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

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 concluding scene shows two dozen half-dressed philandering men leaping out of the windows of an apartment building, thinking they've been caught in the act, and running off into the distance. This gag was borrowed from Laurel & Hardy's 1928 silent short We Faw Down (1928), and was filmed at the exact same location on the Roach Studios back lot, though by 1938 the setting was visibly overgrown with vegetation.

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Goofs

When Mr. Gilbert (Billy Gilbert) is talking to the reporters about his hunting trip, you can see the shadow of the boom mic on the wall behind him.

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Quotes

Reporter: He almost made you a widow, didn't he Mrs Gilbert?
Mrs. 'Toots' Gilbert: I never have to worry about my husband, when he takes aim it's a bullseye!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: 1917

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Alternate Versions

In some available prints the opening MGM lion was removed. Film Classics and Blackhawk Films later replaced the "Block-Heads" title card with one of their own to remove all references to MGM and Loew's Incorporated. The UK 2004 DVD release has the opening MGM lion and original title cards with the copyright for Loew's Incorporated intact.

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Connections

Spoofed in De Buik Vol (2010)

User Reviews

Mister Laurel & Mister Hardy Arrive In A State Of Confusion

Two War buddies - BLOCK-HEADS both - create complete chaos in & around a fancy apartment building.

Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy are once again up to their usual high jinks, dealing with frightful wives, dangerous neighbors and the homicidal tendencies of nearly every inanimate object with which they come into contact. At this point in their partnership the Boys' were firmly established as screen legends; they worked together like well-oiled machinery, producing one laugh after another.

Billy Gilbert & James Finlayson - the Boys' greatest nemesis - are on hand and in very fine form as Ollie's highly belligerent neighbors. Gilbert's Great White Hunter (`I don't bring ‘em back alive. I bring ‘em back dead. I come back alive.') is especially funny. Patricia Ellis as Mrs. Gilbert & Minna Gombell as Mrs. Hardy add to the merriment.

Movie mavens will recognize OUR GANGer Tommy Bond as the mean kid with the football.

The film's opening sequence, with newsreel footage of World War One battles, is unexpectedly grim for a comedy. Fortunately, the laughs start quickly. Best bit - Ollie, thinking Stan has lost his right leg, insists on carrying him everywhere. Stan lets him.