User reviews

Stan and Ollie made a lot of shorts. So many that it's natural that there would be some repetition of the gags. In this film, the formula from their silent film BIG BUSINESS is repeated but this time with Charley Hall. In fact, their fight with Hall was so successful, that it was repeated a year later in TIT FOR TAT.

Basically, what happens is that a small slap or insult or whatever provokes a response from Laurel and Hardy. And, this escalates and builds until the end result is total destruction. In BIG BUSINESS, a house and a car were destroyed, in TIT FOR TAT, two businesses bit the dust. In this film, Charley Hall is angry because the boys unintentionally got his wife drunk--resulting in him being covered in molasses and feathers and Stan and Ollie having their mobile home destroyed. It's formula but it's a good and funny one at that.

Nothing super new, but done so well.

Stan and Ollie hire a trailer and go for a camping trip to the remote countryside , get accidentally drunk ( It can happen you know ) and that`s basically it as far as the threadbare plot goes . However the film feels more cohesive than some of the other L & H shorts which are sometimes a series of set piece prat falls with little regard to the over all plot . There`s also a very memorable ditty that goes

La la la lala lala la la la

Pom Pom

Which will disappear into your head and then reappear in your memory sometime in the future and will have you scratching your head asking " Where does that song come from ? "

Just like everyone else on this page I liked THEM THAR HILLS but wouldn`t say it`s the greatest ever L & H short . In fact I wouldn`t even say it`s the greatest short featuring Mr and Mrs Hall because the sequel TIT FOR TAT released the following year is even better

This Laurel&Hardy short subject opens with Ollie suffering the effects of the gout. Given his stoutness I would think that was something that Oliver Hardy might have had in real life. In any event Dr. Billy Gilbert suggests that he and Stanley go off into the mountains and get some clean country living. Ollie's been living it up too good with that rich city food. Surprisingly Gilbert, a great comic talent in his own right is little used in this short.

But anyway off go Stan and Ollie in a trailer to Them Thar Hills. But they come into some moonshiner territory where the locals have dumped some of their product into a well the boys stop at. That leads to all the rest of the gags in this film including getting a neighbor's wife drunk and the neighbor taking umbrage.

At least until the final gag Ollie may not have had his gout cured, but with all that moonshine in him, he forgot his ills.

A LAUREL & HARDY Comedy Short. Poor Ollie is suffering painfully from gout. His doctor advises rest, country air & lots of fresh water. So the Boys rent a trailer and head up into THEM THAR HILLS. Picking a quiet spot, they are unaware that the well has been tainted with many barrels of bootleg liquor. Drinking the water while fixing their dinner, they quickly become inebriated. They are suddenly visited by a bickering couple who've run out of gas. Playing host to the wife, Stan & Ollie share their water with her and she is roisteringly drunk by the time her husband returns...

This is a very funny little film & should be seen in conjunction with its follow-up, TIT FOR TAT. The slapstick fight between the Boys & Charley Hall, as the furious husband, is hilarious. Mae Busch is the wife; film mavens will recognize Billy Gilbert as the doctor.

This is a good Laurel & Hardy short comedy, with one particularly hilarious sequence. With Ollie suffering from too much high living, the two take a trip to the country to live the simple life for a while, but instead they find themselves getting into one caper after another. After some adventures of their own, they encounter a pair of stranded motorists. Their extended squabble with Charlie Hall in the last part of the film is non-stop laughs, and one of their funniest sequences. That, and plenty of other laughs in the rest of the film, make "Them Thar Hills" one of the best-remembered Laurel & Hardy short features.

Mr. Hardy is suffering from gout, so Mr. Laurel proposes they buy a trailer and go stay in the country. They park on a patch of land with a well on it. Little do they know.... well, anything. In this case, revenooers have poured moonshiner's products down the well. As they drink the water, their mood rises..... but here comes married couple Charlie Hall and Mae Busch. It all ends in one of the marvelous slow motion 'tit for tat' duels that the Boys got into.

Stan and Ollie were alternating their shorts with features by this point, and could choose to make a movie short or long depending on what they wanted to do. This undoubtedly contributed to their sustained level of excellence in this period.

Them Thar Hills is one of the best Laurel and Hardy shorts. It works as both unite to have slapstick fun at the protagonist than each other and it is all done so economically.

Oliver has been diagnosed with gout. It is too much high living, Stan suggests they move to the ground floor. The doctor tells them to go to the country for some simple living.

When they arrive in the country with a trailer, they get drunk from the water in the well where some bootleggers emptied Moonshine in it. They come across a married couple whose car has broken down.

The wife likes their hospitality and gets drunk with the mountain water from the well. Her crabby husband is far from pleased which leads to some tit for tat slapstick.

This is just simply enjoyable fun.

