The Music Box (1932)

Director:

James Parrott

Writer:

H.M. Walker (dialogue)

Release Date:

16 April 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

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.

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Stairs | Player Piano | Professor | Birthday Present

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie

Runtime:

29 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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)

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

The idea for the film came to a Hal Roach comedy writer in 1927 when he passed a long flight of stairs in the Silverlake area of L.A. and thought it would be a good idea to have Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy trying to move something heavy up them.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the wooden crate first falls in the fountain in the master shot, it is clearly empty because it is floating. When the camera cuts to a closer shot, it has clearly been weighted down and is not floating.

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!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

The Star-Spangled Banner

The modern Sisyphus

Laurel and Hardy (or Dick und Doof as they were affectionately called in Germany) gave us many unforgettable films. As a rule the simpler the story the better. This short film is a master piece. There is not one scene in it that is not hilarious. And it is also quite deep when you think about. Even those of us who have never heard of Sisyphus will know the essence of the thing after watching this delightful little film.