Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were not deliberately planned to be a comedy team. They did several films together over the years starting with LUCKY DOG and Hal Roach Studios didn't realize they'd be a good team until they just happen to make about a dozen films together. The fact that they appeared together pre-official teaming wasn't surprising, as studios like Roach tended to use the same groups of actors again and again. It was only by chance that they slowly evolved into a team.
SAILORS BEWARE is one of these earlier films where Stan and Ollie are not yet a bone fide team. Like so many of these movies, their parts are very separate and they play against each other more than with each other. Because of this their chemistry is all wrong compared to what we are used to and most of these earlier films are sub-par for the boys. However, in the case of SAILORS BEWARE, the film is still excellent--one of the best before they became an official team. In fact, it is better than quite a few of their later films as well due to an excellent and exciting script.
The film begins with cabbie Laurel getting stuck on a cruise ship after bringing aboard a rich lady and her baby. Because Laurel isn't able to afford the fare, he is made to work on board--with Ollie as his not particularly nice boss. At about the same time, there are a number of thefts on the ship and it's up to Stan to get to the bottom of it.
Seeing that the baby is played by Harry Earles--a somewhat famous dwarf who acted in several films--it isn't too surprising to guess who's behind the thefts. Interestingly, Earles plays much the same character he played in both the silent and sound versions of THE UNHOLY THREE (with Lon Chaney). Still, despite me recognizing him, it still was an exciting and funny film--one worth seeing by anyone--not just Laurel and Hardy fans.
SAILORS BEWARE is one of these earlier films where Stan and Ollie are not yet a bone fide team. Like so many of these movies, their parts are very separate and they play against each other more than with each other. Because of this their chemistry is all wrong compared to what we are used to and most of these earlier films are sub-par for the boys. However, in the case of SAILORS BEWARE, the film is still excellent--one of the best before they became an official team. In fact, it is better than quite a few of their later films as well due to an excellent and exciting script.
The film begins with cabbie Laurel getting stuck on a cruise ship after bringing aboard a rich lady and her baby. Because Laurel isn't able to afford the fare, he is made to work on board--with Ollie as his not particularly nice boss. At about the same time, there are a number of thefts on the ship and it's up to Stan to get to the bottom of it.
Seeing that the baby is played by Harry Earles--a somewhat famous dwarf who acted in several films--it isn't too surprising to guess who's behind the thefts. Interestingly, Earles plays much the same character he played in both the silent and sound versions of THE UNHOLY THREE (with Lon Chaney). Still, despite me recognizing him, it still was an exciting and funny film--one worth seeing by anyone--not just Laurel and Hardy fans.