Block-Heads (1938)

Stan, who has remained faithfully at his World War I post for twenty years, finally comes home where his best friend, Ollie, takes him in, thus allowing him to discover the many conveniences of the modern world.

Director:

John G. Blystone

Writers:

Charley Rogers (original story and screen play) (as Charles Rogers), Felix Adler (original story and screen play)

Stars:

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Patricia Ellis

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie
Patricia Ellis	...	Mrs. Gilbert
Minna Gombell	...	Mrs. Hardy
Billy Gilbert	...	Mr. Gilbert
James Finlayson	...	Finn - Man on Stairs
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zeffie Tilbury	...	Dowager Seated Near Stairs (scenes deleted)

Storyline

It's 1938, but Stan doesn't know the war is over; he's still patrolling the trenches in France, and shoots down a French aviator. Oliver sees his old chum's picture in the paper and goes to visit Stan at the Soldier's Home. Thinking Stan is disabled (it's just that he's sitting on his leg), Oliver takes pity on him and takes him home for a nice home-cooked meal. But Oliver's wife has other ideas and leaves him to fend for himself. After blowing up the kitchen, Oliver is helped by his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Gilbert... until the big-game hunting Mr. Gilbert comes home unexpectedly, carrying a shotgun.

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Plot Keywords:

world war one veteran | world war one | husband wife relationship | dysfunctional marriage | taming of the shrew | 

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Taglines:

90 MINUTES of Joy (original poster)

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was released in Spain in 1963 as "Heroes de tachuela". The film never was shown in Spain before this year, but the distributor, Hispamex, tried to pass this off as a reissue, due to re releases licenses were cheaper. That's why Hispamex titled the movie as "Heroes de tachuela", a title that was used in the 30s for another Laurel and Hardy movie, Beau Hunks.

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Goofs

Stan keeps sitting on Mrs. Gilbert (Patricia Ellis), who is disguised as a chair. Ollie is wearing his bowler when he first tells Stan to sit down and then get up but in the next shot he has it in his right hand.

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Quotes

Mr. Gilbert: If you keep cool, everything is all right. And I was cool. I had a chill in my back!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: 1917

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Alternate Versions

In order to make it fit into a TV package in the 50s, it was edited down to a short and retitled "Do It Yourself."

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Connections

Featured in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Big Parade of Hits for 1940 (1940)

User Reviews

Stan in the war

It's the year 1938 and the war has been over for twenty years. But Stan is still patrolling in the trenches without knowing that the war is over.Stan's good buddy Oliver sees his friend's picture in the paper and goes to the veterans' home to get his buddy. Block-Heads is a hilarious Laurel and Hardy comedy.The movie offers you lots of laughs with the boys.Who could forget the scene where Ollie carries Stannie because he thinks Stan has lost his leg in the war.But Stan has the leg underneath him in the wheelchair.And the scene in the stairs.Block-Heads is one of the best Laurel and Hardy movies.Just watch the movie and it's non-stop laughing from the beginning to the end.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 August 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Just a Jiffy

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1