3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of their first proper teamings, January 21, 2006
This review is from: The Second Hundred Years [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is one of the four titles that gets mentioned most often as the first "real" L&H film. (The other three shorts most-often cited for that historic milestone are 'Duck Soup,' 'Do Detectives Think?,' and 'Putting Pants on Philip.') In this short in particular, the boys have been sent to prison, and are trying to break out. Their first attempt sends them tunneling out of their cell and right up through the floor of the prison warden. Their next attempt is more successful, as they disguise themselves as painters and go around painting the town as though nothing is amiss and they're not two newly-escaped convicts. However, they still need new clothes, which they steal from two visiting French dignitaries who, unbeknownest to them, are supposed to inspect the prison. They throw the dignitaries out of their car and find themselves driven back through the prison gates, where they are mistaken for these very important people, and the charade begins. During a special dinner held in their honor, they try their best to pull the wool over everyone's eyes and to act as though they really are the French inspectors. Stan's battle with the cherry in his cup of fruit salad would be revisited a year later in 'From Soup to Nuts,' only in that short Mrs. Culpepper would be the one battling a cherry. However, their identities are revealed during their after-dinner tour of the prison, when they are recognised by the dignitaries, who are behind bars in a case of mistaken identity, as well as their fellow prisoners and their guard (played by Tiny Sanford).
Not only is this one of their very first shorts as a proper team, it also demonstrates how hard-working and devoted to their craft they were. Stan and Ollie actually shaved their heads for this, and weren't able to return to work again right away because it was growing back. Their next two shorts following this had them making cameos in other peoples' shorts (first a Charley Chase short and then a Max Davidson short). This short is also significant in that it marked the beginning of Stan's funny hairstyle. His hair didn't grow back nice and straight when it began to grow in again, but rather all spiky and funny-looking, the way most fans are familiar with.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome movie!, June 14, 2003
This review is from: The Second Hundred Years [VHS] (VHS Tape)
There are a lot of hilarious scenes in this one! I loved it. It's just great!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I think this is the best of the L&H silent films, January 10, 2010
This review is from: The Second Hundred Years [VHS] (VHS Tape)
In the second Hundred Years the boys are convicts who are desperate to be on the outside instead of the inside. After a couple of
failed escape attempts they hit on the perfect plan. Some painters have just gone to lunch. They turn their stiped uniforms
wrong side out so they are white, grab the paint buckets and brushes and just walk out the front gate.
But as with most L&H foolproof plans there is a small problem. A nosey cop begins following them. They decide they must prove that
they are really painters. And they paint everything in sight. The only time I ever saw anyone paint a model T Ford white. Windshield,
headlights and all.
It`s a great film and you laugh until your sides hurt.
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