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

This film was first telecast in New York City Sunday 10 October 1948 on WPIX (Channel 11), in Atlanta Friday 4 February 1949 on WSB (Channel 8), and in Philadelphia Thursday 9 June 1949 on WCAU (Channel 10), as part of their newly acquired series of three dozen Hal Roach feature film productions, originally theatrically released between 1931 and 1943, and now being syndicated for television broadcast by Regal Television Pictures.

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Goofs

Ollie is pushing Stan in the wheelchair when Stan says that he's thirsty. Ollie picks up a hose pipe, gives it to Stan and goes to turn it on. Stan had the end of the hose pointing at Ollie resulting in him getting soaked. He turns the water off, returns to Stan and he's dry.

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Quotes

Oliver: But, Toots, Stan is different.
Mrs. Hardy: I'll say he's different! And don't call me Toots!

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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

References We Faw Down (1928)

User Reviews

Here's another fine mess they got themselves into (I mean that in a positive way).

"Block-Heads" begins in WWI, where Stan and Ollie are in a platoon fighting in Europe. While Ollie and the rest of the group go into battle, Stan has to guard the post. You can tell that he's doing his job, because he continues doing it for twenty years after the war ends. After he returns to America, he and Ollie meet up again, and from there, they do their usual stuff. Probably the best scene was the football scene (I won't spoil it). But the wheelchair, temptress, garage door and kitchen all provide some laughs. They may play blockheads in the movie, but believe you me, Laurel and Hardy were comic geniuses. Gilligan and the Skipper were sort of a later version of them, and Chris Farley and David Spade were an even later version.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

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