Early to Bed (1928) User Reviews

Stan vs. Ollie, or: Money Changes Everything

[wmorrow59 · 6/10 · 28 November 2004]

This early Laurel & Hardy comedy is something of an oddity, and although fans will want to see it at least once Early to Bed is not one of the team's more entertaining efforts. Moreover, for anyone who cares about Laurel & Hardy, that is, anyone who regards the characters they portray with fondness, this film could well be a disturbing, unpleasant experience. I'm a lifelong L&H fan and enjoy most of their output, but seeing the boys' friendship go sour in Early to Bed feels like watching helplessly while two old friends get into a vicious fistfight.

By the time this film was made the guys had developed the screen personae we all remember, complete with derbies and shabby-genteel suits. More to the point, their childlike personalities and relationship with each other were pretty well established, as we observe in the opening scene. Stan and Ollie sit on a park bench with a scruffy little dog called Buster; they may be homeless, but they aren't starving and their world is somehow in harmony. But when Ollie learns he has inherited a fortune, and magnanimously allows Stan to become his butler, things get seriously out of whack, for it quickly becomes obvious that prosperity does not bring out the best in Mr. Hardy.

For the next several scenes (which take place after Ollie has acquired a big house and filled it with possessions), we watch with growing dismay as Ollie, now a drunken playboy, torments his conscientious servant. Ollie locks Stan out of the house, bops him on the head and laughs, chases him, and pours water on him in his bed. Understandably, Stan becomes increasingly upset and exasperated with the new order of things, although he's expected to maintain decorum and address his tormentor as "Sir." These scenes are more pathetic than funny, and the (generally under-appreciated) acting skill of both men makes matters worse, for Ollie's gleeful sadism seems just as real as Stan's deepening sense of humiliation. It's only when Stan finally reaches the limit of his tolerance and retaliates that the film becomes more satisfying, for we all enjoy seeing a worm turn, and God knows Ollie deserves a comeuppance. Nevertheless, in the end this movie leaves a rather disagreeable aftertaste.

The best thing in Early to Bed is a sequence involving an ornate indoor fountain that graces the Hardy mansion, decorated with cherubs designed to resemble Ollie. The fountain becomes the climactic setting for Stan's revenge, and the boys' implied reconciliation. (The gag is a reworking of a sequence in a Mabel Normand comedy entitled Should Men Walk Home?, released a year earlier, with Oliver Hardy in a supporting role.) While this sequence is clever in its own right, the amusing egotism of the fountain's design also offers a neat satirical comment on the Nouveau Riche. The scene works well as a stand-alone excerpt in Robert Youngson's compilation The Further Perils of Laurel & Hardy. In the context of Early to Bed the fountain sequence is certainly the highlight, and the best reason to watch in the first place.

A Dapper, Sadistic Hardy

[theowinthrop · 6/10 · 22 July 2006]

As a curiosity, EARLY TO BED is one of the oddest films of Laurel and Hardy. It is not one of the funniest of the boys' films - with good reason. Hardy has to be chief victim of the two because he is so pretentious, and he has to be victim by the actions of his close friend Laurel (who does not know his actions are going to hurt Hardy). But Stan rarely, if ever, purposely attacks Hardy - unless he is bullied by Hardy beyond endurance. In some of their shorts he does rebel and lash back at Hardy. But it usually is very brief in duration.

The general view of Oliver Hardy is that he is just as dumb as Stan Laurel but pretentious. That's true, but if either of them happen to have any social position (except in A CHUMP AT OXFORD, where Stan turns out to be a brainy Oxford student and nobleman) it is Hardy. He is a successful businessman turned reform candidate for Mayor in one short, and an apparently wealthy stock speculator turned bridegroom in a second film. In a third film he masquerades as a wealthy hunter and home owner with Stan as the upstairs maid. This is tied to his physical presence and southern courtly behavior. But in all these shorts (except the one where Ollie is an impostor) Stan is a business associate or friend of Ollie's. It is only in EARLY TO BED that we see the actual effect of Ollie getting rich and how it changes his relationship with Stan.

For when he gets rich Ollie gets mean. He enjoys the good life (including a wardrobe that is far more like that of a man about town than the typical derby and wrinkled suit that Ollie wears). He is something of an art collector. And he can only see his pal Stan as a servant. Stan accepts the offer to be Ollie's servant, but probably figured that Ollie would treat him as a pal and close associate. Instead Ollie plays practical jokes, like ringing the doorbell, hiding, while Stan goes outside to see who rang, and then locking Stan out.

