Review of Tit for Tat

Tit for Tat (1935)
10/10
How do you do!
7 June 2012
Like another reviewer, I saw "Tit for Tat" shortly after viewing "Them Thar Hills," (a crackerjack short in its own right) and was pleasantly surprised to see Busch and Hall back as the same characters; I didn't realize that this was a sequel until Stan referred to meeting them in the hills.

"Tit for Tat" is essentially a simple, one-joke outing. But, much like "The Music Box", Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy wring every last possible laugh out of the situation. Their battle with grocer Charley Hall starts small, but doesn't stay small for long.

There's no need to see "Hills" before this one; the story really can stand alone...but is enhanced if you know about the previous antics.

Other reviewers had remarked about Ollie's rather salacious-sounding comment to Mae Busch. Oddly enough, the Hays (censorship) code was in effect at the time; it was one of the reasons that Betty Boop ended up with collared, long-hem/long-sleeve dresses. Pre-Code, Ollie's remark wouldn't have been noticed. But with censorship rules in place, I too, am surprised that the line was kept in.

Superior work from all involved makes "Tit for Tat" one of my favorite Stan and Ollie films.

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