This short Laurel and Hardy film deserves a look just because it dared to be different! It is so unlike all their other films because the plot is so very, very dark! Stan and Ollie answer a personals ad concerning a lonely RICH widow who wants to wed. Inexplicably, she chooses Ollie from among all the letters. It turns out that she has already married seven other Olivers and she wants to marry any man with this name. Despite the deal being way too good to be true, Ollie thinks he's got it made,...that is until he arrives at the lady's mansion. There, he finds that the woman and her servant are completely insane! Fortunately, Stanley soon arrives, but he doesn't seem to notice how crazy their host and butler are. When the butler begins shuffling imaginary cards and doing tricks with them, Stan starts to believe it's real. This is pretty cute, however the whole 'imaginary' portion of the film is way, way too long and way over-done. Instead of just relying on this quick routine, they then go to dinner--where all the food and drink is imaginary. Of course, the butler and his lady think it's real and the boys are a bit put off by the dinner and realize they're in for trouble unless they can escape. But, to have this whole invisible food and cards to occupy so much of the film is a mistake--it's like beating a dead horse after a while since it simply goes on too long.
Fortunately, this bit is the only negative aspect of the film. The rest of the story is exciting and lots of fun--with a lot of laughs every time Stanley starts talking. His mindless prattle is wonderful--among the best lines in any of their films. If you can speed past the poor section of the movie in the middle, you'll be rewarded by some of the team's better bits.
Fortunately, this bit is the only negative aspect of the film. The rest of the story is exciting and lots of fun--with a lot of laughs every time Stanley starts talking. His mindless prattle is wonderful--among the best lines in any of their films. If you can speed past the poor section of the movie in the middle, you'll be rewarded by some of the team's better bits.