be had (the hitchhiking fiasco, the "Inflato" machine duping) and a few mildly cute slapstick gags. But things sink as the film goes on and "Dante the Magician" takes up too much screen time (he's even top billed along with Laurel and Hardy!) ** out of ****
Re-evaluation needed
G.Spider9 September 1999
Laurel and Hardy agree to transport a coffin containing a corpse. But after it becomes mixed up with a stage magician's coffin, Stan and Ollie end up as magician's assistants and find themselves entangled with gangsters who were smuggling one of their number in the coffin.
This is often unfairly dismissed as a turkey. It isn't one of L & H's greatest films, but it contains plenty of memorable points including a hilarious Indian rope trick as well as the duo being fooled into buying a 'money-making machine', Ollie hiding in a box which turns out to be a stage prop used in the 'death of 1000 cuts' trick. Dante the magician is an interesting character, the plot is well-written and there are some imaginate sets.
As I said, it's not one of L & H's best, but it's still a classic and certainly more than worth watching.
8 out of 10
This is often unfairly dismissed as a turkey. It isn't one of L & H's greatest films, but it contains plenty of memorable points including a hilarious Indian rope trick as well as the duo being fooled into buying a 'money-making machine', Ollie hiding in a box which turns out to be a stage prop used in the 'death of 1000 cuts' trick. Dante the magician is an interesting character, the plot is well-written and there are some imaginate sets.
As I said, it's not one of L & H's best, but it's still a classic and certainly more than worth watching.
8 out of 10
Typical Laurel & Hardy '40's stuff.
Boba_Fett113828 August 2007
This movie is like all Laurel & Hardy's '40's movies; Too much talking and not enough slapstick. And has an overwritten story and it relies too much on the script, rather than on Laurel & Hardy's antics and talent. Yes of course they get some slapstick to do but it doesn't feel as anything new or truly great, though the movie certainly does have its moments, which help to make this movie worthwhile.
The story is rather weak but above all really uninteresting. The title is deceiving and certainly has nothing to do with the movie.
Dante, a magician from the 20th century is in the movie too but you can wonder why. Seems like just a publicity stunt for both parties to me, since it doesn't serve a too big significant purpose for the main plot-line of the movie.
Not that this movie is bad but by Laurel & Hardy standards it still is a rather weak and bad one, that really isn't among their best work.
6/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
The story is rather weak but above all really uninteresting. The title is deceiving and certainly has nothing to do with the movie.
Dante, a magician from the 20th century is in the movie too but you can wonder why. Seems like just a publicity stunt for both parties to me, since it doesn't serve a too big significant purpose for the main plot-line of the movie.
Not that this movie is bad but by Laurel & Hardy standards it still is a rather weak and bad one, that really isn't among their best work.
6/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
Get in trouble with the Fat and the Thin !!!
elo-equipamentos16 June 2019
One's the first picture that I'd ever seen at theatre was from this outstanding couple, which I didn't remember the name, well-known here in Brazil fondly as "the Fat and the Thin" in this picture our friends are hired to takes a coffin to another city by train, the coffin was swapped on railway station, actually inside has a living crook who is at large from the police, forgetting a bit the plot, there are some many gags around, they were misled by a couple of crooks who sold to them a machine that make oversized money, so they made a spensive dinner, but the machine didn't work out, more trouble ahead, arriving in the town they got a job with a great magician, but they are pursued by the coffin's gang, this remarkable duo comics had a successful box-office here and TV as well, their DVD are available with an original dubbed version, all in my collection !!!
Resume:
First watch: 1991 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7
Resume:
First watch: 1991 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7
Funny or typical of earlier Laurel and Hardy films? No,...but still a pleasant little film
planktonrules20 May 2008
Laurel and Hardy had been stars for years with Hal Roach Studios. However, by the 1940s, they were considerably older and their contract had expired. Their decision to try out other studios (RKO, MGM and FOX) resulted in a string of, at best, lackluster films. Sure, they made better money, but none of these films comes close to classic status.
As for A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO, it was one of these 1940s films, but at least it wasn't bad--just, unfortunately, made by a studio that had no appreciation for the team at all. The biggest problem about this film is that Stan and Ollie play roles that could have been filled by practically anyone. The usual banter and style you'd expect in a Laurel and Hardy film is strangely absent--something that plagued all their post-Roach productions.
The plot for A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO was quite unexpected. With a title like this, I would have expected a movie about a haunted house or ghosts but these were strangely absent from the film. Instead, it's about Stan and Ollie stumbling into a gang of criminals as well as bumbling into becoming assistants to a magician.
