In case you don't know it, Stan Laurel had a film career before being teamed with Oliver Hardy. Stan starred in or co-starred in many shorts during the late teens and 1920s. The quality of the lot varied considerably. However, despite a few really good films here and there, the bulk of the films are, at best, average and not even close to the quality of the premier comedians of the day. Considering I am one of the biggest Laurel and Hardy fans (having reviewed just about all their films--even the foreign language ones I could get hold of), my seeing Laurel as a less than stellar solo act should carry some merit, as I really WANTED to enjoy these movies more.
This film is about an intrepid postal inspector played by James Finlayson. He's out to catch lawbreakers and his quarry in this film is the wicked Stan Laurel--who mails a postcard without affixing postage!! Making this seem like a first-class felony was a clever move as was Finlayson and Laurel running about almost like the film were a precursor to THE FUGITIVE. While there aren't huge laughs, a few decent ones and a really good final sight gag make this film worth a peek.
This film is about an intrepid postal inspector played by James Finlayson. He's out to catch lawbreakers and his quarry in this film is the wicked Stan Laurel--who mails a postcard without affixing postage!! Making this seem like a first-class felony was a clever move as was Finlayson and Laurel running about almost like the film were a precursor to THE FUGITIVE. While there aren't huge laughs, a few decent ones and a really good final sight gag make this film worth a peek.