Stan puts up with this and more painful and annoying jokes, until he finally gets tired and tells Ollie he's quitting. Ollie refuses to let him (he considers Stan his possession too), and Stan accidentally knocks over one of Ollie's art treasures. It horrifies Ollie, and Stan starts purposely destroying items in Ollie's house. He also chases Hardy, who hides (as has pointed out) in an ornate fountain that has cherubs with Hardy's head sprouting water. Ollie tries to keep up a stream of water, but can't after awhile. Stan than hits him on the head to see if the head is jammed or not. And Hardy releases more water from his mouth!

It is, as most of the comments here say, a rather odd film. It has some moments of humor, but the central business of the story is so contrary to what we expect from Stan and Ollie that it leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. As most say on this thread, see the film for completeness, but you don't have to see it again afterward.

Ollie, the super-sadist!!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 17 November 2006]

The film begins with Stan and Ollie sitting in the park with their dog. Ollie is reading his mail and to his surprise, he's been left a large inheritance. Ollie agrees to take Stan to live with him provided he become his butler (gee, thanks). However, it soon becomes obvious that the money has changed Ollie. He is now a drunk jerk who delights in making Stan's life a living hell.

You could really tell that this was an early Laurel and Hardy film because the basic chemistry that made them such a lovable team isn't present in this film. In fact, such a film probably NEVER would have been made by the boys if the script had been written just a year or two later. That's because the "Laurel and Hardy formula" never would have allowed Ollie to be THIS mean and unrepentant. Sure, Ollie might have taken advantage of his friend occasionally, but he never would have taken pleasure in tormenting Stanley--it just NEVER would have happened. However, the teaming of the two was still relatively recent in 1928 and so this formula was still in flux.

While the film is indeed funny and original, fans of the team might be very disturbed by the evil Ollie. I didn't so much mind it myself (after all, it was funny in a "black" sort of way), but did feel taken aback by it! Not a great film by any stretch and it could have been better if there was any sign that Ollie was the least bit sorry for his actions--this tough edge did hinder the film from being a bit better, that's for sure.

Laurel and Hardy's conflicting moods clash: very funny, or pathetic?

[weezeralfalfa · 7/10 · 8 October 2018]

In contrast to nearly all the other reviews, I find Stan somewhat culpable for the fiasco of their destructive evening together on Ollie's birthday, in this L&H silent comedy short. Obviously, Ollie has been out celebrating the occasion, and is still full of exuberant, if slightly tipsy, energy when he arrives home. He decides to play a prank on his butler: Stan, ringing the doorbell, then hiding behind a bush, to sneak into the house when Laurel goes searching. He locks Stan out, and taunts him from a little door on the front door. Eventually, he lets him in. But, Stan is in no mood for pranks, feeling it would be undignified for him to participate in some horsing around. He doesn't even smile at Ollie's prank. Like a bad kid, Stan tells Ollie he needs to go to bed. But Ollie will have none of it, telling Stan he will have to catch him, to make him go to bed. Stan does catch him and they have a wrestling match, which Ollie wins. Stan complains: "I was only trying to do my duty". But, clearly, in Ollie's mind, his duty of the moment is to go along with Ollie's desire for fun. In defiance of Ollie, Stan decides to go to bed himself. But, again, Ollie conspires not to let him, turning on the lights, and pouring water on his bed. Stan has had enough, and declares that he is leaving in the morning. Ollie replies that he won't let him. Stan retorts that he will make Ollie fire him. In my judgement, he should have just left, instead of destroying many things. But, then, we wouldn't have had as much fun. Kids, especially, like to see such maihem. At first, Ollie laughs at Stan's destruction, but soon changes his tune when the carnage begins to accumulate. When Ollie concludes that Stan has gone mad, he runs from him, jumping in the fountain, which has a number of cherub-like heads resembling Ollie's head. Stan finds him, and begins hitting him with a fireplace ash shovel. This goes on for some time, until Ollie knocks off one of the look-alike heads, and puts his own head in it's place, spouting water from his mouth, like the others. Stan is perplexed.. Eventually, Ollie ends the charade, and offers to call a truce and shake hands. Stan reluctantly agrees. Now comes the cruelest thing Ollie does. He extends his right hand to shake, and when Stan does, he moves it and musses Stan's hair, followed by pushing him into the fountain., laughing himself silly, as he hits Stan on the head with the fireplace shovel.. Clearly, he hadn't changed his prankster mood at all. I think this was a poor, if amusing, ending..,.......Buster, a small dog, is a cute addition in the first half of the film. In the beginning, Ollie, Stan, and Buster are sitting on a park bench. Ollie opens his mail, gives the empty envelope to Stan, who gives it to Buster, who deposits it in the trash can........See it at YouTube

Laurel finds out that revenge is sweet.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 12 November 2019]

I wouldn't call this one of the better Laurel and Hardy shorts, silent or Taki, but it certainly has a point. In a sense, they reverse the roles that audiences worldwide have known them for Laurel the buffoon and Hardy the serious one accidentally creating all sorts of trouble.