Fortunately, despite being a very odd and unfamiliar style, the script wasn't bad at all--but unfortunately it wasn't all that funny either. While there were a few mildly funny moments, they were all centered around camera tricks and had nothing to do with the boys themselves. It was if funny things were thrown at them instead of allowing them to just be themselves and express their own gentle form of humor. Still, not a bad film--but far from classic Laurel and Hardy. Worth a look for fans of the team and not particularly offensive or daring.
As for A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO, it was one of these 1940s films, but at least it wasn't bad--just, unfortunately, made by a studio that had no appreciation for the team at all. The biggest problem about this film is that Stan and Ollie play roles that could have been filled by practically anyone. The usual banter and style you'd expect in a Laurel and Hardy film is strangely absent--something that plagued all their post-Roach productions.
The plot for A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO was quite unexpected. With a title like this, I would have expected a movie about a haunted house or ghosts but these were strangely absent from the film. Instead, it's about Stan and Ollie stumbling into a gang of criminals as well as bumbling into becoming assistants to a magician.
Fortunately, despite being a very odd and unfamiliar style, the script wasn't bad at all--but unfortunately it wasn't all that funny either. While there were a few mildly funny moments, they were all centered around camera tricks and had nothing to do with the boys themselves. It was if funny things were thrown at them instead of allowing them to just be themselves and express their own gentle form of humor. Still, not a bad film--but far from classic Laurel and Hardy. Worth a look for fans of the team and not particularly offensive or daring.
LAUREL & HARDY WITH THE COPS AND A CORPSE?
tcchelsey23 June 2020
10 Stars.
Laurel and Hardy's later efforts WERE good comedies. They have survived the test of time and, in fact, were the first to be released to television. Critics come and go, but their films, make no mistake, have staying power. A HAUNTING WE WILL GO was the boys second film for Fox, and was designed to keep up with the antics of Abbott and Costello (who had released HOLD THAT GHOST!), so they had a bigger budget and a solid cast of character actors, including world famous Dante, the Magician in this episode.
Fun to watch. Fox that same year ended the Charlie Chan series, however they placed Laurel and Hardy in the middle of a Chan-like mystery, possibly a proposed script that was never filmed, replete with mysterious suspects, a coffin and a missing corpse. Some classic scenes have the boys "assisting" Dante in his magic act, which is quite good. The setting is also very elaborate, boasting a large cast of extras in the audience.
After watching this comedy for decades, and for some reason, always on a Sunday afternoon, it's still a treat, particularly the whodunit ending. These films had a devout following and made millions for Fox, something critics never ever mention, which would prove them flat out wrong. In fact, these were some of Oliver Hardy's favorite films.
Funny dialogue and one-liners thrown in for everybody, written by Lou Breslow, who also wrote the original story. Oliver Hardy, you can tell, is enjoying his part, especially the costumes. The phony money machine on the train (with bug-eyed waiter Mantan Moreland) is a classic.
Look for the (blank) backward statue, too. Ollie's double-take is hilarious. Note the cartoon character artistry at the start of the film credits, which showed the art department really loved their work. This film also holds the distinction of having many publicity photos of the boys in costume, still in circulation to this day.
In box sets of three films each, released by Cinema Classics, 2006.
Laurel and Hardy's later efforts WERE good comedies. They have survived the test of time and, in fact, were the first to be released to television. Critics come and go, but their films, make no mistake, have staying power. A HAUNTING WE WILL GO was the boys second film for Fox, and was designed to keep up with the antics of Abbott and Costello (who had released HOLD THAT GHOST!), so they had a bigger budget and a solid cast of character actors, including world famous Dante, the Magician in this episode.
Fun to watch. Fox that same year ended the Charlie Chan series, however they placed Laurel and Hardy in the middle of a Chan-like mystery, possibly a proposed script that was never filmed, replete with mysterious suspects, a coffin and a missing corpse. Some classic scenes have the boys "assisting" Dante in his magic act, which is quite good. The setting is also very elaborate, boasting a large cast of extras in the audience.
After watching this comedy for decades, and for some reason, always on a Sunday afternoon, it's still a treat, particularly the whodunit ending. These films had a devout following and made millions for Fox, something critics never ever mention, which would prove them flat out wrong. In fact, these were some of Oliver Hardy's favorite films.
