mark.waltz Laurel gets to use one of Oliver's key lines in this excellent short, spoofing political scandals, not that those exist anymore. I feel sorry for the city that would have Hardy as a mayoral candidate, but indeed he is, and blackmailed by old flame Mae Busch. Since Hardy is married to the perky Thelma Todd, I can see why he'd not want to risk for the prune faced Busch. Ollie gets Laurel to stand in for him to find out Busch's demands, causing issues with Laurel's wife, too. Busch's temper (and suspicious Todd's too) will certainly leave scars in this rather adult entry in their series of shorts. Long running rival James Finlayson plays Oliver's nosy butler. Patsy O'Byrne is very funny as a nosy spinster with more than a passing resemblance to Margaret Hamilton.

tavm Ollie is running for mayor but first he has to get rid of an old flame (Mae Busch) who wants to be paid or else she'll expose their affair on the front page courtesy of an incriminating photo. So he sends Stan to keep on eye on her while he entertains some important guests at his house with his wife (Thelma Todd) and butler (James Finlayson) in tow. I'll stop there and just say this was another hilarious Laurel & Hardy short that I highly enjoyed from beginning to end. Finlayson and Ms. Todd's reactions really got me going along with, of course, Stan & Ollie's antics concerning Ms. Busch's presence. And how about Norma Drew as Mrs. Laurel. And hearing Stan saying the iconic "nice mess" line was also great to hear! It should be noted this was made during the early talkie era when, if you wanted to see this in another language, instead of dubbing the lead actors would then read the alternate words at a blackboard off-screen with support from alternate players who came from the country of origin of that language or at least someone who knew it well. So now I'm going to watch the Spanish version of this short...

Lee Eisenberg The great thing about Laurel and Hardy's movies is that they were so simple, but so damn hilarious! In "Chickens Come Home", Oliver is running for mayor, when a woman (Mae Busch) from his past shows up to blackmail him. She threatens to interrupt a party at his house. When Oliver gets Stanley to stop her...well, let's just say that it's not that easy! You can just imagine how the people behind the camera must have been cracking up watching L&H do these things right in front of them, especially the scene where they carry her (you'll see what I mean; it must have been a risqué scene for that time). A comedy classic.

Ron Oliver A LAUREL & HARDY Comedy Short.It's CHICKENS COME HOME to roost when a crazy lady from Ollie's past shows up to blackmail him just as he is to receive the nomination for mayor. When she threatens to disrupt a dinner party at his home, Ollie sends Stan to distract her. That's when the trouble really starts...This is a hilarious little film, with the Boys & Mae Busch, as the frantic female, at their best. Lots of laughs. That's Thelma Todd as Mrs. Hardy, Norma Drew as Mrs. Laurel, Patsy O'Byrne as the busybody & the long-suffering James Finlayson as Ollie's butler.