Another Fine Mess (1930) User Reviews

Funniness

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 7/10 · 9 January 2005]

L & H are on the run from the law. They are so broke they spent the night sleeping on a park bench. A nearby was not impressed with Stan after he addresses him as 'Ma'am'. They take refuge from the chase in the basement of Colonel Wilburforce Buckshot, who has just left to go on vacation to South Africa.

While hiding they pretend to be the owner and maid (Stan in his guise as Agnes) of the house when a new married couple (Lord Plumtree and his gorgeous wife) come around to rent the place. Obviously the usual hijinks and misunderstandings follow but the comic timing and Stan's indulgence in his Agnes disguise make it a half-hour laugh riot.

Laurel & Hardy return to the high life in Another Fine Mess

[tavm · 7/10 · 31 March 2023]

Having just watched Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy work in a mansion in the silent short From Soup to Nuts, here they are again at another such place in the talkie short Another Fine Mess. This time, they're on the run from the police for sleeping on park benches and they end up in the cellar of the residence of one Colonel Buckshot (James Finlayson) who's leaving on vacation. When they find out that the butler and maid are also taking time off, and with a cop still on the lookout for them, Stan poses as both butler and maid and Ollie poses as the Colonel as a young society couple arrives to rent the place. The lady of that couple is played by Thelma Todd who'd appear in quite a few of the L & H shorts and eventually star in her own Hal Roach series with first Zasu Pitts and then Patsy Kelly. She's quite charming when she converses with Stan's portrayal of maid "Agnes"! Hardy as Buckshot also gets his charms when playing him when conversing with the man of the renting couple who has quite a funny laugh which gets quite a workout here, that's for sure! As for Finlayson, well, he only has the beginning and near the end scenes to appear but he does what he can in those scenes and make them count! All in all, Another Fine Mess was quite a funny L & H short. P. S. The twin ladies who recite the credits at the beginning are Beverly and Betty Mae Crane who served the same function during this period on all Hal Roach shorts like the Our Gang entries Teacher's Pet, School's Out, and Love Business which I've also reviewed on this site. So as we leave Stan & Ollie behind, we next will visit Bud Abbott & Lou Costello when they also come In Society.

An Enjoyable Remake

[Snow Leopard · 6 February 2006]

This is an enjoyable remake of the silent feature "Duck Soup", which had played such an important role in establishing Laurel and Hardy as the great comic duo that is now so well- known. This feature follows the same story setup, and expands it slightly while adding in a number of new gags that would not have worked as well on the silent screen.

Once again, Stan and Ollie find themselves forced to impersonate an absent homeowner and his servants, while hosting a prospective renter. The main story is also framed by a brief opening sequence and an interesting, nearly surreal finale. In the main part of the movie, they get a lot of mileage out of the basic situation, and Laurel plays his multiple role in an amusing fashion. James Finlayson gets a couple of good moments near the end, although he does not get as much to do as he did in some of their earlier features.

It packs a lot of material into a little under thirty minutes of running time, and there are a handful of moments when you can just tell that it was an early sound-era movie. But, as this example shows, Laurel and Hardy had little difficulty in successfully adapting their style to the new era.

Something a little different from the boys

[wmorrow59 · 9/10 · 5 July 2004]

From the moment this movie begins we know we're in for something a tad unusual. In the early talkie days the folks at the Hal Roach Studio experimented with a new format for delivering opening credits: instead of simply filming title cards in traditional fashion, they built a spiffy Art Deco stage set, complete with proscenium arch, and hired a pair of young girls called the Crane Twins to march out onto the stage to deliver the film's credits verbally. The girls, who are dressed as bellboys, speak in unison at first, then alternate, then bow in tandem as they conclude. The effect is quite odd and (inadvertently?) funny, and kicks off Another Fine Mess on a curious note. The twins introduced several concurrently produced comedies featuring Charley Chase, Our Gang and the 'Boy Friends,' but this marks their only appearance in a Laurel & Hardy movie. I find the girls rather endearing myself, but in any case Roach's experiment with spoken credits didn't last long.

