Zenobia (1939)

A modest country doctor in the antebellum South has to contend with his daughter's upcoming marriage and an affectionate medicine show elephant.

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Walter DeLeon (original story), Corey Ford (screen play),

Stars:

Oliver Hardy, Harry Langdon, Billie Burke

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Oliver Hardy	...	Dr. Henry Tibbett
Harry Langdon	...	Professor McCrackle
Billie Burke	...	Mrs. Tibbett
Alice Brady	...	Mrs. Carter
James Ellison	...	Jeff Carter
Jean Parker	...	Mary Tibbett
June Lang	...	Virginia
Olin Howland	...	Attorney Culpepper
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Judge
Stepin Fetchit	...	Zero (as Step'n Fetchit)
Hattie McDaniel	...	Dehlia (as Hattie McDaniels)
Philip Hurlic	...	Zeke (as Phillip Hurlic)
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Mr. Dover
Clem Bevans	...	Sheriff
Tommy Mack	...	Butcher

Storyline

A southern country doctor is called on by a visiting circus man to cure his sick elephant. After the doctor heals the grateful beast, the elephant becomes so attached to him that it starts to follow him everywhere.

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Plot Keywords:

elephant | doctor | medicine show | antebellum | attorney | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

It's Spring Again

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was originally developed as a Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy vehicle, but was re-scripted after Stan Laurel, whose contract with Hal Roach had run out, declined to re-sign with the producer. Hardy's contract was still in force, and the team believed that if they waited until it expired, they could re-sign as a team and be in a stronger bargaining position. Ultimately that is what happened.

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Connections

Referenced in Of Mice and Men (1939)

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Soundtracks

"I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls"
(1843) (uncredited)
From the operetta "The Bohemian Girl"
Music by Michael William Balfe
Lyrics by Alfred Bunn
Sung by Oliver Hardy and Billie Burke with Burke on piano

User Reviews

An amiable time-passer

While this certainly isn't a great movie and is in many ways pretty forgettable, it is a decent time-passer and worth seeing from a historic sense. This is the only film that Oliver Hardy starred in without Stan Laurel since they became a team in the late 1920s. However, when Laurel's contract expired he refuses to re-sign as he and Hardy (who was still under contract) wanted to explore other career options other than to continue with Hal Roach Studios. So, Roach decided to try pairing Hardy with a new partner--hoping he and Hardy would catch on and Hardy would soon re-sign with the studio.

However, the film lacks the balance of a true Laural and Hardy film, as Hardy is definitely in the leading role. And, fortunately, Hardy does a pretty good job as the kindly doctor who is befriended by an elephant and he's able to carry this amiable film. Additionally, the movie is very interesting because in a supporting role (one that could have been played by Stan Laurel) was the silent film comedian, Harry Langdon. As there are few of his films still in existence, this is one of the rare chances you'll get to see,...as well as hear him. The story itself is pretty silly but handled so well, you probably will forgive this.

Despite being a story about an Elephant that falls in love with Hardy, about the only thing you may not like about the film is Stepin Fetchit--the horribly stereotyped Black actor who made a career out of playing some who is dumb and lazy. It's quite a contrast to the role played by Philip Hurlic as 'Zeke'--a smart, precocious and cute Black child. At least there were contrasts, as most of Fetchit's earlier roles provided nothing to balance the negative image.