The Second 100 Years (1927)

Two convicts (Laurel & Hardy), in an escape attempt, tunnel into the warden's office, instead. They then disguise themselves as painters and walk out the front gate. Needing new clothes, ... See full summary »

Director:

Fred Guiol

Writers:

Leo McCarey (story), H.M. Walker (titles)

Stars:

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charlie Hall

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stan Laurel	...	Little Goofy
Oliver Hardy	...	Big Goofy
Charlie Hall	...	Convict
James Finlayson	...	Gov. Browne Van Dyke
Otto Fries	...	Lecoque
Rosemary Theby	...	Dinner Guest
Ellinor Vanderveer	...	Countess de Cognac (as Ellinor Van der Veer)
Dorothy Coburn	...	Flapper
Tiny Sandford	...	Guard
William Gillespie	...	Extra
Frank Brownlee	...	Prison Warden
Edgar Dearing	...	Officer
Charles A. Bachman	...	Officer
Bob O'Connor	...	Voitrex (as Bob O'Conor)
Eugene Pallette	...	Dinner Guest

Storyline

Two convicts (Laurel & Hardy), in an escape attempt, tunnel into the warden's office, instead. They then disguise themselves as painters and walk out the front gate. Needing new clothes, they steal suits from visiting dignitaries, take their places in a limousine, and are delivered back to the same prison for a tour.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | painting | time in title | cherry | two reeler | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1927 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dick und Doof: Dem Henker entronnen

Filming Locations:

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant, Los Angeles, 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?

Trivia

Laurel and Hardy's heads were shaved for their appearance in this film, and their hair had not yet grown back in their roles in Max Davidson's Call of the Cuckoos (1927), released a week after this film.

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Connections

Featured in 4 Clowns (1970)

User Reviews

Have seen a lot better

'The Second 100 Years' is a nice silent comedy from Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, but it is only nice, nothing more. The short start in jail where the two share a cell. They are about to escape through a tunnel. Their plan fails so they have to come up with something else. They pretend to be painters to get out of jail. After that, to escape a police officer they steal clothes from two French prison inspectors. Of course the inspectors were on their way to the prison Laurel and Hardy just escaped from.

The first part of this short has some laughs. The funny thing here is that not Laurel and Hardy are that funny, but the written words on screen between scenes. The middle part, when they are painters, is the best. While the police officer is following them they paint everything white on their way, including a certain person that could be offensive to some. Unfortunately it ends with a sequence that plays too long and therefore becomes dull.

I guess this could be a nice comedy short for fans of silent films or simply Laurel and Hardy comedies. I liked it up to a point, but compared to most other films I have seen from the two comedians this was a little disappointing.