Enter Laurel & Hardy chased by a cop, and we're back on familiar terrain. And yet things aren't quite so familiar after all, for it soon becomes apparent that this film has a different feel from the average L&H comedy. There's an actual plot, comparatively little slapstick, and an unusual amount of verbal humor. It's no surprise to learn that Another Fine Mess was based on a stage sketch, because once the boys seek refuge in the house where most of the action takes place, it does indeed feel like a stage act is underway, as they engage in an extended routine involving disguise and mistaken identity, with some farcical elements included for good measure. Ordinarily Laurel & Hardy didn't place much emphasis on dialog humor as such, but here they do, and happily the material is pretty funny. (Interestingly, the sketch that served as this film's source material was written by Stan Laurel's father, who was a theatrical manager and playwright, though it was said that the old gent did not approve of this adaptation.) In any other L&H short the guys would've spent five or ten minutes trying and failing to enter the house, but this time they've got a rendezvous with The Plot and not so much time for physical shtick.

As it happens, the guys have taken refuge in the home of Colonel Buckshot, who has supposedly departed for Africa. His servants, who were entrusted to rent the place out, have also left for a weekend vacation. Complications ensue with the arrival of a honeymooning couple, Lord and Lady Plumtree, who are interested in renting the place. Even bigger complications are set in motion by Ollie's decision to open the door to the couple in order to get rid of them, which forces Stan to impersonate the butler, which in turn forces Ollie to impersonate Colonel Buckshot, which in turn forces Stan to impersonate Agnes the maid. That's what I love about this movie, that decisive moment that starts the ball rolling. All the guys had to do was ignore the doorbell and wait for the couple to leave, but then they wouldn't be Laurel & Hardy, and we wouldn't have this fine mess to enjoy.

It's amusing to watch Ollie brazenly attempt to assume the role of the wealthy Colonel Buckshot, behaving the way Ollie believes such people behave, and he's well matched by Stan's quick-change impersonations of Hives the butler and Agnes the maid. I especially enjoy the scene between Agnes and Lady Plumtree. We have to assume that Thelma Todd's barely suppressed laughter throughout the scene is genuine; I mean, playing opposite Stan in drag, listening to him ramble on and giggle nervously, who wouldn't crack up? While it's true that the musical score and sound effects used in Another Fine Mess are somewhat more emphatic than the typical Roach comedy of the period, as an earlier reviewer pointed out, I feel this gives the film an agreeably wacky, "cartoon-y" feel suitable to the situation. I love the moment when the real Colonel (Jimmy Finlayson, underplaying as usual) returns home and tries to grasp what has happened. His furious response prompts the silliest wrap-up ever contrived for a L&H short. It's a laugh-out-loud ending -- it was for me, anyway -- and it ensures this movie's status as a treat for comedy connoisseurs.

Nice, but not fine...

[JoeytheBrit · 6/10 · 4 June 2009]

This isn't classic Laurel & Hardy by anyone's standards, but it's made watchable by the comedy talents of the duo and a couple of inspired moments. The boys play a pair of bums who stumble into the unoccupied house of a local millionaire when avoiding arrest by the police and then pose as owner and butler/maid when prospective tenants of the property come calling. The comedy here is a little too one-note once Lord Plumtree and his foxy new wife arrive, spending too much time focusing on Stan's switching between the characters of Hives the butler and Agnes the maid (Agnes, incidentally, would resurface in A Chump in Oxford). There is a laugh-out-loud moment when the boys become tangled up with a quartet of rattling window blinds as they try to evade capture by the police though, and a truly surreal finale which sees them inexplicably disguised as a pantomime cow (?) riding a bicycle to freedom. The film is also noticeable for coining the phrase 'Another fine mess,' which would incorrectly be attributed to Hardy by impressionists forever more. As all Laurel & Hardy aficionados know, what Ollie would testily exclaim to the tearful Stan was 'that's another NICE mess you've gotten me into'.

Another Mess is Fine!!!

