Laurel & Hardy: Sons of the Desert / TV Show | Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy

Laurel & Hardy: Sons of the Desert / TV Show | Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy | For a case of

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Laurel & Hardy: So...

	Laurel & Hardy: Sons of the Desert / TV Show Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy Starz / Anchor Bay, 1997 average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A LAUREL & HARDY CLASSIC!

Sons Of The Desert is considered to be their best feature film.I can understand why.This is definetly one of their funniest feature films.Laurel & Hardy's feature films often lack the ongoing belly laughs of their short films.Sons Of The Desert,Pack Up Your Troubles,The Devil's Brother,BlockHeads,Saps At Sea and The Big Noise are the exceptions.This movie in particular,is also one of Stan and Ollie's most entertaining films.Actor Ty Parvis's musical number"Honolulu Baby"is an unforgettable classic.Sons Of The Desert is a must see for fans of Stan and Ollie.My collection of L&H movies wouldn't be complete without this one.

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For a case of

"Honesty is the best politics," so sez Stan in their best ever comedy that is places The Boys at the height of '30s male political correctness ... bossy wives, smoking, drinking in Prohibition, male bonding clubs (i.e. the Shriners*), etc - how's that for "scholarly overtones"? In order to go to a Sons of the Desert convention in Chicago Ollie fakes Canus Delirious, as diagnosed by a doctor brought in by Stan - a veterinarian - because Stan "didn't think his religion made any difference." As usual Stan's malapropisms abound.

One of the things that makes this film different is that The Boys' marriages are given some depth so that we can see some attraction to each mate. The wives have the chemistry of a Thelma and Louise, and just as deadly. Mae Busch is softened in blond hair and by her genuine care for her sick and drowning Ollie...but don't push it or pay the cost of a new set of china, pots and pans, and a black eye. Dorothy Christy, Sugar, makes us glad that she is Stan's wife with her sense of forgiveness and great taste in lounging attire.

My idea of decorating has always been Early Laurel and Hardy (try telling this to a Margret Dumont-type decorator), and Sugar's Egyptian decor, made popular from the recent discovery of King Tuts tomb, makes us pea-green with envy for a home as cozy as two peas in a pod..ah. In costuming, the Honolulu Babies' shimmering hula outfits are only rivaled by Marilyn Monroe's "...Hot" nightclub dress. My fourteen year old, who has been reared on L&H, constantly asks if these styles were acceptable in the '30s (see 'International House'). What can a mother say, except "Zowie! " This could only be in pre-code Hal Roach.

The scripting is perfectly tight ('Some Like it Hot,' 'The Producers,' 'My Cousin Vinny,' and 'Clueless' almost achieved this too), and it's logic flows from one seamless scene to another. This is one reason for my rating of perfection; that and it's just plain fun. And The Boys have a lot of fun, for once, in which we can share; such as the uninhibited joy of dancing in the street, twirling umbrellas, admiring pretty girls, making telephone calls to long lost sisters, or singing that musical masterpiece "Honolulu Baby" accompanied by a rousing ukelele. L&H are the epitome of American humor: the worse the situation the funnier it is, but even harder to achieve is the humor of zaniness; Sons of the Desert has it all.

*I want to put in a word for the Shriners on which the movie was based, and in which my father was Potentate in San Francisco. He was never an exhausted ruler, for nobody has the invigorating parties of the Shriners (not even Kentuckians at the Derby). Men raised around the turn of the last century were closer to life and death, so life had to be made more fun; it's saving grace was humor and every household had it. All men of prominence were Masons and/or Shriners from Mason Thomas Jefferson to Shriner Roy Rogers (whose idea of a good time was jumping up and down on the couch with his numerous kids). These men of fraternity were raised on the tradition of anything goes and good will. The Shrine exemplifies the good hearts of the Boys with the great philanthropy of helping sick kids for free while continuing the occult mysteries of the Egyptians, and they get to wear great costumes. If any Son of the Desert (the official L&H Appreciation Society) ever wants to wear their fez more often and act silly like the Boys for real, clown with the Shrine. At the least it would do for the Sons of the Desert and the local Shrine clubs to get together for a great movie...This one is tailor made.

Honolulu Baby
I, Charita, can be seen on You Tube as Ty Parvis sings to me in Sons of the Desert. And if this doesn't make you buy the video/DVD, nothing will.
[...]

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Best of Laurel and Hardy

I have always liked this comedy, and it stands up well over time. Sons of the Desert is the lodge that Laurel and Hardy belong to (does this look like Shriners and a Shriners Convention?). The local lodge wants its members to go to the annual convention. Stan has no problem getting an OK from his wife, but Ollie thinks he has to sneak away. As usual, Ollie gets them into trouble.

Needless to say, their wives discover they are at the convention and not where they are supposed to be, according to what the wives were told by Stan and Ollie. There are some funny scenes when the men return home and try to sneak in.

There are also some classic scenes in the motion picture, including Stan eating the wax fruit. Stan Laurel could turn almost anything into comedy.

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One Of "The Boys" Best!

"Sons of the Desert" is often reguarded as one of if not the best film made by "the boys". It's thought that even if you've never seen a Laurel & Hardy movie you would still be able to understand the relationship the two characters had. And maybe that's true. Made in 1933, "the boys" had already established their characters. And there was plenty of chemistry.

When first released many critics cited that "Sons of the Desert" was a remake of they're earlier short "We Faw Down", which is available on "The Lost Films Of Laurel & Hardy Vol.3" just incase you're interested to compare the two. The basic idea of the movie is the same. That of the boys lying to their wives saying they will be in one place instead of another only to then find out, the place they were suppose to be at suffered a terrible accident.

"Sons of the Desert" has "the boys" as members of a club called the sons of the desert. There is going to be a convention in Chicago, and NEVER in the history of the club has a single member not attended. But "the boys" have already made plans with their wives to go on a vacation. Now they have to come up with an excuse to not go on the vaction. If you're a true Laurel & Hardy fan you can probably think of another short "the boys" made that sounds familiar; "Be Big!".

There is a lot of fun to be had with this movie. This along with "Way Out West" and "The Devil's Brother" would be my choice for their best films. There are some memorable moments, Oliver faking a sickness. Stanley calling a veterinarian to examen Oliver lol. Claiming he's cheaper. And a few other gags but I don't want to give them away.

If you've never seen a Laurel & Hardy film this wouldn't be a bad place to start. I've already mentioned two other films to watch after this one if you enjoy it, but, I personally think their short subjects show them sometimes in better form. The often considered classic "Music Box" is one to watch. And try to get hold of "Below Zero", "Brats", "Helpmates", "Going Bye-Bye!", "County Hospital" & "The Chimp" those are just a few of my favorites.

Bottom-line: Often considered "the boys" best film it is definitely one of their best. Everything was in place by the time this was made. They understood their characters, the timing was perfect and each played off the other so well. This is truly classic comedy. The way it should be!

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

recommendations

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