Our Wife (1931)

Here we have "Our Wife", another Stan and Ollie short film from their sound days and Horne and Walker worked with them on several occasions like they did here. It runs for 20 minutes like some of the others and it is in black-and-white of course as it is over 85 years already,. Don't be fooled by versions where color was added later on. This one here goes more into situational comedy like the long Stan translating/interpreting scene than into (violent) slapstick Stooges style like some of their others and I liked it. I also liked that romance played a bigger part here than usual with Laurel and Hardy films as normally you just see their mean bullying wives, but there seems to be some real affection for the chubby chick by Hardy. Now they only need to overcome some truly high obstacles like the girl's father not too amused about her man of choice and eventuallöy in a brief sequence a short-sighted priest. Sure there are some unrealistic and unfunny reactions like the woman in the end punching Stan and the film goes over the top at times too, which was a common problem for movies back then, but I still believe that story-wise and comedy-wise this one has to offer more positive than negative. That's why it is among the works from S&O's sound days that I like more than other and that I also give a thumbs-up. Sure greatness may not have been achieved here and it is a relatively simple story, but we need to keep in mind it also is just a 20-minute movie. Overall a positive recommendation for this one. Go see it if you are into old movies, unless you already did as this is certainly not among Stan and Ollue's least seen, not among their most known either though.

Chubby rich girl Babe London is all giddy because it's her wedding day, that is she thinks until her father James Finlayson sees the photo of her groom: Oliver Hardy. For what reason, we don't know, but let's just presume it's simply because it's Mr. Hardy. After Laurel practically destroys Oliver's attempts to get ready, they have an even more difficult time getting Babe out of her home and into Laurel's tiny little car. Then it's off to justice of the peace Ben Turpin's for an even bigger mix-up. The visual gags are a big delight, starting with the goofy pictures of the plump bride and groom to be. Oliver gets burnt thanks to a toxic bottle of perfume and eventually literally brings out the dining room and all the intended decorations. A comic delight from start to finish, it made me want to see more of the charming Ms. London.

This is one of my favorites. It has lots of fun moments and a great comical premise that features some of the most fun characters ever appeared in a Laurel & Hardy movie.The movie really has a great comical story. Oliver is planning to get married and starts making arrangement at home, which of course he, with the help of his good pal Stanley totally messes things up. However when the father of the bride (James Finlayson) she's a picture of the man his daughter is getting married to, he forbids the wedding (who can blame him). For Oliver there is only one solution, elope with his bride so they can get secretly married, with the help from Stanley. But of course nothing is as easy as it seems especially not with Stan helping out.The story provides the movie with multiple great and hilarious comical sequence and moments. There are really moments in the movie that made me laugh out loud. The movie is also made fun thanks to its fine comedy characters. Of course James 'D'oh' Finlayson is great and his comical timing is excellent. Fun was Babe London as the bride-to-be, who looks disturbingly a lot like Oliver Hardy. At the end of the movie Ben Turpin also shows up as the cross-eyed Justice of the Peace, who provides the movie with even more and harder laughs and a wonderful fun finale. The movie provides some great non-stop laughs, as the movie is fast paced and features lots of quick slapstick moments from the comedy duo and the other characters (Finlayson mostly, who also gets to lots of comedy work in this one.). The movie is set at quite many different locations for Laurel & Hardy standards but it works out for this movie, since the story and slapstick of the movie are so well constructed. They're of course wonderfully timed and executed by the boys and the rest of the supporting cast- and directed by Laurel & Hardy specialist James W. Horne.A great fun comedy short that provides some real solid guaranteed laughs!9/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

On the day of Hardy's wedding, spirits are high, Laurel even has a bath. However when the bride's father sees a picture of the intended groom he forbids the wedding. Hardy plans to elope with his bride and sends Laurel to get a car. When their plans are exposed it is a race to get to a JP to perform the ceremony.A lively short that sticks quite closely to it's plot without too much in the way of side plots acting as filler. The main jokes here come from physical work without too much in the way of banter from the duo. This is fine though, as much of it is good. Two major falls in particular are almost inspired – witness Finlayson's falls just after seeing Hardy's photo, culminating in a dive down some stairs, and then Hardy taken down an entire room with one trip.The plot fizzles out a little towards the end as there is no real physical stuff in the final few minutes and nothing of value really replaces it, however for the majority it is very funny. Laurel and Hardy are good value, although Laurel is in the background a little for this one. Hardy's falls take the focus and he does well indeed. The high point of the film for me was hearing Finlayson `d'oh'ing more than usual – truly the original Homer!Overall this is an enjoyable short – especially if you like their pratfalls more than their banter.