Funny dialogue and one-liners thrown in for everybody, written by Lou Breslow, who also wrote the original story. Oliver Hardy, you can tell, is enjoying his part, especially the costumes. The phony money machine on the train (with bug-eyed waiter Mantan Moreland) is a classic.
Look for the (blank) backward statue, too. Ollie's double-take is hilarious. Note the cartoon character artistry at the start of the film credits, which showed the art department really loved their work. This film also holds the distinction of having many publicity photos of the boys in costume, still in circulation to this day.
In box sets of three films each, released by Cinema Classics, 2006.
A Low Point For Stan and Ollie
RJV20 October 2002
In this film, some thugs hired Laurel and Hardy to transport a coffin containing a live thug to Dayton, Ohio in order to claim an inheritance. But the coffin is mixed up with another used in Dante the Magician's stage act with bizarre results.
As a crime drama, A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO is fine, conveying a ominous, suspenseful aura. As a Laurel and Hardy film, however, it is lousy. The grim gangster milieu is inappropriate for Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's clownish characters. Most of the supporting actors are too humorless and realistic to successfully interact with the Boys. In the Hal Roach films, supporting actors like James Finlayson and Charlie Hall worked well with Laurel and Hardy because they performed in a farcical, larger-than-life manner.
What hurts this film even more is the scenario's contemptuous treatment of Laurel and Hardy's characters. At the Hal Roach lot, where they peaked, Laurel and Hardy became popular because even though audiences laughed at their blunders, the characters conveyed a sweet innocence that endeared moviegoers. In A HAUNTING WE WILL GO, the Boys are a pair of stupid jerks undeserving of respect or sympathy. A particularly revealing moment is when romantic lead John Shelton, who is working with Laurel and Hardy in the Dante the Magician's act, chastises them for misunderstanding the magician's props. The audience is supposed to share Shelton's disdain of Laurel and Hardy's ineptitude.
Dante, a magician in real life, gets to perform some tricks. Unfortunately, a levitation stunt passed off as his own actually seems to have been devised by the film's special effects department. Without meaning to belittle Dante's talents, one must say that when geniuses like Laurel and Hardy are in a film, who needs magic acts?
So far, I have only seen one other film Laurel and Hardy made after leaving Hal Roach, THE DANCING MASTERS. That film wasn't bad. But despite a few isolated laughs, A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO deserves its poor reputation among film comedy historians. For Laurel and Hardy completists, it's only worth seeing once.
As a crime drama, A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO is fine, conveying a ominous, suspenseful aura. As a Laurel and Hardy film, however, it is lousy. The grim gangster milieu is inappropriate for Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's clownish characters. Most of the supporting actors are too humorless and realistic to successfully interact with the Boys. In the Hal Roach films, supporting actors like James Finlayson and Charlie Hall worked well with Laurel and Hardy because they performed in a farcical, larger-than-life manner.
What hurts this film even more is the scenario's contemptuous treatment of Laurel and Hardy's characters. At the Hal Roach lot, where they peaked, Laurel and Hardy became popular because even though audiences laughed at their blunders, the characters conveyed a sweet innocence that endeared moviegoers. In A HAUNTING WE WILL GO, the Boys are a pair of stupid jerks undeserving of respect or sympathy. A particularly revealing moment is when romantic lead John Shelton, who is working with Laurel and Hardy in the Dante the Magician's act, chastises them for misunderstanding the magician's props. The audience is supposed to share Shelton's disdain of Laurel and Hardy's ineptitude.
Dante, a magician in real life, gets to perform some tricks. Unfortunately, a levitation stunt passed off as his own actually seems to have been devised by the film's special effects department. Without meaning to belittle Dante's talents, one must say that when geniuses like Laurel and Hardy are in a film, who needs magic acts?
So far, I have only seen one other film Laurel and Hardy made after leaving Hal Roach, THE DANCING MASTERS. That film wasn't bad. But despite a few isolated laughs, A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO deserves its poor reputation among film comedy historians. For Laurel and Hardy completists, it's only worth seeing once.
Reliably fun and silly; its subjective faults ultimately seem pretty minor
I_Ailurophile23 November 2023
Few names in comedy are as iconic as those of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Though not all their works were equal, by and large they stood alongside contemporaries like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and The Three Stooges with a steady stream of gags, physical comedy, situational humor, witty repartee, and not least the terrific dynamics between the stars. It speaks well to this 1942 title that it starts strong with a good few laughs, and at its best 'A-haunting we will go' is right on par with the duo's best films. It's not necessarily entirely perfect compared to others among their oeuvre, but it's hard to go wrong with Laurel and Hardy, and this ample demonstration of why they continue to be held in such esteem.