[dataconflossmoor · 10/10 · 8 November 2007]

Laurel and Hardy are simply hilarious! They incorporate slapstick and basic comedy to a pleasant pinnacle of perfect acting performances!! The talent of slapstick, which relies on a lot of physical humor,is misconstrued by the movie audience as just being silly! Hence, it is not given it's just deference. The movie "Another Fine Mess" pokes flagrant holes in the day to day petulant actions of the well to do!! Laurel and Hardy's chicanery and wild antics are once again, totally unintentional in this film, that is what makes them so funny!! The early days of movie making almost seem incomplete without Laurel and Hardy!! I found their movies and skits to have a totally innocuous reliability to them!! Such theatrics of whimsical mannerisms reflect the innocent days of yesteryear!! In evaluating these Laurel and Hardy movies, there is such a dark side to so many people who star in them!! Such disconcerting callousness is put in a flippant perspective, and should be taken with a jaundice eye!! I could watch Laurel and Hardy reruns over and over again, they definitely fall into the category of timeless entertainment!! "Another Fine Mess" is one of Laurel and Hardy's better efforts, and I recommend to anyone who is just in a mood to be amused, that they watch this movie.... THUMBS UP!!!!

The Last Five Minutes are Hilarious

[Better_Sith_Than_Sorry · 7/10 · 14 September 2020]

...but the previous 25 are only mildly amusing by comparison. So this is a tough one to rate.

Plot In a Nutshell: Two drifters (Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy) avoid a determined beat cop by taking refuge in an empty mansion, where they assume the identities of the owner and servants.

Why I rated it a '7': as mentioned, the film really picks up steam as it comes to a conclusion, and it includes a scene where Stan and Ollie are bicycling down a street while disguised as an African wildebeest. I can't help but compare this to the ending of the original "Pink Panther" with David Niven and Robert Wagner driving around Paris in gorilla costumes. You have to think Blake Edwards drew some inspiration from Laurel and Hardy here!

There are some laughs sprinkled throughout the 30 minute film but it is not non-stop hilarity until the last few minutes. No one remembering Lord Plumtree's name and Stan's comment about needing a nursery room "in case of an accident" were highlights, but Lord Plumtree's strange laugh was annoying and is an example of one bit that didn't work.

Overall, an enjoyable 30 minutes. Not their best and not their worst. B+.

7/10. Would I watch again (Y/N)?: Yes

Butler And Maid

[bkoganbing · 9/10 · 1 September 2010]

Circumstances of poverty force Laurel and Hardy to take refuge from the police in James Finlayson's mansion. But it might be a stroke of luck as Finlayson is about to depart for Africa to shoot big game. He gives instructions to the butler and maid to rent the place for six months, but they leave themselves on a short getaway.

Which gives Ollie the idea to masquerade as Finlayson and rent the place himself. Stan masquerades as the butler.

But when the boys meet with Charles Gerrard and his lovely bride Thelma Todd who knows a maid comes with the package, Stan has to get into drag and quick change drag at that to be both butler and maid. That provides for a series of incredibly funny situations.

Of course it's all a big bust for Stan and Ollie, but you have to see one of their funniest short subjects to see how it all goes bad.

Riotously funny.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 8 July 2023]

Colone Wilberforce Buckshot is off to hunt in South Africa, he chooses to rent out his palatial home, Stan and Ollie accidentally end up posing as The staff, showing the potential renters around.

In just a few years time, this film will celebrate its centenary, and I'm sure when that event comes around that it'll be as loved then as it has been since it first appeared.

It is seriously funny, it's a riot from start to finish, laugh out loud moments from start to finish, Agnes The Maid, no words for how funny those scenes are.

Lord Leopold's laugh was hilarious, such a great character.

What has always struck me about this one, aside from the riotous laughs, is just how good both Stan and Ollie were, so much more than just funny men, terrific actors, so much better than most of their contemporaries at the time.

Madcap good fun.

9/10.

not exactly inspired fare from Stan and Ollie

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 9 May 2006]

I noticed that in general, all Laurel and Hardy films get very high ratings--even some really bad ones (such as their films for FOX in the 1940s). While I do love their films, I am not so gung-ho that I want to pretend EVERYTHING they did was great--some films were bad and some were only okay. This film definitely falls into the okay category with overly familiar situations and humor that just doesn't make you laugh. Seeing Stan dressed in drag wasn't too funny and nothing really stood out in this movie to make it anything other than just a time-passer. Instead of watching this one, try to find one of their better shorts such as BIG BUSINESS, THE MUSIC BOX or THE PERFECT DAY.

