The Hal Roach Studio had several series of shorts in the early 1930s--the most famous of which, clearly, was Laurel & Hardy. But they also had Charley Chase, Our Gang, The Boy Friends, Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts/Patsy Kelly...this very, very obscure team called 'The Taxi Boys'. The Boys never really caught on as a series--much of which might explain the frequent cast changes. Franklin Pangborn and Clyde Cook played leads in one, Clyde Cook and Billy Bevan in another and Ben Blue and Billy Gilbert played leads in most of the later ones.
While these films weren't bad, it's pretty clear that the scripts were ones you could have just as soon seen Stan and Ollie doing...and doing better. Here we have skinny and stupid Ben and tubby and Oliver Hardy-like Billy. The only big difference is that although the plot looks a lot like a Laurel & Hardy one, these two guys just aren't up to the high standard set by this famous team. Ben is just annoying at times with his bizarre and rather effeminate mannerisms. And Billy, though a fine supporting character, as a lead doesn't have a lot of charisma.
The film finds the two (naturally) playing cab drivers. The beat cop is mad as he's always having run-ins with the Boys (especially Ben) and threatens to put them in jail if their stupid antics continue. Soon afterwords, the Boys think they've run over and killed someone--actually it's a mannequin. So, they panic and try to dispose of the body--and accidentally pick up a drunk in its place. As the drunk walks about, the Boys run and hide. This plot is familiar, as it was redone a year later as "The Live Ghost" with Laurel & Hardy.
The bottom line is that this is a decent film--but not a great one. A few more mediocre ones later and the series would be discontinued.
While these films weren't bad, it's pretty clear that the scripts were ones you could have just as soon seen Stan and Ollie doing...and doing better. Here we have skinny and stupid Ben and tubby and Oliver Hardy-like Billy. The only big difference is that although the plot looks a lot like a Laurel & Hardy one, these two guys just aren't up to the high standard set by this famous team. Ben is just annoying at times with his bizarre and rather effeminate mannerisms. And Billy, though a fine supporting character, as a lead doesn't have a lot of charisma.
The film finds the two (naturally) playing cab drivers. The beat cop is mad as he's always having run-ins with the Boys (especially Ben) and threatens to put them in jail if their stupid antics continue. Soon afterwords, the Boys think they've run over and killed someone--actually it's a mannequin. So, they panic and try to dispose of the body--and accidentally pick up a drunk in its place. As the drunk walks about, the Boys run and hide. This plot is familiar, as it was redone a year later as "The Live Ghost" with Laurel & Hardy.
The bottom line is that this is a decent film--but not a great one. A few more mediocre ones later and the series would be discontinued.