The shenanigans are reliably delightful at all times, and the nature of the plot in this instance allows for some flavors that are unique from those the legends' other pictures. One problem that this feature does distinctly have is that it's a tad imbalanced, for there is a lot of story packed into these sixty-six minutes as two hobos get mixed up with gangsters, and then a touring illusionist. Wherever that narrative receives focus the pacing is dragged down a bit, and the entertainment in turn, all the way through to the very end. On a like note, there's no disputing that "Dante the Magician" is a great showman and a fine addition to the roster for this flick; nevertheless, devoting a bit of the short runtime to his own antics further diminishes the screen time for Stan and Ollie. One consequence of our stars being shoved into a corner is that 'A-haunting we will go' feels less and less like a Laurel and Hardy flick, and more ordinary, alongside other 40s fare.
In fairness, these issues are less prominent in the back end as all the facets converge, and with that especially in mind - overall the movie is so fun, with the latter half making up for earlier issues, that we begin to forget about any troubles we recognized in the first place. All those stunts and effects that are employed are fantastic across the board, with some being even more complicated than what we've seen elsewhere with these two. Aspects like the sets, costume design, and hair and makeup are lovely, too, as they help flesh out the whole. Writers Lou Breslow and Stanley Rauh whipped up a swell tale to propel the silliness, and all the scene writing and bits are terrifically sharp and smart. Alfred L. Werker's direction ties all the moving parts together well, with some buzzing energy - though his task is certainly made easier with a splendid ensemble who do much of the heavy lifting themselves. Laurel and Hardy carry much of the title, by all means, but the big supporting cast easily rises to the occasion, with Dante and George Lynn easily standing out, among others.
All told I'd stop short of calling this a total must-see; in the very least, there are other films from the pair that I'd suggest more highly, including 'Saps at sea' and 'Swiss miss.' Even at that, whatever subjective faults one might reasonably assess against this ultimately turn out to seem pretty minor relative to how fabulously enjoyable it is otherwise. Whether you're a fan of the stars or really just looking for a good time you'll unmistakably find it here, and for the level at which the icons mostly operated, the minutiae don't particularly matter. 'A-haunting we will go' is another classic comedy from Laurel and Hardy, and I'm pleased to give it my hearty recommendation!
The shenanigans are reliably delightful at all times, and the nature of the plot in this instance allows for some flavors that are unique from those the legends' other pictures. One problem that this feature does distinctly have is that it's a tad imbalanced, for there is a lot of story packed into these sixty-six minutes as two hobos get mixed up with gangsters, and then a touring illusionist. Wherever that narrative receives focus the pacing is dragged down a bit, and the entertainment in turn, all the way through to the very end. On a like note, there's no disputing that "Dante the Magician" is a great showman and a fine addition to the roster for this flick; nevertheless, devoting a bit of the short runtime to his own antics further diminishes the screen time for Stan and Ollie. One consequence of our stars being shoved into a corner is that 'A-haunting we will go' feels less and less like a Laurel and Hardy flick, and more ordinary, alongside other 40s fare.
In fairness, these issues are less prominent in the back end as all the facets converge, and with that especially in mind - overall the movie is so fun, with the latter half making up for earlier issues, that we begin to forget about any troubles we recognized in the first place. All those stunts and effects that are employed are fantastic across the board, with some being even more complicated than what we've seen elsewhere with these two. Aspects like the sets, costume design, and hair and makeup are lovely, too, as they help flesh out the whole. Writers Lou Breslow and Stanley Rauh whipped up a swell tale to propel the silliness, and all the scene writing and bits are terrifically sharp and smart. Alfred L. Werker's direction ties all the moving parts together well, with some buzzing energy - though his task is certainly made easier with a splendid ensemble who do much of the heavy lifting themselves. Laurel and Hardy carry much of the title, by all means, but the big supporting cast easily rises to the occasion, with Dante and George Lynn easily standing out, among others.
All told I'd stop short of calling this a total must-see; in the very least, there are other films from the pair that I'd suggest more highly, including 'Saps at sea' and 'Swiss miss.' Even at that, whatever subjective faults one might reasonably assess against this ultimately turn out to seem pretty minor relative to how fabulously enjoyable it is otherwise. Whether you're a fan of the stars or really just looking for a good time you'll unmistakably find it here, and for the level at which the icons mostly operated, the minutiae don't particularly matter. 'A-haunting we will go' is another classic comedy from Laurel and Hardy, and I'm pleased to give it my hearty recommendation!
