Laurel and Hardy were perhaps the most destructive comedy team of all time. They prove that time and again as they find more ways to destroy cars from mass destruction in Two Tars to the sawing in half of their car in BUSY BODIES.
The first part of this two-reeler is a setup. There are some funny gags which are typical L&H. The boys are "Two Navy Dreadnaughts" on shore leave who have rented a car and treat it as such. Who's the worse driver, Stan or Ollie. Two damsels in distress (young flappers) catch the eyes of our heroes. A wicked and greedy gum ball machine has refused to give forth its goods in exchange for coinage inserted into it. Not to worry, Stan and Ollie to the rescue. Well, maybe not. After Ollie breaks the 'thingy' the store owner (Charlie Hall) comes out to confront the hooligans. Here Stan shows his genius for taking a pratfall, obviously learned while he was understudy to Charlie Chaplin. None-the-less they impress the damsels in distress and they become their dates.
The real fun starts when the party is driving back from the date and they hit a traffic jam. This is the ultimate lesson on how to destroy cars which are bashed, ripped apart, pushed over and rammed into. In typical Roach tradition, this feature builds its situation and then reaches a crescendo of destruction.
The first part of this two-reeler is a setup. There are some funny gags which are typical L&H. The boys are "Two Navy Dreadnaughts" on shore leave who have rented a car and treat it as such. Who's the worse driver, Stan or Ollie. Two damsels in distress (young flappers) catch the eyes of our heroes. A wicked and greedy gum ball machine has refused to give forth its goods in exchange for coinage inserted into it. Not to worry, Stan and Ollie to the rescue. Well, maybe not. After Ollie breaks the 'thingy' the store owner (Charlie Hall) comes out to confront the hooligans. Here Stan shows his genius for taking a pratfall, obviously learned while he was understudy to Charlie Chaplin. None-the-less they impress the damsels in distress and they become their dates.
The real fun starts when the party is driving back from the date and they hit a traffic jam. This is the ultimate lesson on how to destroy cars which are bashed, ripped apart, pushed over and rammed into. In typical Roach tradition, this feature builds its situation and then reaches a crescendo of destruction.