Big Business

It's interesting that the Hal Roach Studio would make two shorts by the same name--first the Our Gang short "Big Business" in 1924 and then the Laurel & Hardy classic in 1929.

This installment of the series finds the kids operating a barber shop--complete with shaves, haircuts and manicures. Of course the kids end up butchering the other kids' hair! Into this strange business wanders young master Michael (Mickey Daniels)--a pampered mama's boy with long Buster Brown curls. He hates them and is thrilled to get them cut off. He's also thrilled to demonstrate to everyone he isn't a sissy and takes on an older boy and gives him a good beating. Michael's dad sees this and is thrilled, as he's been worried about his son--but obviously not enough to tell his wife what to do with the curls!. Overall, it's a clever little short which periodically shows a baby chewing on a straight razor! My how times have changed!