Sons of the Desert

When Stan and Ollie trick their wives into thinking that they are taking a medicinal cruise while they're actually going to a convention, the wives find out the truth the hard way. This is not my favorite Laurel and Hardy. I am now beginning to think that their shtick works best in smaller doses, maybe 25 or 30 minutes. The first half of this film is really good, then it begins to sag with only a few parts really attempting to redeem it. The gag is pretty simple and does not require a full hour. That being said, I do appreciate the influence this film has had on others. As others have pointed out, it seems to have been directly lifted for a Flintstones episode. (And with the Flintstones being more in the 25-minute range, it is perhaps more effective.)

I really liked this, mostly. But it IS padded out too much, as the scenes w/ the shrewy wives kinda drag out, and you wish they'd wind it up quicker. Love Laurel and Hardy. Liked the Grand Poobah stuff. Liked the whole bit they did to get away from home, sneaking back, etc. the sinking ship, all good. Part I didn't care for was Mae Busch chucking a kitchen full of crockery at Hardy at the end. He's 300 lbs. He would squish her. I also felt the neighbour lady wasn't that great an actress, while Charley Chase just chomped down on the scenery a bit much. He was after all a fine silent comic and prob. should have stayed there. Give this *** for Laurel and Hardy, add another 1/2 if you are star-struck by all their routines. They are in top form here.

source: Sons of the Desert

I got a little bored on this one, and I don't think it is their best work. Anything they've done is better than "Utopia" but this is not too much better. I can say I cried, because of my Love for L&H I bought this movie "sight unseen" and payed full price and I was very disappointed.

Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, the two greatest laughter-makers ever to grace stage and screen (as I'm sure millions will agree) appear here in their finest and funniest feature film. This film is so full of masterful strokes of comedy that its warmth and humour will never fail to touch those who watch it - much the same as this beloved duo. I would speak for hours on this masterpiece (why it is such perfect comedy from beginning to end, in its structure, characterisation, performances, direction, editing, and so on; why it is so successful in encapsulating the fundamental innocence, craft and appeal of the greatest comedy team of all time; why it means so much to Laurel & Hardy admirers, and why it should mean so much to everyone who has ever experienced any sort of humour), if I could. But I can't. So I won't. All I ask you to do is to watch this and relish Laurel & Hardy's timeless magic. Mr Laurel & Mr Hardy, the laughter you've given to myself and countless others will never be replicated or surpassed, and is eternally appreciated. And to Stan: Neither do I too. Isn't that nice?

Stan and Ollie are part of a Freemason's lodge and take an oath to go to their annual convention in Chicago. No one has ever broken this oath in the zillion year history of the Sons of the Desert Lodge so they'd better now screw up. Only Stan and Ollie are both dominated by their wives who won't allow them to do anything with-out strict approval first. So they concoct a plan that involves pretending to go to Hawaii for a relaxing cruise but really going off to the windy city. Too bad the ship sinks on the way their and they have fake being rescued (much quicker than everyone else) when they come back from the convention. Loads of hectic hiding and digging out of deep trouble follow. Much funnier than I've made it sound. Honest!

Almost perfect! The finish isn't up to the rest of the movie, but the absolutely hilarious beginning and middle make it one of the funniest movies ever. Here are Stan and Ollie at their peak. Many of their trademark gags and takes appear, easily woven into the story, perfectly timed and crafted with comic panache. The plot- henpecked husbands sneaking off for revelry- is now rather obsolete, but that doesn't diminish the clever narrative movement. Putting Charley Chase into a small role enhanced it, and the wives were very well played. I don't rate many movies a 10, but one that gives pleasure over and over and over deserves it.