Their Worst Film?
BJJ-224 October 2002
For many years,both ATOLL K(1951)and THE BIG NOISE(1944)had reputations for being Laurel & Hardy's worst film;amongst film scholars and L & H buffs like myself,this film has definitely taken over that mantle in recent years. So why is A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO so dismal? Firstly,Laurel & Hardy the actors are not allowed to play Laurel & Hardy the characters throughout.Namely,the naive,likeable innocents they established at the Hal Roach studios are virtually non-existent;they are forced to play irritating,doltish nit-wits who we are not called to sympathise with;the exact reverse philosophy as was with their Roach films. Secondly,Fox saddles them with a tenth-rate gangster melodrama in which they would've been better off not appearing in;much of the dialogue is straight,unfunny exposition with supporting characters that are far too tough and nasty to be funny. Thirdly,Alfred Werker,a solid director of melodramas,is totally out of his depth with comedy,and it shows up starkly in this film. And finally,the title is misleading;haunting has nothing to do with the plot,and nothing of it's description turns up in the film. The only mildly amusing moments occur within a train sequence featuring Dante the magician(who easily gives the film's most assured performance);Stan & Ollie,though,look embarrassed and bored with the film's content;as they should be.It's my candidate for their worst film,and many others are beginning to agree.3 out of 10.
Twilight of the Comic Gods
hausrathman27 March 2004
Laurel and Hardy are bamboozled into smuggling a gangster, disguised as a corpse in a coffin, from one city to another but complications arise when the coffin is switched with a coffin used in a magician's act. This film, produced by Twentieth Century Fox, doesn't approach the charm of even their weakest feature produced by the Hal Roach Studios, but I don't think this is necessarily Laurel and Hardy's worst film. There are a few laughs, sporadic as they may be. The main problem is that the comedy is too generic, it doesn't grow out of the personas they painstaking developed over the years. One could just as easily imagine Abbott and Costello or Bob Hope and Bing Crosby doing the Indian Rope trick gag. The production values are better than the Roach films, but production value is a poor substitute for comedy. The predicament can be summed up in the casting. In this film the boys are menaced by Elisha Cook, Jr.. Don't get me wrong. I think Elisha Cook, Jr., is an terrific supporting actor, but against Humphrey Bogart, not Laurel and Hardy. The boys are better menaced by a comic heavy like Walter Long.
Still, although many Laurel and Hardy fans castigate Fox and MGM for their treatment of the duo during the 1940s, I don't honestly see how it could have been much different anywhere in Hollywood. Laurel and Hardy were products of the 1920s and 1930s, the golden age of screen comedy. The 1940s were the nadir of comedy. By the time "A Haunting We Will Go" hit the screens in 1942, all of the greats were all essentially gone. Chaplin was inactive, and never returned to the comedy which made him great. Harold Lloyd had retired. Buster Keaton's career was in ruins. W.C. Fields' career was over. The Marx Brothers' film career was essentially over. Even the Ritz Brothers only had two more films in them. When you look at Laurel and Hardy in the context of their peers, it is a great testimony to their popularity that their film career continued as long as it did. The 1940s would forever belong to Abbott and Costello and Bob Hope, the likes of whom would make some funny films, but decade never had the comic vitality of the 1930s.
Still, although many Laurel and Hardy fans castigate Fox and MGM for their treatment of the duo during the 1940s, I don't honestly see how it could have been much different anywhere in Hollywood. Laurel and Hardy were products of the 1920s and 1930s, the golden age of screen comedy. The 1940s were the nadir of comedy. By the time "A Haunting We Will Go" hit the screens in 1942, all of the greats were all essentially gone. Chaplin was inactive, and never returned to the comedy which made him great. Harold Lloyd had retired. Buster Keaton's career was in ruins. W.C. Fields' career was over. The Marx Brothers' film career was essentially over. Even the Ritz Brothers only had two more films in them. When you look at Laurel and Hardy in the context of their peers, it is a great testimony to their popularity that their film career continued as long as it did. The 1940s would forever belong to Abbott and Costello and Bob Hope, the likes of whom would make some funny films, but decade never had the comic vitality of the 1930s.