Them Thar Hills (1934) : Brief Review -

Laurel and Hardy on a health Picnic is injurious to them but Helpful for your health. Them Thar Hills is another typical laugh riot from Laurel & Hardy. Just like their contemporary short comedies this one too relies on substantial situations rather than making out forceful comedy like other unintelligent people did that time. Stan and Ollie take a trip into the mountains ('the high multitude') so that Ollie can recover from gout. Bootleggers have dumped their moonshine in the well from which the boys sample their 'healthy' mountain water. Mr Hall, who has left his wife with the boys while he refuels his car is not amused at his wife's condition when he returns. I must say it has those jokes which we are fond of Today, that's almost after 9 decades. I would say watch out for few scenes which led to funny situations effortlessly. Like that water scene, Stan suspects the colour but Ollie answers, that's why Doc asked us to drink it a lot. Such a cute and innocent comedy it was. Who else did it better in 30s than them? So, their legacy is unquestionable, rather undeniable. I missed Stan's funny cries this time, maybe he could had his signature cry here too as i felt that drunkenness could have helped it to score. Ollie, as always, sensibile yet insensibly funny. When he offers a food and drink to that lady i was like, how sophistically he speaks. I mean even many rehearsed gentlemen would fail to bring that much convince on screen. Talking about comedy, it's not hysterical or completely mad but yes it is Funny and meaningfully. It depends on your taste how you like it. As for me, the sensibility always works more than dramatic proportions. A fine job Charley Rogers has done with no hard efforts at all. Easy and Simple, that's how he managed it. I will be catching the Sequel in no time.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Despite its reputation and high rating here, "Them Thar Hills" falls a bit short on the laugh-meter, especially when compared to L&H's other work. The humor really is sparse in this one.

Plot in a Nutshell: Stan and Ollie retreat to the mountains for some R&R, but encounter an ornery motorist (Charlie Hall) who spoils their fun.

I am not kidding when I tell you it took a full seven minutes before I laughed for the first time. Needless to say, that's not good. The entire opening sequence with Dr. Billy Gilbert, while necessary to set the scene, didn't contain anything actually funny. Then you also have a scene where cops and moonshiners battle in a shootout - again, maybe necessary for the plot, but nothing funny here either. When you only have 20 minutes to play with in these two-reelers, this is a lot of wasted time.

Eventually it picked up some and gladly it had a few good moments, but none of them 'classic' and not enough for this to be considered among their best. Previous to this I watched the L&H short "Brats" and I rated that 9/10. Why? Because I laughed 24 times in 20 minutes - over a laugh a minute (yes, I actually counted)! For "Them Thar Hills?" - 7 laughs in 20 minutes. Do the math lol. This one just isn't that great despite what you might hear. I ask you to watch this and count how many times you laugh....I'm fairly certain it won't average once a minute.

I love these guys but there are so many other shorts better than this (Big Business, Music Box, Helpmates, Brats - to name a few) that I would watch multiple times before watching this again.

Times watched: 1. Would I watch again (Y/N)? Only in parts.

One of Ollie's feet is heavily bandaged because of gout so Dr. Billy Gilbert suggests he spend some time in the woods and drink plenty of water. So Stan and Ollie rent a trailer and go to where the doctor suggests. Before their arrival, some bootleggers are arrested after they put some of their alcohol in a well. Those people are gone when our boys settle there and, well, later on as they're having a meal, a couple played by Charlie Hall and Mae Busch come by to get some gas from them. I'll stop there and just say this was another of the very funny L & H shorts I just rewatched just now. I mean, from the boys doing their version of "The Old Spinning Wheel" to their later tiff with Hall, there's hardly any slow spots. And, for once, Mae Busch isn't the antagonist for Stan & Ollie! In fact, her enjoyment with them is infectious here, that's for sure! These four must have really enjoyed themselves here to the point of a sequel made after this called Tit for Tat, which will be my next review.

Them Thar Hills is another favorite Laurel and Hardy episode of mine. In this one, Stan and Ollie go out into the country for Ollie's health. Along the way they encounter a fun loving wife (Mae Busch) and her exasperated husband (Charlie Hall), and they get drunk on some wishing well water that had been contaminated with alcohol by moonshiners.

The funniest part in this episode was when Stan and Ollie retaliate against Charlie Hall! Laurel and Hardy were both ingenious when it came to making episodes and movies, Stan Laurel had taken any gag he used and made it be extremely funny! Also, the way they played off each other in this episode and others were absolutely impressive. That's what made L&H so exquistite, comedy-wise. In fact, Laurel and Hardy are my second favorite comedy team of yesteryear!

Also, Charlie Hall was a great L&H regular, too! And the fun doesn't stop there! After you see Them Thar Hills, watch the bonus sequel Tit for Tat! Both episodes are a can't-miss for Laurel and Hardy fans!

This is one of Laurel and Hardy's funniest two-reelers, thanks in particular to two memorable scenes. First is the delightful drunken party scene with Mae Busch, as the three are unaware that their well water has been spiked with moonshine. Finally, there is the outrageous "tit-for-tat" slapstick finale with Charlie Hall, as each character stands there allowing another character to commit some indignity upon them, calmly awaiting their chance to retaliate. The sequel, titled Tit For Tat, featured the same cast and formula, and is nearly as good.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were comedic geniuses, individually and together, and their partnership was deservedly iconic and one of the best there was. They left behind a large body of work, a vast majority of it being entertaining to classic comedy, at their best they were hilarious and their best efforts were great examples of how to do comedy without being juvenile or distasteful.

