Flying Elephants (1928)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Frank Butler

Writers:

Hal Roach (story)
H.M. Walker (titles)

Release Date:

12 February 1928 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

Laurel & Hardy, in pre-historic times, vie for the hand of the same Stone Age beauty.

Plot Keywords:

Daughter | Toothache | Laurel And Hardy | Goat | Prehistoric Animal

Cast

Stan Laurel	...	Little Twinkle Star
Oliver Hardy	...	Mighty Giant
James Finlayson	...	Saxophonus
Edna Marion	...	Cavewoman
Dorothy Coburn	...	Gorgeous Wrestler
Viola Richard	...	Blushing Rose
Fay Lanphier
Budd Fine	...	Hulking Caveman
Tiny Sandford	...	Hulking Caveman
Leo Willis	...	Fisherman

Also Known As:

Were Women Always Wild? (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:17 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Filming Locations:

Moapa, Nevada, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

Edna Marion appears in publicity stills for this film, but her scenes were sadly cut prior to the film's release.

Movie Connections:

Edited into The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy (1968)

Perhaps the silliest Laurel & Hardy movie around.

This is perhaps the Laurel & Hardy movie with the most silliest and random humor in it.

The movie has a silly premise and it is entirely set in the Stone Age. This movie perhaps was a sort of experiment to see how the audience would react to a Laurel & Hardy movie that was not set in the 20th century and featured some almost cartoon like humor. In my opinion it's a rather failed experience. Although the movie does entertain, it really misses the Laurel & Hardy touch. It makes this movie basically just as good (or bad) as any other '20's slapstick movie.

Although the movie is simple and silly, it certainly is no bad movie to watch. It has some real good funny moments in it, especially the scene in which the James Finlayson character gets thrown of the mountain is priceless but overall it still is a pretty simple movie that is too odd and different to please the most hardened Laurel & Hardy fans.

The comedy seems to be very random, just like is the case in animated cartoons. Probably the reason why this is the silliest Laurel & Hardy movie around. It also doesn't make the movie the most consistent Laurel & Hardy comedy short around.

To be honest the title cards were often funnier to read than it was to watch this movie. Not a really a good or common thing for a Laurel & Hardy movie.

Stan Laurel does play a pretty good and very different role. It shows his variety as an actor and he shows that he can be funny, no matter what sort of role he plays. When he enters the screen the movie becomes truly entertaining and fun to watch. It's too bad that he gets introduced rather late into the movie. The movie also features Laurel & Hardy regular James Finlayson, who doesn't play a very big or significant but still fun role. Further more the movie is mostly filled with some pretty looking young cave-women.

A very silly movie. Beware not to expect a regular early Laurel & Hardy silent comedy short.

6/10