Habeas Corpus (1928)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Directors:

Leo McCarey
James Parrott

Writers:

Leo McCarey (writer)
H.M. Walker (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1928 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

Loony scientist (Carle) hires Laurel and Hardy to raid the cemetery to keep him supplied with dead bodies for his experiments. |

Plot Keywords:

Cemetery | Two Reeler

Cast

Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie
Richard Carle	...	Professor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles A. Bachman	...	Ledoux
Charley Rogers	...	Butler

Runtime:

USA:20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (music and effects) | Silent

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

This was made as a silent film, then was retrofitted before release with a music track and sound effects. Unfortunately, the sound discs are long lost, but this is technically Laurel & Hardy's first 'sound' film.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Laurel und Hardy auf der Jagd nach dem Mammon (1973)

"Professor Padilla expected to startle the medical world with his new theory - that the human brain has a level surface - in some instances, practically flat"

By 1928 Laurel & Hardy had finally fully developed their relationship and character traits and already delivered some silent classics -"Battle Of The Century", "Two Tars", etc. Time to explore a new genre -the horror-comedy. While "Habeas Corpus" may not be as memorable as the films mentioned above, it's still interesting to see this tried and trust formula delivered by the boys in their own way. There are no particular brilliant or original gags but I really enjoy the atmosphere - virtually everything of the film was shot at night at a local cemetery, assuring that there's really a "spooky graveyard" feeling in this two reeler.