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:

husband wife relationship | dysfunctional marriage | taming of the shrew | manipulative female | domineering wife | 

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Taglines:

90 MINUTES of Happiness and Hi-Jinks (original poster)

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Certificate:

Approved

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film had a song and dance number scripted but it wasn't filmed.

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Goofs

The first shadow window shade that Stan pulls down whilst they are climbing the stairs begins to move before his hand gets near it.

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Quotes

Oliver: Oh, darling! Oh, sugar! I want you to meet my buddy.
Mrs. Hardy: Don't sugar me! And how often have I told you not to bring your tramp friends around here!
Oliver: Oh, but, dear, I haven't seen Stan in 20 years.
Mrs. Hardy: I couldn't see him in a 100 years.
Oliver: On, now, dear, this is no time for levity. I've been telling him how wonderful you could cook.
Mrs. Hardy: Oh, you have!
Stan: Yeah, why don't you fix one of those nice, big juicy steaks, you know, and the seven layer chocolate...
Mrs. Hardy: Who put that bee in your bonnet?
Stan: [points to Ollie] He did.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: The events and characters depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental, and not our fault! (signed Stan Laurel. Oliver Hardy)

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Connections

Features The Big Parade (1925)

User Reviews

Fans Of Stan & Ollie Should Like It

This is the "boys" - Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy - it what many consider their last good comedy feature film, doing what they do best: short slapstick routines. It's almost a compilation of them, a series of routines more than a story with a plot. Stan and Ollie, between 45 and 50 years old when they made this film, were Hollywood veterans by now.

Frankly, the comedy might be considered a little too corny for today's crowd but, hey, the movie is 70 years old. If you're a fan of these two comedians you should enjoy this film. Anyway, when anyone provides a lot of gags in just under one hour, you'll hit and miss a lot....but some things will always be funny. Some are still clever, too, such as the bit with the window shade being a shadow.

You can always count on Ollie being henpecked and Stan being an airhead (he's a WWI soldier who marched in a trench for 20 years not realizing the war is long over). Of course, if you think about it, that premise has more holes in it than the proverbial swiss cheese, but who cares? A good portion of this film involves the simple fact of Ollie and Stan just trying to walk 13 flights up the stairs to Ollie's apartment, and the adventures that happen to them along the way.

After watching just 57 minutes of these guys pratfalls and slapstick routines, you'll be exhausted!