The Music Box (1932)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

James Parrott

Writer:

H.M. Walker (dialogue)

Release Date:

16 April 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Tagline:

Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to reorganize and resupervise their entire financial structure- so they took the $3.80 and went into business.

Plot:

Like the legendary Sisyphus, deliverymen Laurel and Hardy struggle to push a large crated piano up a seemingly insurmountable flight of stairs.

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Stairs | Player Piano | Professor | Birthday Present

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie

Runtime:

29 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U | USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

This won the Oscar as "Best Short Subject" of 1932, the only such honor bestowed on a Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy film, and was also the first short to be so honored.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the scene where Hardy starts walking down the steps to see the policeman, and the piano crate starts sliding down the steps after him, the shadows of the camera and crew can be clearly seen on the side of the crate as it passes by them.

Quotes:

Nursemaid: And not only that, he kicked me.
Policeman: He kicked you?
Nursemaid: Yes, officer, right in the middle of my daily duty.
Policeman: Oh, he kicked you did he?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

The Star-Spangled Banner

A Hilarious Comedy Classic

This is one of the great classics of comedy, with Laurel & Hardy at their very best. It has a wealth of good material, and also shows their ability to extract every possible laugh from a relatively simple situation. It also includes appearances by Billy Gilbert and Charlie Hall, two of their best supporting players.

Stan and Ollie are delivering an old-fashioned player piano (or music box) to a house at the top of a hill. They encounter one difficulty after another getting it up to the top, and when they do, their troubles are just beginning. They use the situation to set up a lot of creative gags, all delivered with excellent timing.

There isn't any description that could really do justice to this hilarious short film - if you enjoy classic comedy, you will want to see "The Music Box" for yourself, so that you can enjoy two masters of comedy at their best.