Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Music Box (1932)
The Music Box
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Music Box (1932) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 5 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
8.3/10   2,075 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
James Parrott
Writer:
H.M. Walker (dialogue)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Music Box on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 April 1932 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Short more
Tagline:
Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to reorganize and resupervise their entire financial structure- so they took the $3.80 and went into business.
Plot:
Like the legendary Sisyphus, deliverymen Laurel and Hardy struggle to push a large crated piano up a seemingly insurmountable flight of stairs. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win more
User Comments:
The Best of the Best of the Best more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
29 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:G | UK:U | USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
These are the same steps that were used by The Three Stooges in their two-reeler An Ache in Every Stake (1941), directed by Charley Chase. more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the scenes where Oliver Hardy first falls in the water fountain and when Stan Laurel falls down into the fountain from the second floor, water marks are clearly visible on the walls caused from splashes during previous takes. more
Quotes:
Stan: Say listen, don't you think you're bounding over your step?
Policeman: What do you mean bounding over my step?
Ollie: Why, he means overstepping your bounds.
Policeman: Oh.
[hits Stan on head with his baton]
Policeman: Now let that be a lesson to you!
[pokes him in the stomach]
Stan: Ooh!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Wizards of Waverly Place: Justin's New Girlfriend (#2.21)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
(I Wish I Was in) Dixie's Land more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful:-
The Best of the Best of the Best, 2 January 2001
10/10
Author: Sonatine97 (sonatine97@hotmail.com) from Birmingham, England

L&H are without doubt the best comedy double act of all time regardless of media format. Its amazing that their best movies are now 70 years old and yet remain timeless in their humour and inventiveness.

I've had the pleasure of seeing most of their movies - shorts & full format - and all of them have their own individual quirky qualities that other comedians still can't fathom.

The Music Box won them a well-deserved Oscar and although it is an excellently choreographed movie I personally don't think its their very best.

However, my opinion doesn't matter because any L&H fan will regard this movie as their favourite. The story is so simple yet so inventive and full of kinetic & emotive energy.

Stan & Ollie have to deliver a Piano to a highly strung guy who can't stand pianos. But just to make life a little interesting the guy's home just happens to be perched on a hill with the longest flight of steps in history to whit S&O have to push & pull their awkward delivery.

Some of the gags we've seen many times before but it doesn't matter because the added sparkle derives from the human emotions & expressions delivered with such panache from Stan & the long suffering Ollie - the way he looks-to-camera in a pleading kind of way just drives me wild with laughter & sympathy.

I can't find a single fault with this movie short, except that it just flies by so quickly. How I wish today's contemporary comedy writers could spend a few hours in a dark room watching how the masters of comedy produce such wonderful scripts. It proves that there is no need to have cheap & vulgar language, innuendo & explicit violence to make any audience, young or old, laugh with mirth.

The Golden Age of comedy is dead, long live the Golden Age; long live Laurel & Hardy!!!

*****/*****

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Music Box (1932)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
What's the name of the ragtime song at the beginning of the short? borbetomagus
The staircase-where is it? gcj29
Kicking a woman in the butt... trek3of11
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Another Fine Mess Artist's Muddles Chickens Come Home We Faw Down Big Business
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.