FYI--This videotape was from Hallmark/Artisan and was Colorized. As always, Colorized films look like crap and detract from the overall experience unless you have a fetish for ugly pastels. Try to find a non-colorized version if at all possible.

Stan as Agness the maid is just the best

[alexandra-25 · 6 July 2005]

Seeing Stan Laurel as Agnes the maid in this film is absolutely fantastic. I especially love his girlie chat with Mrs Plumtree on the sofa. This particular scene of the film illustrates Stan's adaptability to talkie films, and to situation comedy, where there is less of the usual slapstick.

I guess the use of more dialogue over slapstick in Another Fine Mess is due to the fact that it was thought that such comedy genre would be less funny, and therefore irrelevant to talkie films. Seeing Stan and Ollie with more dialogue to perform takes allot of getting used to. However, I think the duo pulled it off in this film Very good viewing!

They Could Act!

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 12 January 2017]

After a weird reading of the credits, the boys find themselves in a mansion where the staff has disappeared. The millionaire, Colonel Buckshot, is off on a Safari. In order to avoid the police, who are after them, Stan and Ollie must impersonate the absent Buckshot and the maid, Agnes, and Hives, the butler. Their interactions are priceless and the story is well scripted. Everything rolls along fine until Buckshot returns. The byplay between our two buddies is priceless. The inimitable Jimmy Finlayson is Buckshot and his quick responses to the craziness in the house are great. But Stan and Ollie really steal the show. Oliver, with his improvised take on a millionaire, and Stanley, once again in drag, stealing every scene. One of the best of the best.

A mess but not always a fine one.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 6/10 · 20 September 2006]

I don't really understand why this movie is rated so highly, especially when compared to other far more superior Laurel & Hardy shorts.

Real problem with this movie is that it only relies on one comical premise. The jokes and humor are because of that restrained and too often too much of the same. The movie is lacking in some true laughs and comical/slapstick moments, even though of course the movie still perfectly entertains.

The story is simple and a remake of the far superior comedy short "Duck Soup". Of course Laurel & Hardy movies always have a simple story, as they should in my opinion but in this case some more creativity wouldn't had been a bad idea.

Not even James Finlayson in a small role can make the story feel lively and creative. Basically the most amusing character of the movie is being played by Charles K. Gerrard. Never a good sign when the most amusing character in a Laurel & Hardy movie is being played by a supporting actor. Sure, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are amusing in their roles and they provide the movie with some good moments but it all was a bit too simple for my taste and really lacked in true comical creativity.

Certainly not a bad movie and still worth seeing and entertaining enough but nevertheless the movie isn't as good or funny as the rating here at the moment (7.4) would suggest.

6/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Hiding From The Law With Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 23 May 2000]

A LAUREL & HARDY Comedy Short.

On the run from the police, Stan & Ollie hide in a deserted mansion. But when an English nobleman appears, wanting to rent the place & meet the owner and servants, the Boys find themselves in ANOTHER FINE MESS.

A funny early talkie. Highlight: Stan's hilarious impersonation of Agnes the Maid. That's James Finlayson as Colonel Buckshot, Charles K. Gerard & Thelma Todd as Lord and Lady Plumtree.

A Bicycle Built For Gnu

[boblipton · 10/10 · 14 December 2020]

Laurel and Hardy are chased into Jimmy Finlayson's deserted mansion by the cops. When some Upper Class Twits come by to rent the joint, Oliver pretends to be master of the house, and Stanley makes out he is the butler.... and the maid.

It's based on a skit by Laurel's father, Arthur Jefferson, and is straight music hall farce and very funny. A lot of that is undoubtedly due to the comedic charms of the Boys, although having Thelma Todd on board doesn't hurt.

This is actually a remake. Laurel & Hardy had appeared in a silent version called DUCK SOUP a couple of years earlier.

Sadly, one of the less inspired L & H vehicles.

[The_Movie_Cat · 5/10 · 26 April 2001]

Not particularly funny Laurel and Hardy short, though it does have its moments. Seeing a curtain rail getting the better of the pair is amusing, and Stan headbutting a wall proves that the duo's timing was far greater than any of the plots.

