Sitcom rather than slapstick. This isn't one of Stan and Ollie's best films but it's still a pretty good 3-reeler. I believe this came from a sketch developed by Laurel's father. It's certainly different, and if I remember rightly was re-worked in A Chump at Oxford.
This has its moments, particularly Stan's having to change from Butler to Maid on short notice, and Ollie's impersonation of Colonel Buckshot. If the invention level is not quite top notch it's still an amiable film, blessed by Jimmy Finlayson, who along with Edgar Kennedy surely qualifies as "The third Laurel and Hardy." There's a very nice sequence with Stan in drag getting all cosy with Thelma Todd, and some nice word-play around the constant misquoting of Lord Leopold's name. "Plumtree, Plumtree, Lord Leopold Plumtree!" He must say this at least a dozen times.
Pretty good, then, but not in the lengthy list of Laurel and Hardy true classics.
This has its moments, particularly Stan's having to change from Butler to Maid on short notice, and Ollie's impersonation of Colonel Buckshot. If the invention level is not quite top notch it's still an amiable film, blessed by Jimmy Finlayson, who along with Edgar Kennedy surely qualifies as "The third Laurel and Hardy." There's a very nice sequence with Stan in drag getting all cosy with Thelma Todd, and some nice word-play around the constant misquoting of Lord Leopold's name. "Plumtree, Plumtree, Lord Leopold Plumtree!" He must say this at least a dozen times.
Pretty good, then, but not in the lengthy list of Laurel and Hardy true classics.