That's Another Fine Mess

Beau Hunks
Featured on Laurel and Hardy volume 4: Ollie and Matrimony
Originally released December 12th 1931

These Universal Laurel and Hardy DVD's are excellent - There are 20 discs in the entire collection and I've managed to get hold of 16 of them thus far and will complete my collection when I come across the missing titles. Each disc usually offers episodes in both original versions and colourised versions.
Purists always knock the colourised versions and they may have a point - the skin tones can appear odd for a start but I watch the colour versions when available - there's no particular reason for this other than the fact I can still enjoy them in their new colour versions.

The colour version on this disc runs almost a minute longer than the black and white version though there are no extra scenes. This is probably due to the film being transferred at a slower rate during the colouring process.

Check out the same frame to the left in its original form and in the colourised version. Note this still is not from Beau Hunks but Our Wife which is also on the Ollie and Matrimony disc.

Beau Hunks (also known as Beau Chumps in the UK) sees Stan and Ollie run away to join the foreign legion after Ollie's heart is broken by his beloved Jessie Wessie. We never actually see the woman who broke Ollie's heart by breaking up with him just as they are about to be married but the woman in the picture he carries is Jean Harlow. It's a running gag throughout the film that every legionnaire seems to be carrying the same picture. When this film was originally released Harlow was a big star in her own right, the premier sex symbol of the Thirties in fact, and so it must have been a gag for the producers to use the shot from one of her old Hal Roach comedy appearances. A gag that will sometimes go over the head of modern viewers but not a sad old film buff like me.

Comic hi jinks ensure and as well as the usual physical comedy there is some great Laurel and Hardy'esque dialogue.

Commander: Why did you come here?

Stanley: We came here to forget.

Commander: To forget, forget what?

Stanley: I forgot.

The Laurel and Hardy comedies have always reduced me to tears of laughter and they still have the power to do that. They are so corny, often obvious, but to my mind there has never been a better comedy double act. Man, I grew up watching these shown in the early evening slot on BBC2 and it's such a pity they are so rarely shown these days. In fact I seem to remember there was also a Laurel and Hardy cartoon series that often ran on BBC1. Watching them marching through the desert, Ollie unknowingly also having Stan's equipment in his already over loaded back pack, or witnessing them defending a fort from bloodthirsty and shoeless bandits with drawing pins - these comedies are certainly timeless and appeal to all ages.