The plot in question revolves around Stan and Ollie pretending to be a rich houseowner and his butler. This isn't as humorous as it might sound due to the leads not affecting greatly different characteristics (as Stan would in A Chump at Oxford) than their previously established personas. Even Stan's recreation as "Agnes" doesn't allow him to take on a different accent.

James Finlayson is wasted in a minor role and weirdly; the title again perpetuates the myth of Ollie's catchphrase, though here again he says "another nice mess" not the "fine" of the film's name. However, seeing the picture open with two twin girls dressed as bellboys, cringingly reading out the credits in stereo should give warning to what is one of the more glib, less inspired L & H vehicles. The final pay-off goes too far out to be "zany" and just ends up as somewhat silly and unreliant on any form of logic to be funny. Disappointing.

More than fine and far from a mess

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 18 September 2018]

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were comedic geniuses, individually and together, and their partnership was deservedly iconic and one of the best there was. They left behind a large body of work, a vast majority of it being entertaining to classic comedy, at their best they were hilarious and their best efforts were great examples of how to do comedy without being juvenile or distasteful.

Although a vast majority of Laurel and Hardy's previous efforts ranged from above average to very good ('45 Minutes from Hollywood' being the only misfire and mainly worth seeing as a curiosity piece and for historical interest, and even that wasn't a complete mess), 'Two Tars' for me was their first truly classic one with close to flawless execution. Didn't find 'Another Fine Mess' quite one of their very best, but it to me was one of their best 1930 efforts anf among the better half of their output at this point.

If there is anything that could have been done to make 'Another Fine Mess', it could have been tighter at the beginning and James Finlayson did deserve much more to do, he's good but very under-utilised. Nonetheless, 'Another Fine Mess' is very fine and not messy at all, and much better than the film it's a remake of 'Duck Soup', which was still enjoyable and one of their better early efforts.

When 'Another Fine Mess' does get going, which it does do quite quickly, it is great fun, not always hilarious but never less than very amusing, the best being classic hilarity. It is never too silly, there is a wackiness that never loses its energy and the sly wit is here, some of the material may not be new but how it's executed actually doesn't feel too familiar and it doesn't get repetitive. A lot happens yet it doesn't ever feel rushed or over-stuffed, the ending is strange but great fun.

Laurel and Hardy are on top form here, both are well used, both have material worthy of them and they're equal rather than one being funnier than the other (before Laurel tended to be funnier and more interesting than Hardy, who tended to be underused). Their chemistry feels like a partnership here too, before 'Two Tars' you were yearning for more scenes with them together but in 'Another Fine Mess' and on the most part from 'Two Tars' onwards we are far from robbed of that. Their comic timing is impeccable, especially Laurel.

'Another Fine Mess' looks good visually, is full of energy and the direction gets the best out of the stars, is at ease with the material and doesn't let it get too busy or static. The supporting players are solid, but it's Laurel and Hardy's show all the way.

Overall, near-classic Laurel and Hardy. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Laurel and Hardy Rework Old Silent to Make Classic Talkie

[springfieldrental · 8/10 · 30 August 2022]

The comedy duo of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy continued to see their popularity rise by Hal Roach Studio's short films in 1930. Their November 1930 "Another Fine Mess" demonstrates how the pair reworked old material and still made it appear fresh and hilarious.

Busily working on their first feature film, Stan and Ollie still had one short film to produce to fulfill a distribution contract. They reached up on the shelves of their previously silent films and selected their 1927 "Duck Soup," based on a play by Stanley's father, Arthur Jefferson, 'Home from the Honeymoon.' The reconstructed film, "Another Fine Mess," delivers for the first time one of Hardy's most famous lines, which has been misquoted because of this movie's title. Viewers misconstrue Oliver's quip to Stan whenever they get into trouble as, "Well, here's another fine mess you've gotten me into." WRONG! Hardy never said that-ever. What he does say is "Well, here's another NICE mess you've gotten me into."

