Way Out West
Directed by James W. Horne
Written by Jack Jevne, Charlie Rogers, et al
1937/USA
Hal Roach Studios/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing
[box] Stan: Do you mind if I have another idea?
Ollie: If it’s anything like the last one, yes.[/box]
For my money, this is the funniest of the Laurel and Hardy features.
A dying prospector has selected Stan and Ollie to deliver the deed to a valuable gold mine to his daughter Mary Roberts. They head off to Brushwood Gulch on their mission. There saloon owner Mickey Finn tricks the pair into handing the deed over to his saloon singer wife. When our heroes discover this, they are determined to retrieve the deed and rescue the real Mary who is working as a maid in the bar.
This is a whole lot of fun with several musical moments and a great deal of the physical comedy Laurel and Hardy excel at. I particularly loved the scene where the saloon singer wife tickles Stan into hysterical laughter in order to get him to hand back the deed. There is something about Stan Laurel that just gives me a warm feeling. Recommended.
The film was nominated for an Oscar for its excellent score.
Clip – “At the Ball” dance routine – if this was the only thing Laurel and Hardy had ever done they would still have a special place in my heart
Clip – “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine” – this little ditty hit #2 on the UK charts in 1975
