This is one of Laurel and Hardy's last silent shorts, as later that year they'd begin making sound films starting with the aptly named UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE.
During their career as a team, Laurel and Hardy made several film in which they played prisoners, such as in THE SECOND HUNDRED YEARS, THE HOOSE-GOW and PARDON US, so it isn't unusual to once again see the boys in this setting. What makes this unusual is where they go once they escape. Much of the movie is spent on top of a building under construction as the two idiots get themselves trapped there. In many ways, this might have seemed a more natural place for Harold Lloyd, as he was well known for his building climbing stunt work, such as in his very famous film, SAFETY LAST--plus Lloyd simply did this sort of work better. Still, despite being in unusual territory, the film is pretty good, though not among their very best work. Believe it or not, although they climb on a building and almost fall off several times, this one seems a bit short on laughs.
By the way, although Leo McCarey directed quite a few of their films and George Stevens filmed several, this time the two future star directors worked together.
During their career as a team, Laurel and Hardy made several film in which they played prisoners, such as in THE SECOND HUNDRED YEARS, THE HOOSE-GOW and PARDON US, so it isn't unusual to once again see the boys in this setting. What makes this unusual is where they go once they escape. Much of the movie is spent on top of a building under construction as the two idiots get themselves trapped there. In many ways, this might have seemed a more natural place for Harold Lloyd, as he was well known for his building climbing stunt work, such as in his very famous film, SAFETY LAST--plus Lloyd simply did this sort of work better. Still, despite being in unusual territory, the film is pretty good, though not among their very best work. Believe it or not, although they climb on a building and almost fall off several times, this one seems a bit short on laughs.
By the way, although Leo McCarey directed quite a few of their films and George Stevens filmed several, this time the two future star directors worked together.