Laughing Gravy (1931) - film review

One cold winter’s night, Stan and Ollie are trying to get to sleep when Stan’s hiccupping causes their pet pooch Laughing Gravy to start yapping.  This noise attracts the attention of their grumpy landlord who reminds his tenants that he prohibits pets in his establishment.  When the landlord throws the little dog out into the snow, Stan and Ollie waste no time trying to retrieve it.  After his sleep is disturbed a second time, the landlord tells the boys they must pack their things and go immediately.  Stan then receives a telegram informing him that he has inherited a fortune from his uncle.  Unfortunately, he can only claim the money if he severs all ties with Ollie...

Laughing Gravy is pretty routine Laurel and Hardy fare, a virtual remake of their 1929 silent film Angora Love.  Until the mid-1980s, the film was only known to exist in its two-reel version, which ended with the landlord shooting himself off-camera upon learning that his house has been quarantined.  In 1985, a three-reel version was unearthed which offered a different ending, in which Stan and Laurel’s friendship is tested like it has never been tested before, with Stan having to choosing between money and his buddy.  

Although not the slickest or funniest L&H film, Laughing Gravy, in both its versions, has a great deal of charm and includes some great slapstick (particularly when the boys attempt to rescue their beloved dog).  Both versions suffer from slightly botched endings.  The two-reel version ends on a downer with the suicide of one of the characters (albeit an unsympathetic one).  The final reel of the third reel version sits uncomfortably as a dialogue-only piece after two reels of visual comedy, but will be treasured by true L&H fans for what it says about Stan and Ollie’s relationship.

© Brian Evans 2010

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