Un-magical haunting
TheLittleSongbird25 December 2018
Will always have a lot of affection for Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. They had memorable personalities/personas that really shone when the material given played to their strengths, it is very easy to understand their appeal and why they are considered comic geniuses and one of the greatest comedy duos. Also really love their partnership, which deservedly is remembered in iconic terms.
'A-Haunting We Will Go' is often considered a lesser Laurel and Hardy film and some even say it's their worst. Do agree that 'A-Haunting We Will Go' is a lesser effort of theirs and a disservice to the duo. Whether it's their worst though is debatable, with it being made in their decline period (which started with their previous film 'Great Guns') where most of the films from the period are equal contenders for that distinction. It is not terrible overall, but it is bad Laurel and Hardy. Like to love many of their previous films, the best of which being classic comedy, but their post-Hal Roach period saw quite a big decline and all their weaker films (the worst of which quite bad) were made during this period. On reflection it is marginally better than 'Great Guns', despite not being a good film, with it having a marginally better script (not saying much) and Laurel and Hardy are in a setting that they gel much better in.
There are pluses. 'A-Haunting We Will Go' looks good, one of the best Laurel and Hardy efforts in this regard. The photography is professional, the production design is spooky and there is none of the crudeness of the editing that was there in some of the late Hal Roach-period films. Dante is an interesting and amusing character and in a way steals the show, although for my tastes he is over-used.
Have found that most lesser Laurel and Hardy still have moments and 'A-Haunting We Will Go' does have those and it also actually starts off quite well. The best parts being the rope trick, the hitch-hiking and the duping of the inflato machine. Laurel and Hardy do their best and their chemistry does shine in places, some of the physical comedy is nimble.
None of this however is consistent. Like 'Great Guns', neither Laurel or Hardy are used well, they do feel shoe-horned in and for top-billing it was like they were playing second fiddle to Dante. Their personalities, what made them famous and what was so appealing about them are not there enough either, they are rather bland and somewhat out of character. There are no standouts in the rest of the cast, most having very little to nothing to do.
Most of the story, despite a good start, is all over the map however, the pace fails to come to life too much, it is very contrived and it goes far too over-the-top on the silliness that it becomes intelligence insultingly dumb. The odd mildly amusing line aside, the script is a major failing too, there is too much emphasis on it and not enough of the physical comedy which means that the boys' strengths don't shine enough. Like most of the humour, it feels both over-played and fatigued which is not a good combination. The direction never rises above the uninspired at best.
In summary, another disappointment from this iconic duo's decline. 5/10 Bethany Cox
'A-Haunting We Will Go' is often considered a lesser Laurel and Hardy film and some even say it's their worst. Do agree that 'A-Haunting We Will Go' is a lesser effort of theirs and a disservice to the duo. Whether it's their worst though is debatable, with it being made in their decline period (which started with their previous film 'Great Guns') where most of the films from the period are equal contenders for that distinction. It is not terrible overall, but it is bad Laurel and Hardy. Like to love many of their previous films, the best of which being classic comedy, but their post-Hal Roach period saw quite a big decline and all their weaker films (the worst of which quite bad) were made during this period. On reflection it is marginally better than 'Great Guns', despite not being a good film, with it having a marginally better script (not saying much) and Laurel and Hardy are in a setting that they gel much better in.
There are pluses. 'A-Haunting We Will Go' looks good, one of the best Laurel and Hardy efforts in this regard. The photography is professional, the production design is spooky and there is none of the crudeness of the editing that was there in some of the late Hal Roach-period films. Dante is an interesting and amusing character and in a way steals the show, although for my tastes he is over-used.
Have found that most lesser Laurel and Hardy still have moments and 'A-Haunting We Will Go' does have those and it also actually starts off quite well. The best parts being the rope trick, the hitch-hiking and the duping of the inflato machine. Laurel and Hardy do their best and their chemistry does shine in places, some of the physical comedy is nimble.
None of this however is consistent. Like 'Great Guns', neither Laurel or Hardy are used well, they do feel shoe-horned in and for top-billing it was like they were playing second fiddle to Dante. Their personalities, what made them famous and what was so appealing about them are not there enough either, they are rather bland and somewhat out of character. There are no standouts in the rest of the cast, most having very little to nothing to do.
Most of the story, despite a good start, is all over the map however, the pace fails to come to life too much, it is very contrived and it goes far too over-the-top on the silliness that it becomes intelligence insultingly dumb. The odd mildly amusing line aside, the script is a major failing too, there is too much emphasis on it and not enough of the physical comedy which means that the boys' strengths don't shine enough. Like most of the humour, it feels both over-played and fatigued which is not a good combination. The direction never rises above the uninspired at best.
