Hats Off (1927)

Handymen (Laurel & Hardy) deliver a cumbersome washing machine to a house fronted by a huge flight of stairs.

Director:

Hal Yates

Writer:

H.M. Walker (titles)

Stars:

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Anita Garvin

Cast

Cast overview:
Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie
Anita Garvin	...	Customer at top of stairs
Dorothy Coburn	...	Vision
James Finlayson	...	Proprietor, Kwickway Washing Machine Co.
Chet Brandenburg	...	Pedestrian #1
Sam Lufkin	...	Pedestrian #2
Ham Kinsey	...	Pedestrian #3

Storyline

Laurel and Hardy have just received fine jobs at Kwickway Washing Machine Co. where their first assignment is to go door to door trying to sell a washing machine. They stop at a high rise of terraced steps and see a lady waving to them, they think: a customer, so they carry the washing machine up the stairs and all she wants to know is if they would mail a letter for her. So the boys carry the washing machine back down the steps, stumble over themselves and their hats fly off. They retrieve them and put them on the wrong heads. They end up carrying the washing machine up and down the steps a few times and losing their hats. Then soon wind up in the street where everyone engages into a hat war. Soon the police arrive and cart off everyone but Stan and Ollie, who put on the wrong hats again.

---

Plot Keywords:

washing machine | stairs | two reeler | lost film

---

Taglines:

The story of two boys who figure that the world owes them a living-but is about thirty-five years behind in the payments.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Short

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 November 1927 (USA)

Also Known As:

Giù i cappelli

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

20 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remade as The Music Box (1932)

User Reviews

A similar comedy film directed by the same director

We all would like to watch Laurel & Hardy's "Hats Off." There are a series of photographs that still survive that depict some of the scenes. The book, "Laurel & Hardy" by John McCabe, Al Kilgore and Richard Bann show some of the gags that were in the film. In the RKO "Average Man" comedy; "It's Your Move," is the closest look we'll likely ever see of some of the same sight gags. Edgar Kennedy stars, he and his brother-in-law (Jack Rice) carry a washing machine up a long flight of stairs, just like L&H did. The most significant aspect about it; it was directed by Hal Yates, the same director of "Hats Off." Unfortunately, the long flight of stairs were not the same ones used in "Hats Off" and the later "The Music Box." Bill Cassara author-"Edgar Kennedy-Master of the Slow Burn"