Believe it or not, there is an element of truth to this insane comedy. Way back in the day, and even before television was invented! --it was a common chore to install a radio antenna on your roof. Laurel and Hardy made it look hard, and the truth is IT WAS. Many people took some terrible falls as a result, which may have inspired this dark comedy.
10 Stars.
Once again, yet another gem directed by James Parrott who lets the boys do it their way... So up Hardy goes on top of his roof to install an antenna, especially for his angry wife played by Fay Holderness. Fay was a veteran actress, having made her film debut, working for DW Griffith. She generally played hardened ladies in comedies for Hal Roach, alternating with Mae Busch.
Everything that could go wrong for Hardy does, including falling off the roof onto the driveway and into a fish pond? Oliver Hardy thought up a few gags in this one, but was not credited as co-writer, usually the same for Stan Laurel. Hardy claimed he got many ideas just from watching others, so did he have a neighbor who was installing an antenna?
In what has to be a classic pre-Code risque scene; Stan drives over to Ollie's house-- catching a glimpse of a lady raising her dress to cross a puddle-- and almost getting clipped by another speeding car. By the way, since most of the action takes place on top of a house roof, we get some historical shots of 1930s southern California, and imagine the cost of property then as compared to today!
Legendary scene; Stan's car getting hit by a trolley and folding up like an accordian. How the production guys got the car to look like that (and run!) is an incredible mystery. To this day, there are classic photos of that twisted car. About as original as it gets. One of their early sound films and the best of the lot, with lots of goofy music to match.
Always on dvd and remastered blu ray.
10 Stars.
Once again, yet another gem directed by James Parrott who lets the boys do it their way... So up Hardy goes on top of his roof to install an antenna, especially for his angry wife played by Fay Holderness. Fay was a veteran actress, having made her film debut, working for DW Griffith. She generally played hardened ladies in comedies for Hal Roach, alternating with Mae Busch.
Everything that could go wrong for Hardy does, including falling off the roof onto the driveway and into a fish pond? Oliver Hardy thought up a few gags in this one, but was not credited as co-writer, usually the same for Stan Laurel. Hardy claimed he got many ideas just from watching others, so did he have a neighbor who was installing an antenna?
In what has to be a classic pre-Code risque scene; Stan drives over to Ollie's house-- catching a glimpse of a lady raising her dress to cross a puddle-- and almost getting clipped by another speeding car. By the way, since most of the action takes place on top of a house roof, we get some historical shots of 1930s southern California, and imagine the cost of property then as compared to today!
Legendary scene; Stan's car getting hit by a trolley and folding up like an accordian. How the production guys got the car to look like that (and run!) is an incredible mystery. To this day, there are classic photos of that twisted car. About as original as it gets. One of their early sound films and the best of the lot, with lots of goofy music to match.
Always on dvd and remastered blu ray.