Sons of the Desert (1933)

When Stan and Ollie trick their wives into thinking that they are taking a medicinal cruise while they're actually going to a convention, the wives find out the truth the hard way.

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writer:

Frank Craven (story)

Stars:

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charley Chase

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stan Laurel	...	Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy	...	Oliver Hardy
Charley Chase	...	Charley
Mae Busch	...	Mrs. Lottie Hardy
Dorothy Christy	...	Mrs. Betty Laurel
Lucien Littlefield	...	Dr. Horace Meddick

Storyline

So that he and Stan can sneak away to Chicago and attend the annual "Sons of the Desert" lodge convention, Ollie pretends to be sick, and gets a doctor (who turns out to be a veterinarian) to prescribe a long ocean voyage to Hawaii. Decked out in leis and strumming ukuleles, they return home only to learn that the ship supposedly carrying them has sunk. Their hastily-contrived tale of "ship-hiking" their way back cuts no ice with their wives, who've been at the movies watching a newsreel of the lodge's convention parade, starring - guess who?

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Plot Keywords:

convention | lodge | veterinarian | newsreel | ice pack | 

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Taglines:

1000 new Laurel & Hardy howls in the hilarious adventures of two hen-pecked husbands on the loose! (Print Ad- San Jose News, ((San Jose, Calif.)) 9 June 1934)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The parade newsreel was supplemented with stock footage from the Elks Lodge state convention held in Santa Monica, CA, some months earlier.

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Goofs

When Laurel and Hardy are returned to their wives by the police officer, as they are led inside the house, the camera tilts back slightly and the boom mic is visible at the top of the frame as they walk toward the couch.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sons of the Desert chorus: [the members sing "Auld Lang Syne"] And here's a hand, my trusty friend, and gie's a hand o' thine, / We'll take a cup of kindness now, for Auld Lang Syne.
Exalted Exhausted Ruler: [the song concludes, and the Exalted Ruler calls the meeting to order as he hits the podium with a gavel] Brothers, Sons of the Desert, we are all familiar with the business of this special meeting. This Oasis must meet the situation with determination.

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Alternate Versions

The opening MGM lion has been removed from all available prints.

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Connections

Referenced in Talkies: Danny Baker & Robert Ross Discuss "Sons of the Desert" (2017)

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Soundtracks

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Boys Are Marching)
(1864) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by George Frederick Root
Contained in "We Are the Sons of the Desert" Song
Reprised by the orchestra at the convention in Chicago

User Reviews

A Good Start To Check Out The Boys

There are a lot of funny scenes squeezed into one of the thinest "plots" you'll ever see in a story. Our heroes - Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy - simply want to go to the annual convention of their group - "The Sons Of The Desert" and want their wives' approval to make the trip. As it turns out, they go anyway and, well, it's one wild scene after another.

Along the way, we see all the trademarks of these two famous comedians: Laurel scratching his head, crying when in trouble, having the better heart of the two and providing some clever slapstick and dialog. Hardy does his normal routine, too, with the dirty looks, the scheming and the pratfalls.

The women are the bosses and Hardy's wife is the toughest of the two, throwing plates at Olllie's head! These are tough old bags.

Oddly enough, on the second viewing of this film I found a bit slow going, which I didn't find the first time. Charley Chase, a famous silent comedian, is also in the film as are a few things you wouldn't associate with Laurel & Hardy: some sexual stuff! Really! There is a dance number in the middle of the film where I swear I saw a see-through blouse on the main dancer. Also, there was a play- on-words here about some woman "who likes to pump the organ." Well, this film was made a year or so before the Hays' Code went into effect.

At any rate, if you have never seen the famous duo, this is a good place to start.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 December 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fraternally Yours

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min 65 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1