Although a vast majority of Laurel and Hardy's previous efforts ranged from above average to very good ('45 Minutes from Hollywood' being the only misfire and mainly worth seeing as a curiosity piece and for historical interest, and even that wasn't a complete mess), 'Two Tars' for me was their first truly classic one with close to flawless execution. 'Them Thar Hills' for me is up there with their best later efforts and certainly among their funniest, even if it's not one of their most imaginative.

Can't really find anything wrong with it, again as has been said for a few other Laurel and Hardy efforts was past caring this time as to whether the story was as thin as ice when there is so much content and energy that continually makes it compelling, on top of being riotously funny in its best moments.

From start to finish 'Them Thar Hills' is wonderful, never less than very amusing and the best moments being classic Laurel and Hardy. It is never too silly, there is a wackiness that never loses its energy and the sly wit is here, how it's all executed actually doesn't feel too familiar and it doesn't get repetitive. A lot happens yet it doesn't ever feel rushed or over-stuffed. One is never in doubt how things are going to end, but doesn't stop the sheer entertainment value. Do agree that the funniest part is the extended squabble between the boys and Charlie Hall, one of my favourite ever sequences of theirs.

Laurel and Hardy are on top form here, both are well used, both have material worthy of them and they're equal rather than one being funnier than the other (before Laurel tended to be funnier and more interesting than Hardy, who tended to be underused). Their chemistry feels like a partnership here too, before 'Two Tars' you were yearning for more scenes with them together but in 'Them Thar Halls' and on the most part from 'Two Tars' onwards we are far from robbed of that. Their comic timing is impeccable and they handle the material, material more than worthy of their talents, with adept ease.

'Them Thar Hills' looks good visually, is full of energy and the direction gets the best out of the stars, is at ease with the material and doesn't let it get too busy or static. Simple it somewhat is but it doesn't ever get overly so. The supporting cast are more than up to their level, it is very difficult to go wrong with Mae Busch. Charlie Hall has standout moments too, especially the aforementioned one.

Summarising, terrific stuff. A must for fans of the duo. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Poor Ollie. Suffering from gout, his doctor recommends he go into the country and drink lots of water. Off he and Stan go, buying a trailer, and camping where there is a well. Perfect? Nope! Unbeknownst to them, it's Prohibition and some moonshiner, to keep from being caught, have dumped their illegal alcohol into the well. Also, who should come along, but a bickering couple, Mae Busch and Charlie Hall. Mae get tired of her crabby husband and goes over to the boy's camp where they share the "water." Of course, they get incredibly drunk. Soon Charlie gets angry and the men start to outdo each other in nastiness. We all know who's going to get the worst of it. These couples are going to reprise this stuff later. This whole episode is hilarious.

Stan and Ollie are advised to take a break for their health by their doctor 'Billy Gilbert'. They rent a very early version of a trailer and head into "Them Thar Hills" and discover a bootleg liquor den. Much humour ensues with Ollie having his shoe cut in half by the blundering Stan who mistakes it for firewood. Charley Hall and Mae Busch add to the humour arriving to find some GAS. Ollie and Stan make a fine plate of Beans and Coffee for Mae. Charlie Hall comes back to discover Mae drunk on the bootleg liquor which the boys don't know is in the well water. After a few hard words from Hall an almighty Tit for Tat battle ensues, with Hall ending up tarred and feathered. Only surpassed for battles in their later films by TIT FOR TAT.

At home with a foot in plaster, Hardy is advised to cut out rich foot and maybe take a trip to help relieve his pains. Laurel and Hardy set out for a trip to the country on a sunny day and stumble across a building that had been used as a hideout for a gang of moonshiners. Unbeknownst to Laurel and Hardy, the moonshiners were forced to dump their alcohol into the well when the police came, a fact that they only discover once they start using the well water for cooking in.

A simple set up and simple execution leads to a very entertaining short in which Laurel and Hardy, well, get wasted! Their decline into a state of merry inebriation is funny to watch and leads to an amusing game of tit for tat while an angry husband takes a feathering while awaiting his chance for retribution. When Laurel says `jump in the well to put out the fire' I started laughing in expectation!

While the routines lack a real imagination (apart from that aforementioned scene) the film is well made and it is fun to watch the duo get hammered with hilarious results. Both men do well in the film with Hardy, as usual, carrying the brunt of the physical work. The support cast are both good but really it's Laurel and Hardy's show.

Overall this short doesn't have any one scene that really screams out as great (with the possible exception of the `jump in the well' scene) but it is good-natured and funny regardless.

Laurel and Hardy go on vacation in the mountains, only to have everything go wrong (especially when a husband and wife arrive). As always, Stan repeatedly makes a mess of everything and takes everything literally, leaving Ollie irritated. The best part of "Them Thar Hills" is the end.

Although not credited, the doctor at the beginning is played by Billy Gilbert, best known as minister of war Herring - a spoof of Hermann Göring - in "The Great Dictator" (you may remember the scene where Charlie Chaplin's Hynkel gets angry at him and starts tearing his clothes apart). