Reviews

This version of Chickens Come Home is much more longer than the original, a magician and a strange man called Hadji-Ali enjoy the party with the Boys. Linda de Loreto shows us a very wild performance in the guise (and dress) of the more sophisticated Mae Busch, blackmailing Oliver and having a hard fight with Stan. (watch to believe). The finest thing is Carmen Granada playing the role of Stan's wife,very pretty and little and so revengeful and angry. The Boys are as good as ever, playing separately for the central part of the movie. maybe a little wildest than the original, with a prolonged "search for the key" in Stan's pockets (it makes ma laugh all the time)and a lot of guests in Ollie's home!

Very good short. stylish. it's the story of a challenge, a big named horse (Zed) versus an understimate european one (Paprika). the first part is about the training! the owner of Paprika (Jimmy Fin of course!) force his -too tall- jockey to recover his good form. naturally the jockey is a wild Stan with an enormous hat who is dragged all around like an horse. It's good to see how fun is the way he dress up to disguise his personal trainers and finally eat something. the second part is all about the race: the little Paprika against the bigger Zeb with George Rowe stick on. It's an hard fight with a good final and if the second part reminds me of the true story of Seabiscuit in some way, the final is adaptable to a Disney comic with Uncle Scrooge chasing the poor Donald Duck!

Very funny little comedy where Stan showed his ability to hold the audience attention. it can be divided in two part, the first located in George Rowe's shop where Stan tried to take a photograph dressed like a "God"... with Jimmy Finn moral disapproval and the second part taking place at the Post Office. here Stan is trying to write a letter to his girlfriend including the "God" picture, but he can't find a pen that could write properly! when he had finally done, he discover that the stamp is missed! so he began to chase his letter all around the Office. In the meantime we can see Finn chasing him and a couple of thieves trying to burgle the Office. It's a very fast comedy with some taste of pure slapstick, but Stan and Fin are as usual very good! especially in the first part with Stan trying to pass for a "God"

An old man (Jimmy Fin with a lot of make up) hired a lawyer to find out is nephew, the son of his daughter who run away from home years later for love (how romantic). now the son of the sin is grew up... a very eccentric young man who used to fall in love with the maid even when he had to marry a lady!

Has some very funny moments like Stan singing horribly at the piano, his lunch-with-horse in the middle of the street and the final marriage where Flavia refuse to marry Stan because she "dislike him", then Stan refuse to marry Flavia because he "dislike her" and finally the priest refuse to marry Stan and Flavia because he "dislike them"! I also quite dislike miss Flavia de Lorgnette, but she was played by Mae Dhalberg who shared Stan's life from 1918 to 1925.

It's very funny to see Stan in a different role, he's totally another kind of character than the "Stanley" we have learned to love and he's great in mimic and act abilities! and allow me a note: Finn is a very muscle man! Look at Stan-Finn fight under the snow, it's make me laugh at any time!! This little short is very happly editing, too; look at Stan entrance in the Russian Palace when he offered a cigarette, a pipe (to himself) and a piece of tobacco all in continuity! lovely! Finally even this one is available in dvd! maybe we're getting smart?

The only one I dislike a little (not much, only a little) is Mae "Laurel" Dalhberg who act like the Diva in the movie, just like in "Mother's Joy" I can't stand her! Stan, tell me WHY! WHY!?!

This movie has all the qualities to be good, Stan -singing (?), dancing, falling- is very funny, I think he handled his character in the best way possible. it's a parody and very well done, maybe times can change, there's another audience, but if you want to laugh, come on, see it!

When I saw this movie for the first time I didn't believe my own eyes. In front of me there was a great -and well done- parody of Valentino... see Stan Laurel bullfight that way is like to see an excellent fencer in action! It's a very good parody, rich of ideas, with a clever and charming Stan... old and good like whiskey. (or the booze-up after that)