In summary, another disappointment from this iconic duo's decline. 5/10 Bethany Cox
A-Haunting We Will Go **
Bunuel197613 March 2006
Until a few years ago, I've kept far away from Laurel & Hardy's notoriously poor 1940s vehicles produced by Twentieth-Century Fox; now that I've watched them all (and only NOTHING BUT TROUBLE [1944], made at MGM, remains from this sorry final period of the greatest comedy team in cinema history), I can say that this one is certainly the weakest of the lot!
There is very little typical material for the stars who, in any case, look tired and visibly disinterested throughout; that said, it's mercifully short and, therefore, not exactly painful to watch - as was the case with, say, UTOPIA (1951), an embarrassing mess that, regrettably, proved to be their cinematic swan-song - but, at the end of the day, it's not the boys' usually endearing and irresistible routines that are remembered, if at all, but rather the scenes involving an elderly magician that goes by the unlikely name of Dante...not to mention the dubious novelty of watching Elisha Cook Jr. in drag! To add insult to injury, the film's title is a ludicrous misnomer!!
There is very little typical material for the stars who, in any case, look tired and visibly disinterested throughout; that said, it's mercifully short and, therefore, not exactly painful to watch - as was the case with, say, UTOPIA (1951), an embarrassing mess that, regrettably, proved to be their cinematic swan-song - but, at the end of the day, it's not the boys' usually endearing and irresistible routines that are remembered, if at all, but rather the scenes involving an elderly magician that goes by the unlikely name of Dante...not to mention the dubious novelty of watching Elisha Cook Jr. in drag! To add insult to injury, the film's title is a ludicrous misnomer!!
Victim of magic
bkoganbing6 July 2013
Although Laurel&Hardy fill the roles out well that they had in A-Haunting We Will Go this seems to be more of a film that Abbott&Costello might have been suited better for. A lot more physical stuff and funny lines here than the character based comedy that Stan and Ollie did so well.
These two did something that has local law enforcement on their case. They agree to accompany the dead body of a recently departed soldier for burial in Dayton, Ohio. What it really comes down to is a scam to get some crook out of town. Of course members of the gang like Elisha Cook and Don Costello start falling out with each other.
In the meantime our two geniuses in the leads get the coffins mixed up with the prop coffin of magician Dante going to the phony asylum and the boys taking the real coffin to the theater where Dante is performing.
I have to say that Dante himself was patient and indulging and he and assistant John Shelton realize these guys are naturally funny. Even though they gum up the act Dante just smiles through it all.
If you think this bears some resemblance to the A&C classic Who Done It you would be right. The last 20 minutes of A-Haunting We Will Go takes place in the theater where the various plot elements and characters come together including one who is very dead.
In the end Stan becomes a victim of magic. You'll have to see A-Haunting We Will Go to get the explanation for that.
These two did something that has local law enforcement on their case. They agree to accompany the dead body of a recently departed soldier for burial in Dayton, Ohio. What it really comes down to is a scam to get some crook out of town. Of course members of the gang like Elisha Cook and Don Costello start falling out with each other.
In the meantime our two geniuses in the leads get the coffins mixed up with the prop coffin of magician Dante going to the phony asylum and the boys taking the real coffin to the theater where Dante is performing.
I have to say that Dante himself was patient and indulging and he and assistant John Shelton realize these guys are naturally funny. Even though they gum up the act Dante just smiles through it all.
If you think this bears some resemblance to the A&C classic Who Done It you would be right. The last 20 minutes of A-Haunting We Will Go takes place in the theater where the various plot elements and characters come together including one who is very dead.
In the end Stan becomes a victim of magic. You'll have to see A-Haunting We Will Go to get the explanation for that.
Hugely underrated
puss-24 October 2002
This is one of laurel and hardy's most underappreciated films. The scene where Stan climbs a rope in a magic trick is one of the funniest things i have ever seen. There are some great lines too - "Let's go to Florida. I'm dying for an orange". Priceless.
first half hangs together, then.....
beauzee1 November 2014
2 of my 3 stars are for the somewhat under-appreciated first half, no guffaws, just a few chuckles here and there, but my case-in-point: there's actually an in-character sequence on a train in which they are tricked into buying a "money making machine" - Ollie does a very nice, albeit short,soliloqy on the meaning of benevolence, esp. in hard times.
plus, there is no romantic subplot, no sentimentality whatsoever.