Here, Oliver inherits a fortune and moving into a huge estate agrees to make Stanley his Butler. But it is very apparent that Oliver has no idea of how to be a wealthy sophisticated gentleman. he comes home drunk and proceeded to play all sorts of silly pranks on Laurel, making him infuriated. Another evening, he wakes Laurel up and irritates him further, causing Laurel to say that he is quitting the next day. But Oliver isn't accepting his resignation and this leaves Laurel to make a decision of how to get himself fired.

Other than the dog Buster, Laurel and Hardy are the only two characters in this, and while there are some funny moments, it is dark and disturbing, and Oliver shows a dangerous bullying obsession with keeping Laurel around. it is obvious that Hardy's face will eventually end up as one of the gargoyles on a fountain (as they look incredibly alike), but even that gag falls sort of flat. I just wish that Laurel had gone a step further in his revenge against Hardy's obnoxiousness as this is one of the few times you actually get to see him being smart and not a silly nitwit.

Role Reversal

[JoeytheBrit · 6/10 · 25 July 2009]

This is an early Laurel & Hardy vehicle of curiosity value because it is quite clear that the boys are in the very early stages of their joint career, and their basic characters and relationship have yet to be cemented. It's Ollie Hardy who is the annoying child of the two in this silent short - although, unlike Laurel in later films, Ollie goes out of his way to be deliberately annoying to Stan, whom he has employed as a butler after he inherits a fortune from his uncle.

Although it's strange to see their roles essentially reversed, the film does have some funny moments. Roach clearly had enough faith in the boys' ability to work together with solid results to cast them here with no supporting actors (other than a dog called Buster) and this at least pays off, even if they haven't yet got the relationship right. For this reason, if nothing else, the film serves as an interesting footnote in the development of Laurel & Hardy as we know and love them.

the care and cares of the nouveau riche

[boblipton · 9/10 · 3 March 2002]

Mr. Hardy inherits a large fortune and takes Mr. Laurel and his dog along to act as his butler --- Mr. Laurel, that is. The Boys hadn't quite settled into their screen personae when this was made, so there is still a bit of backing and filling as Ollie comes home drunk and in high spirits on his birthday, while Stan tries to get him to bed and preserve his own self-esteem. There are a couple of amusing bits involving a dog and a fountain, but the lack of a common foe for their bumbling -- Charley Hall or Jimmy Finlayson, for example -- means that they wind up squabbling among themselves. Not among their best, but highly amusing on its own terms.

Fortune rebellion

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 16 August 2018]

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were comedic geniuses, individually and together, and their partnership was deservedly iconic and one of the best there was. They left behind a large body of work, a vast majority of it being entertaining to classic comedy, at their best they were hilarious and their best efforts were great examples of how to do comedy without being juvenile or distasteful.

After their previous 1928 efforts saw a step in the right direction and the two were starting to hit their stride while still evolving, 'Early to Bed' like 'Their Purple Moment' sees a couple of steps backwards and something of a disappointment. Certainly far from terrible and it is a long way from a misfire of theirs (up to this point '45 Minutes from Hollywood' was the only one to fit this distinction), but 'Early to Bed' is far from a gem. It is a shame because their previous 1928 efforts were so promising and the concept here was not a bad one.

Laurel and Hardy's work was never known to have particularly great stories, which tended to be the weakest element. 'Early to Bed' is no exception, on top of being flimsy it is also along with 'Their Purple Moment' more predictable, hackneyed and repetitive than most with outcomes being easily foreseeable and some of the content being hit and miss.

The pace sometimes could have been tighter in the early stages and at times there is a darker element that doesn't really gel with everything else.

On the other hand, Laurel and Hardy are more than very amusing, particularly Laurel, and they work well together, also their role reversals are interesting. Three quarters of 'Early to Bed' does mostly amuse and has some fun and well timed moments and gags, especially when Laurel goes on the rampage.

It's not dull, is competently directed, the dog is an amusing character and holds up quite well visually.

All in all, definitely worthwhile but not a Laurel and Hardy essential. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Hardy Manor!

[hitchcockthelegend · 5/10 · 13 September 2015]

One of the lesser lights of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's silent productions. Early to Bed is directed by Emmett Flynn and photographed by George Stevens.

