Laughing Gravy

1931
7.3| 0h30m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 04 April 1931 Released
Producted By: Hal Roach Studios
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Stan and Ollie try to hide their pet dog Laughing Gravy from their exasperated, mean tempered landlord, who has a "No Pets" policy.

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Director

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Hal Roach Studios

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Reviews

SamHardy The last 10 minutes of this film, which were discovered in the 1980s, was a work print. It has been inserted into Laughing Gravy in most video releases available these days. It was never the intention of Stan to have it included in the American release. After watching it, it is clear why. It just is not funny, and it slows the pace of the ending. It just does not belong there. Stan and his collaborators where smart film makers who had one criteria that each film was based on: "Is it funny?" As a life long lover of Stan and Babe, I found the missing reel interesting but not funny. I have seen everything that they did together and Laughing Gravy IMHO is not one of their best. But they turned out so many really great (funny) films that it is easy to forgive them.If you really want to see them at their creative best check out Scram!, The Music Box, Them Thar Hills, Helpmates, Below Zero, The Chimp, Men O'War, Blotto, Towed In A Hole, Beau Hunks. Parts of Pardon Us, Pack Up Your Troubles are also very good, but the very best example of the comic chemistry between them can be found in Sons Of The Desert. If they could be remembered for one film, my vote is for this one.
Jackson Booth-Millard Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are the most famous comedy duo in history, and deservedly so, so I am happy to see any of their films. It should be mentioned this film was originally only 20 minutes, but extra footage was found giving it an extra eight minutes. Stan and Ollie are sharing a room together, along with their dog "Laughing Dog" (how he got that name, I don't know), and the Landlord (Charlie Hall) has rules about animals in the house. So after Stan's hiccuping, and the bed breaking, Gravy starts barking, and the Landlord puts him outside in the cold snow, and Ollie goes to get him back, falling into a water barrel being a highlight of his attempt. Back in the room, the bed breaks again, and Gravy is put up the chimney, and when the Landlord's gone, Stan and Ollie have to climb onto the roof to get the dog back. Luckily the Landlord is knocked out by falling bricks, while Stan and Ollie have to wash, starting with Gravy, and they can't even do that without something (funny) happening, and when the Landlord comes round, he wants them out. In the rediscovered part of the film, Stan and Ollie are about to leave with Gravy, when Stan receives a letter to say he will inherit his uncles' fortune, as long as he isn't near Ollie. Ollie is curious of this "private" letter, but of course he understands after why Stan refused to let him read it. In the end, Stan decides to tear up the letter and forget the fortune, not for Ollie, but because of Laughing Gravy. Filled with wonderful slapstick and all classic comedy you could want from a black and white film, it is an enjoyable film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian. Good!
MartinHafer For most of this short Laurel and Hardy film, the fare is pretty typical of many of there films--with Stan and Ollie there usual lovable and stupid selves. However, they also have a cute dog that COULD have made this movie very "schmaltzy"--but fortunately, the dog is cute but the film doesn't get too wrapped up in feeling sorry for the pooch. However, late in the film--completely out of nowhere--Stan receives a letter about an inheritance (provided he dump Ollie for good). I cringed as this seemed like an obvious and cheep ploy for pathos (using sadness in comedies to pull at the hearts of the viewers). And so I found myself feeling a bit disappointed until it turned out that the writers for Hal Roach were actually NOT trying to manipulate the viewers--the end is wonderful and so, so cynical! I give this movie an 8 because again and again, it could have degenerated into phony sentimentality but in the end, it remained truly a comedy.
bob the moo Laurel and Hardy are still together despite having one empty pocket book between them. They have a reasonable room in a hostel but have to keep their dog, Laughing Gravy, hidden from the landlord else they'll be put out on the street. One winter's night, Gravy's constant barking threatens to expose them so they take action to keep him hidden – with limited success.As always, the Laurel and Hardy shorts are perhaps less important for their plot than they are for the often wonderful sequences that the plot device allows for. Here the plot device is an `illegal' (in terms of contract) dog. The ways they try to hide the dog and the consequences of their actions are funny without being wonderful. As usual Hardy's (and a lesser extent, Laurel's) looks to camera make it all better than it actually is.Unusually for their shorts, the conclusion of the story allows for a scene of touching honesty between the two, as Hardy becomes quite vulnerable with Laurel. This was a refreshing addition to the mix which, while not tear jerking, was unexpected. As always (for me anyway) Hardy steals the show with his looks to camera but Laurel is as subtle as ever. Charlie Hall is making a bit too much effort but is OK.Overall this isn't the greatest of their work but it is a good example of everything I love about them as a duo. Their talents make this short better than it probably should be.