Sons of the Desert (1933)

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

Frank Craven (story)
Byron Morgan (continuity)
(more)

Release Date:

29 December 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

When Stan and Ollie trick their wives into thinking that they are taking a medicinal cruise while they're actually going to a convention, the wives find out the truth the hard way.

Plot Keywords:

Convention | Lodge | Veterinarian | Newsreel | Ice Pack

Cast

Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie
Charley Chase	...	Charley Chase
Mae Busch	...	Mrs. Lottie Hardy
Dorothy Christy	...	Mrs. Betty Laurel
Lucien Littlefield	...	Dr. Horace Meddick
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Alexander	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Jimmy Aubrey	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Eddie Baker	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Extra at Sons Convention (uncredited)
Harry Bernard	...	Bartender / Police Officer (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone	...	Brawny Speakeasy Manager (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Don Brodie	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Bob Burns	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Tony Campanaro	...	Extra at Steamship Announcement (uncredited)
Charita	...	Lead Hula Dancer (uncredited)
Baldwin Cooke	...	Man Introducing Steamship Official / Extra at Sons Convention (uncredited)
Ellen Corby	...	Dress Extra at Table Next to Chase's (uncredited)
Robert Cummings	...	Extra in Crowd at Steamship Official's Announcement (uncredited)
Lillian DeBorba	...	Theater Extra in Front of Mrs. Hardy (uncredited)
John Elliott	...	Exalted Exhausted Ruler (uncredited)
Charles Giblyn	...	Assistant Exalted Ruler (uncredited)
Billy Gilbert	...	Mr. Ruttledge (voice) (uncredited)
William Gillespie	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Charlie Hall	...	Second Waiter (uncredited)
Pat Harmon	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Marvin Hatley	...	Club Pianist (uncredited)
The Hollywood American Legion Post	...	Sons 'Oasis 13' Crowd Dress Extras (uncredited)
Sydney Jarvis	...	Assistant Exalted Ruler (uncredited)
Suzanna Kim	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Sam Lufkin	...	First Waiter (uncredited)
Charles McAvoy	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Philo McCullough	...	Assistant Exhausted Ruler (uncredited)
John Merton	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Lillian Moore	...	Extra at Sons Convention (uncredited)
Ty Parvis	...	Singer (uncredited)
Nina Quartero	...	Extra at Sons Convention (uncredited)
Hal Roach	...	Extra (uncredited)
Virginia Ruth Rogers	...	Extra (uncredited)
The Santa Monica Lodge of Elks	...	People Parading in Newsreel (uncredited)
Al Thompson	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Brawny Speakeasy Manager (uncredited)
Charley Young	...	A Son of the Desert (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Seiter

Writing credits
Frank Craven		(story)
Byron Morgan		(continuity)
Jack Barty		uncredited
Oliver Hardy		uncredited
Stan Laurel		uncredited
William A. Seiter		uncredited
Glenn Tryon		uncredited
Eddie Welch		uncredited

Produced by
Hal Roach	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Marvin Hatley		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Kenneth Peach		(photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Jordan

Sound Department
Harry Baker	....	sound recording engineer

Stunts
Ham Kinsey	....	stunt double: Stan Laurel (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Nat Hoffberg	....	editor: titles (uncredited)

Music Department
William Axt	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
George M. Cohan	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Marvin Hatley	....	composer: theme music (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
O'Donnell-Heath	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Leroy Shield	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Lloyd French	....	associate director
Hal Roach	....	presenter
David Bennett	....	dance director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hal Roach Studios

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1934) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Film Classics (1944) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• NWDF (1951) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox Hills Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (1987) (USA) (VHS) (as Nostalgia Merchant)
• Nostalgia Merchant, The (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Artisan Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• RHI Entertainment (????) (USA) (TV)

Also Known As:

Fraternally Yours (UK)

Runtime:

68 min | 65 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:6 (nf) | Finland:S (1947)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

The "Sons of the Desert" theme song is a pastiche of several popular tunes, including "Give My Regards to Broadway."

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the first wide shot in the ship docking area, before Laurel and Hardy's wives arrive, following news of the Honolulu ship sinking, a crew member and camera tripod are clearly visible reflected in a glass door.

Quotes:

Lottie: I haven't heard from you since you sang in the choir.
Charley Chase: And you used to pump the organ, remember? You little old organ pumper, you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A-Haunting We Will Go (1942)

Soundtrack:

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Boys Are Marching)

One of the greatest pictures L&H ever made

SONS OF THE DESERT

Aspect ratio: 1.37:1

Sound format: Mono

(Black and white)

Stan 'n' Ollie attend a convention in Chicago against the wishes of their domineering wives (Mae Busch and Dorothy Christy). Unfortunately, truth will out...

William Seiter's magnificent film ranks alongside WAY OUT WEST (1937) as the finest example of L&H's craft, a glorious concoction in which every scene, every bit of business, glows with joyous absurdity. Basically an expanded remake of the short film WE FAW DOWN (1928), "Sons..." is a riot of comic invention, from L&H's mirthful entrance, to their encounter with obnoxious colleague Charley Chase at the 'Sons of the Desert' convention, to a climactic sequence in which The Boys are forced to justify themselves to their outraged wives (including Busch, never better as Ollie's bad-tempered spouse!). A genuine comedy masterpiece. Originally released in the UK as FRATERNALLY YOURS.