I actually like this bizarre deal better than the more "accessible", more "Hollywood" GREAT GUNS, which preceded it on the sorry L & H Fox series, which went on for years. GUNS was a little funnier but HAUNTING has a credible storyline. pretty much.
yes, they were tricked during the train ride to deliver the supposedly empty coffin and now, on stage with Dante The Magician, they wind up as part of *his* lame-O tricks. by that point, your head will be spinning..not from being dazzled by great magic tricks or L & H zaniness but by simple fatigue.
plus, there is no romantic subplot, no sentimentality whatsoever.
I actually like this bizarre deal better than the more "accessible", more "Hollywood" GREAT GUNS, which preceded it on the sorry L & H Fox series, which went on for years. GUNS was a little funnier but HAUNTING has a credible storyline. pretty much.
yes, they were tricked during the train ride to deliver the supposedly empty coffin and now, on stage with Dante The Magician, they wind up as part of *his* lame-O tricks. by that point, your head will be spinning..not from being dazzled by great magic tricks or L & H zaniness but by simple fatigue.
Dante the Magician is the star of this one
gridoon202415 September 2020
The special effects are good, the magic tricks & illusions are fun and even mind-boggling, but as a comedy, it's pretty dismal, with a few too many generic 1940's movie gangsters who look like they came out of a cloning factory. ** out of 4.
A quite different film
oscar-3529 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
*Spoiler/plot- A Haunting We Will Go, 1942, 'The Boys' get innocently involved with some crooks and con-men. They have to get 'out of town' and do it while escorting a coffin to another town by rail for money. This job becomes a shady way a gang of crooks take advantage of the new townspeople with another 'con'.
*Special Stars- Laurel and Hardy, Dick Lane, Elisha Cook Jr. "Dante the Magician".
*Theme- Spooky things happen around stage magicians and crooks.
*Trivia/location/goofs- Dante the Magician was doing street magic and got cast in this film. This Columbia Studios film was one that was considered a 'lesser' Larual and Hardy comedy due to not be made at Hal Roach Studios.
*Emotion- A quite different film due to its director's serious premise of this being a mystery film instead of a Laurel and Hardy comedy. It lacks some of the classic comedy plot and on camera antics because the writers didn't know what worked for this great comedy duo. Still good to enjoy.
*Special Stars- Laurel and Hardy, Dick Lane, Elisha Cook Jr. "Dante the Magician".
*Theme- Spooky things happen around stage magicians and crooks.
*Trivia/location/goofs- Dante the Magician was doing street magic and got cast in this film. This Columbia Studios film was one that was considered a 'lesser' Larual and Hardy comedy due to not be made at Hal Roach Studios.
*Emotion- A quite different film due to its director's serious premise of this being a mystery film instead of a Laurel and Hardy comedy. It lacks some of the classic comedy plot and on camera antics because the writers didn't know what worked for this great comedy duo. Still good to enjoy.
Obviously a typo..should have been A-Flaunting We Will Go
uds36 November 2003
....Flaunting their lack of interest in the project that is!
Whether it is L A H's poorest cinematic moment or not is quite immaterial, it is crappy entertainment any which way you cut it. One reviewer nailed it. Here we have Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy the actors....NOT their beloved characters. They were arguably past their prime here and it shows, if nothing else, in their disinterest and discomfort. A couple of amusing moments do not justify the 68 minute run time. I will not belabor the plotline again..others have done that.
It pains me to bag ANY L & H pic but regrettably this effort is deserving of little else. I recall watching it first as a child in 1954 at Saturday morning pictures. Even THEN it was held up as one of the worst we'd seen in several weeks. When I saw it again twenty seven years later nothing had happened to alter my opinion. About time for the next quarter of a century review....I fear the worst!
Whether it is L A H's poorest cinematic moment or not is quite immaterial, it is crappy entertainment any which way you cut it. One reviewer nailed it. Here we have Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy the actors....NOT their beloved characters. They were arguably past their prime here and it shows, if nothing else, in their disinterest and discomfort. A couple of amusing moments do not justify the 68 minute run time. I will not belabor the plotline again..others have done that.
It pains me to bag ANY L & H pic but regrettably this effort is deserving of little else. I recall watching it first as a child in 1954 at Saturday morning pictures. Even THEN it was held up as one of the worst we'd seen in several weeks. When I saw it again twenty seven years later nothing had happened to alter my opinion. About time for the next quarter of a century review....I fear the worst!
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