This has got to be one of the funniest movies ever made by Hollywood. The only other that comes close is Laurel and Hardy's "Way Out West." No other comedy team in the history of show business had the perfect comic timing of Stan and Oliver, not even the inimitable teams of Abbott and Costello or Martin and Lewis. Stan and Oliver had appeared separately in several films before they were teamed. Although they were both multi-talented (Oliver was one of the best singers around) and individually funny, together they broke all the comedic barriers. No such chemistry has existed between two entertainers before or since. Mel Brooks said it best, "Dying is easy. Comedy, that's difficult." This time around the boys attempt to slip away from their domineering wives (Only Stan would choose a mate that was one of the best duck hunters around and thus a crack shot with a gun) to attend a convention of the illustrious "Sons of the Desert" in Chicago to hear the "exhausted" ruler speak, as Stan calls him. Oliver feigns illness, getting Stan to bring a fake doctor to advise a sea cruise to Honululu. Only Stan could make opening a door to exit a room excruciatingly funny. As usual Stan bungles it all and gets a Veternerian instead who just happens to bring his dogs along on the house call. The ruse works after a few hilarious scenes involved Oliver and the tub of hot water in which his feet are soaking. The boys ultimately end up in Chicago. The boat to Hawaii sinks and with the sinking of the ship, the boys' fabrication also fills with water. As good as Stan and Oliver were, Charlie Chase, an almost forgotten genius of slapstick, nearly steals the show from the boys as a practical joker who just happens to have a sister who lives at the same address as Oliver Hardy lives. Chase was more than a match for the two and their scenes together represent the apex of their careers. Stan and Ollie were not just gifted visual comics, their repartee with each other was exemplary. The lines though supposedly written by others would not have the same humorous effect if spoken by anyone else. I'm sure much of the dialog was added to or ad-libbed by the team. Stan tries to rationalize the situation, "Well if she didn't go to the mountains, then Mohammad would have to come here." Ollie jumps right in, "What has Mohammad got to do with my wife?" To read more of the brilliant lines, note IMDb's quotes taken from "Sons of the Desert." If you enjoy "Sons of the Desert," by all means watch "Way Out West." The two represent Laurel and Hardy at their best. There are several Laurel and Hardy shorts that come close to matching the two feature length features, especially the Academy award winning "The Music Box."

Ollie wants to attend the annual convention of THE SONS OF THE DESERT in Chicago & have lodge brother Stan go with him. Their wives, however, have other plans. From such tiny acorns of humor do mighty oaks of hilarity grow... This is a wonderfully funny film, with the Boys at their very best. Watch Stan's face as he eats the wax apple, or Ollie as he attempts to stand-up to his formidable spouse. The Sons themselves are a spoof of every fraternal organization that's ever taken itself too seriously. Hilarious Charley Chase is the epitome of every obnoxious conventioneer you've ever tried to avoid. Mae Busch & Dorothy Christy are good fun as the Boys' wives, while Lucien Littlefield scores as a veterinarian called in to doctor Ollie. Extra-sharp movie mavens will spot Charlie Hall as one of the waiters at the beginning of the 'Honolulu Baby' sequence; they will also recognize the voice of Billy Gilbert as the steamship official giving the announcement about the shipwreck survivors.

Stan Laural and Oliver Hardy belong to a strange all-male organization called Sons of the Desert. They plan to attend an annual convention in Chicago. Unfortunately their loud, obnoxious, domineering wives won't let them go. So Hardy pretends he's sick and has to go to Honolulu (!!!) to recover with Laurel going with him. Instead they sneak off to Chicago...and things go wrong. I have never seen a Laurel and Hardy film in my life so I decided to start with what is considered that best. THIS is their best???? I didn't laugh (or smile) once. I found the humor VERY dated, infantile and extremely violent. I'm not a fan of violent slapstick and that's primarily what this is. Also the sexual politics here are extremely dated with all the women portrayed as controlling witches. I didn't even like Laurel and Hardy themselves! Their nonstop mugging got tiresome and I felt like hitting Laurel when he did that incredibly loud, whiny, unfunny "crying". Charley Chase was even WORSE as a "hilarious" prankster at the convention. However I do admit that Mae Busch did have some moments as Hardy's wife. I realize there are people who love these two. Great! But I just don't like their type of comedy. I was bored and kept looking at my watch (and this movie is only 69 minutes!). I give this a 1.