"Another Fine Mess" is also the first film music composer Leroy Shields wrote his catchy Laurel and Hardy's distinctive title song as well as the insertion of special sound effects embedded in his score. Shields' work is recognizable in the 'Our Gang" series and other Hal Roach shorts for which he was busy composing at the time.

Producer Roach thought up a unique way of delivering the opening credits by having two female on-screen announcers read the credits instead of listing the titles. The twins Betty Mae and Beverly Crane, dressed in theater usher uniforms, were tasked in several Roach films between 1930-1931 to say the names of the production personnel and directors. This is the only Laurel and Hardy movie they appeared, but recent copies of "Another Fine Mess" have eliminated their announcements, going directly into the opening scene. Roach stopped the practice when theater owners complained their patrons were yelling back at the women, becoming quite rowdy during their intros.

"Another Fine Mess" solidified Laurel and Hardy's reputation for successfully making the transition from silent to sound. Motion Picture Magazine loved the two, proclaiming, "Right now, they are the funniest comedy team on the Talkie market, with no let down in sight."

The mansion the pair hide out in is still standing at 3500 West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles. The 1910-built villa is now home to the Peace Theological Seminary & College of Philosophy.

Surreal humour

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 9 December 2022]

ANOTHER FINE MESS is one of the boys' earliest talkies and a remake of an earlier silent feature. This one has them being forced into a mansion after the owner leaves; an aggressive cop is in pursuit of them outside so they have no choice but to impersonate the owner and his staff. What follows is a classic comedy of errors, with Laurel forced to play both butler Hives (!) and a maid while Ollie is the lord of the manor. This comedy leans towards the absurdist more than ever, nowhere more so than in the electrifying climax which takes surreal humour to the next level. James Finlayson is, as ever, joyous support.

Funny but over produced and forced

[bob the moo · 16 July 2003]

Laurel and Hardy are on the run from a police officer yet again. This time they seek refuge inside a mansion. They are getting ready to leave when they hear that the master of the house is leaving for months and has left the house to the butler and the maid to rent out. When the butler and maid leave for a week's holiday, Laurel and Hardy decide to hide out for a bit. However, when two important people come to rent the house, Hardy must play the owner while Laurel has to become both the butler and the maid!

Seeing that the name of the short was the (incorrect) phrase that everyone in the world associates with Laurel and Hardy, I assumed that this short would represent a really good film – perhaps one of their best. Sadly it is not, although it is far from a wasted 20 minutes. The opening (with twins reading the credits) was off putting and was quickly fast forwarded by myself. After this we enter into the usual territory, the short picks up once Laurel and Hardy have taken possession of the house and must pass themselves off in various roles.

It doesn't all work as well as it should. Hardy does well trying to find a games room in what is supposed to be his own house, and Laurel is funny as the butler. A running gag involving the mispronunciation of the guest's name results in the regular production of cards! What is disappointing is Laurel as the maid – he doesn't do well and the scene with him (Agnes) and the lady of the house chatting is devoid of the blank looks of confusion that Laurel is best at – instead it is silly. The conclusion is amusing but there is to much that doesn't quite work as well as it should.

Hampering the material is a real sense of overkill on the production. Every move, look and fall is accompanied with a sound effect or grand sweeping music. The duo needs neither and it only serves to make the jokes appear to be silly or weak – like they need the sound effects to make them funnier. Once or twice is cool, or used in the right places, but the overkill here is to the detriment of the film.

Overall this is an OK short but it lacks the inspiration and wit of them at their best. Here many falls and jokes are simply not delivered as well as they have done elsewhere. Sadly the over production only serves to reinforce this.

Laurel's father must have been a genius to come up with this!

[lee_eisenberg · 9/10 · 20 December 2007]

True, we expect the original fat-thin comedy team to get into crazy situations, but try this on for size: Laurel has to pose as two different people at once! When our heroes have to flee the cops, they hide in a mansion where the owner has gone on vacation. While Hardy poses as the owner to meet some prospective guests, Laurel poses as both the maid and butler. And that's just the start of their misadventures! Watching the Laurel and Hardy movies, I often wonder how they kept straight faces in the midst of everything. Certainly I almost never stopped laughing watching "Another Fine Mess". It seems very likely that Stan's and Ollie's antics may have provided much of the inspiration for the relationship between Gilligan and the Skipper.

