Despite this Hal Roach short being in a collection of Laurel and Hardy films, it's not really one of the boys' films. Instead, they are tiny bit players along with some other famous Roach stars (such as James Finlayson and Charley Chase) who play lunatics in only a few very brief scenes. The real star is Max Davidson who plays his very funny "Papa Gimplewart" character--a man he played in three films for Roach. I've seen two of them (this film and Jewish PRUDENCE) and they were very, very funny comedies--at least as funny or perhaps funnier than the average silent Laurel and Hardy film. Sadly, however, today he's pretty much forgotten and his Jewish ethnic humor probably would be seen as politically incorrect as well--even though it's very funny.
The film begins with the Gimplewart family trying to sell their home. That's because they live next to a bunch of lunatics who really ham it up in the film. You're not sure if they live in some asylum or perhaps the crazies are just roommates--either way, they're driving the Gimplewarts crazy! Because of this, Papa quickly accepts the first offer he gets without even questioning why the guy wanted to trade houses sight unseen! Well, when the Gimplewarts arrive to inspect their lovely new home, you soon see why it was such a "bargain"--and much of the next 10 minutes is made up of some very imaginative and clever gags. You just have to see the home to believe it. To top it all off, the film ends on a very funny note.
The bottom line is that this film has aged very well and is still very enjoyable today. Plus, it's a rare chance to see Max Davidson in all his glory. In fact, when you see this film, you'll probably see more of his than you'd expected.
FYI--Since the last Gimplewart film, Papa seems to have lost or misplaced two of his kids, as here in CALL OF THE CUCKOO he seems to only have two while in Jewish PRUDENCE he had three!
The film begins with the Gimplewart family trying to sell their home. That's because they live next to a bunch of lunatics who really ham it up in the film. You're not sure if they live in some asylum or perhaps the crazies are just roommates--either way, they're driving the Gimplewarts crazy! Because of this, Papa quickly accepts the first offer he gets without even questioning why the guy wanted to trade houses sight unseen! Well, when the Gimplewarts arrive to inspect their lovely new home, you soon see why it was such a "bargain"--and much of the next 10 minutes is made up of some very imaginative and clever gags. You just have to see the home to believe it. To top it all off, the film ends on a very funny note.
The bottom line is that this film has aged very well and is still very enjoyable today. Plus, it's a rare chance to see Max Davidson in all his glory. In fact, when you see this film, you'll probably see more of his than you'd expected.
FYI--Since the last Gimplewart film, Papa seems to have lost or misplaced two of his kids, as here in CALL OF THE CUCKOO he seems to only have two while in Jewish PRUDENCE he had three!