Over the years it has proved to be one of the boy's films that most can agree is a little bit off. It's not so much that the gags are in short supply, but more so it veers towards a darker side that doesn't sit well. Plot has Ollie inheriting some cash, which quickly turns him into a completely different person. He hires Stan as his butler and promptly starts to lord it over his abode. But Stan will only take so much bullying...

The most fun comes from a number of sequences set around the water fountain in the gardens, and the carnage that ensues once Stan finally flips and goes on a mad rampage. These sequences are heightened by the jolly musical accompaniments and the quality sound effects, while a cunning canine pet is fun and the only one unhindered by the odd tone of the piece.

Not essential and only of interest to Stan & Ollie completists. 5/10

Very childish movie.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 6/10 · 10 August 2006]

This movie its humor is very childish, even for a Laurel & Hardy movie. Never have I seen Oliver Hardy act like a bigger baby before. Sure, it still gives the movie some good laughs but the humor is too simple and predictable to consider this an above average Laurel & Hardy silent comedy short.

Of course none of the Laurel & Hardy movies really have humor of a very high order when it comes to originality, predictability and subtlety but in normal cases this doesn't matter at all, since it's so extremely fine executed and timed. They however really went too far with this movie however. It's even more simple and predictable than we are accustomed to. Not sure what they tried to accomplish here. Perhaps they were targeting for a younger audience?

It's very sad to see acting Oliver Hardy as childish as he does in this movie. It gets to a level that it's almost too embarrassing to watch.

But still, the movie its slapstick is good. Although certainly predictable, it's still funny to watch all. Some of the sequences are really memorable but the rest of the movie and its story drags down the level of entertainment.

6/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Ollie is a bully

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 4 August 2014]

This was a strange Laurel and Hardy silent short subject. For one thing except for a dog there are no other cast members. No Jimmy Finlayson for reaction shots to their clowning.

Early To Bed also has Ollie almost turning into a bully. God knows his character gets thoroughly exasperated with Stan, but I never saw him bully Stan. As for Laurel. I've never seen him change so radically as he did except in A Chump At Oxford. When the worm turns it really turns.

One day these two with their dog are polishing a park bench with the seat of their pants when Ollie gets a letter saying he now has a fortune. Stan is concerned that there's no place for him, but Ollie offers him the position of butler and Stan takes it.

It's abundantly clear soon enough that all Ollie wants is a doormat or a punching bag. But Stan soon tires of being a doormat and when he does watch out.

This is a different Stan and Ollie, but I'm not sure I liked them this way.

The worst laurel and hardy

[dunneaiden · 1/10 · 10 March 2019]

Early to bed was released in 1928, when laurel and hardy were already established as a team, but this feels like their first appearance together. The story is that laurel and hardy are homeless until Ollie inherits a fortune then hires Stan as his butler an torments him. Then Stan goes on a rampage. This movie was never funny and all the jokes were horrible to watch. When Stan does his normal crying it isn't funny because you feel sorry for him. Do not see this film even laurel and hardy completionists should skip this

Lesser Laurel and Hardy

[Michael_Elliott · 11 March 2008]

Early to Bed (1928)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

Hardy becomes rich overnight and offers his best friend Laurel a job as his butler. Money soon goes to Hardy's head and he come home picking on Laurel. This is a very unfunny film and certainly the worst I've seen from L&H. The two have absolutely no chemistry whatsoever, which really kills things. Most of the jokes come off annoying and not funny.

Sugar Daddies (1927)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A millionaire (James Finlayson) wakes up after a night of partying to discover that he's now married. The new bride and her crazy brother are now trying to blackmail him so he calls his attorney (Stan Laurel) to settle the matter. Not too many laughs here but the thing is fun nonetheless. Oliver Hardy plays the butler.

Early to Bed

[jboothmillard · 5/10 · 27 March 2009]

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are the most famous comedy duo in history, and deservedly so, so I am happy to see any of their films. Ollie inherits a fortune from his uncle, and he hires Stan as his butler, only to be tormenting him with his drunken stupidity. Stan says that he should go to bed, but Ollie is refusing to give up that easily, and there is chasing and scuffles to follow. Stan does give up and goes to bed himself, but still awake, Ollie comes in wearing his new spring suit to cause more mischief. Stan is determined to leave, but Ollie won't let him, so he resorts to trying to make Ollie fire him by trashing the house and breaking many ornaments and the furniture. Landing in a cake, Ollie mistakes the cream on Stan's face for foam, and thinking he's crazy runs away hiding in the fountain, until eventually he gives up and says "forgive and forget", oh, and pushing Stan in the water. It is rare that you see Hardy being more stupid than Laurel. Filled with good slapstick and all classic comedy you want from a black and white film, it is an enjoyable silent film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian. Worth watching!