Berth Marks (1929)

Taking the train to a show in Pottsville, musicians Stanley and Oliver run into trouble once settled in their sleeping car berth.

Director:

Lewis R. Foster

Writer:

H.M. Walker (titles)

Stars:

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Harry Bernard

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie

Storyline

Big-time (so they think) vaudeville stars Stanley and Oliver take the train to Pottsville, their next booking. On board, they bumble into the wrong sleeping compartment, startling a semi-dressed woman. Her irate husband mistakes another passenger for the intruder and starts a coat-ripping free-for-all. The boys spend the rest of the trip trying to squeeze themselves into their cramped single upper berth.

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Plot Keywords:

1920s | passenger train | rail transport | vaudeville | vaudeville theatre | 

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Taglines:

Mr. Hardy told Mr. Laurel to meet him at the Southern Pacific Station Wednesday morning -- So Mr. Laurel went to the Santa Fe on Thursday afternoon.

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Laurel & Hardy's second short that was available in a sound version. The one-sheet for the sound version indicated that it was "ALL TALKING" in a font almost as large as the title.

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Goofs

As Stan and Ollie scramble to board the train, their fiddle is clearly smashed to pieces, yet it is intact for the rest of the film.

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Quotes

Oliver: [To Stan] I wish I'd checked you with the baggage.

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Alternate Versions

The computer colorized version features the original MGM credits but not the lion. Reportedly, most of the footage for that version (there is a strange camera jump at one moment and a sequence in which Oliver Hardy is speaking that is out sync ) was lifted from a silent version that is unavailable.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Noise (1944)

User Reviews

PURE HILARITY...LAURAL & HARDY AT THEIR PURE BEST

For anyone who doesn't believe that train rides can be a total hassle, see this film, and your views will be sorely changed. Laural And Hardy, two vaudeville stars heading for Pottsville, take us on a 20 minute ride of their life (one most of us wish would never happen). This movie makes me laugh tears right from the opening scenes, as the boys even find boarding the train a hard thing to do (this is one of the best scenes in the short). Next we find them on the train, and they've apparently lost their music for their act, can things get worse? of course! stan, on the way to his berth, walks into a womans room, causing her husband to think someone was looking at her, and a free for all coat fight ensues! The next scenes are what tops the short off... Stan and Ollie spend the last 15 minutes just trying to get in the berth and get settled into it! These last scenes make this short a killer, one to be remembered forever, and even though i am only 18, i will make sure my grandkids watch this when they are my age. A truly great L&H short...for everyone

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

None English

Release Date:

1 June 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Berth Marks

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

19 min

Sound Mix:

Silent Mono (Western Electric System) (A Victor Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1