All in all, another great one.

Superb

[leavymusic-2 · 10/10 · 13 June 2021]

Stan & Babe at top of there form !

Everything works, new music for this short and superb performers, the stunning Thelma Todd (you can f miss her) is also on great from.

Difficult to rate the best shorts of L&H but many fans and many critical papers rate Another nice mess as one of the teams finest work performed at the absolute peek of there success, with still year's. Of delight to follow.

Laurel and Hardy turn a mansion upside down

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 23 October 2020]

When a policeman chases Stan and Ollie out of a park, they sneak into a mansion from which the owner, Col. Wilburforce Buckshot, is just leaving for an Africa safari. Hiding behind drapes they overhear the butler and maid leaving for a week's cruise before renting the colonel's mansion during his absence. Before the boys can leave, a couple show up to look over the place in response to an ad. So, Laurel and Hardy assume roles to show the place.

The comedy is very good as Stan dresses up as the butler, Hives, and then as the maid, Agnes. Ollie, acting as the colonel, shows Lord Leopold Ambrose Plumtree around the place. When the colonel himself returns unexpectedly to get the bow and arrow he had forgotten, the comedy comes to a climax. This Laurel and Hardy comedy has some good lines as well as antics, for many laughs.

This short has a funny opening prologue on the screen: Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy have many ups and downs. Mr. Hardy takes charge of the upping and Mr. Laurel does most of the downing.

Here are some favorite lines.

Lord Plumtree, "Pardon me, are you any relation to the butler?" Oliver Hardy, as Col. Buckshot, "Oh, yes, yes -- they are twins. You see, one was born in Detroit and the other Mee-ami, hmm, hmm. hmm, hmm." Lord Plumtree, "I don't quite understand." Hardy, "Oh, that's all right. Neither do they."

Oliver Hardy, impersonating Col. Buckshot, "Oh Agnes - call me a cab." Stan Laurel, as Agnes, "Huh?" Hardy, "Call me a cab." Laurel, "You're a cab."

Hardy, to Lord Plumtree, "There's a picture I must show you. That's a gondola going through the Panama Canal - in Venice."

Lady Plumtree, "How many beds are there?" Laurel, as maid Agnes, "I haven't looked yet."

Lord Plumtree, "Oh, by the way, Colonel, have you any horses?" Hardy. "I'm sorry. I've just shipped all my horses to my plantation in Kentucky." Lord Plumtree, "Kentucky? What part of Kentucky do you come from?" Hardy, "Omaha. Dear old Omaha." Laurel, as Agnes, "I thought Omaha was in Wisconsin."

RAGS TO RICHES TO RAGS!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 10 August 2022]

Yet another outrageous early Laurel and Hardy sound film, and a pre-code movie if there ever was. Loafers Laurel and Hardy literally take over Colonel Buckshot's (James Finlayson) mansion when he goes away on safari. It turns out the colonel is renting it out and in walks an interesting couple, none other than Lord and Lady Plumtree (played by Charles Gerrard and Thelma Todd).

Gerrard, a popular character actor at the time, and Thelma make an ideal oddball team. The game is on as Ollie pretends to be the colonel while Stan plays Agnes, the goofy maid? There are a host of whacky (some adult!) moments and just plain silly dialogue.

Watching Hardy pretending to know how to play a piano, and especially his mugging, is classic stuff. Thelma asks Stan how many rooms the mansion has. He explains the homestead comes with a nursey--"just in case of accidents!" Gerrard tops it all off with a hilarious cackle each time the boys mess something up.

A running gag has him presenting Hardy a business card each time he mispronounces his name. You can tell the gang was having fun, and Thelma is actually caught laughing at the camera (for a quick second or two) during her Q and A session with Stan as Agnes. There are photo stills of the scene, which look like out takes.

The ending is the absolute best when outraged Finlayson unexpectedly returns -- Also one WILD street chase. Lovable Thelma followed this up with CHICKENS COME HOME. Reportedly, Stan Laurel wrote at least half the dialogue, but never took credit.

Partially remade (the maid scene with Stan) in A CHUMP AT OXFORD (1940).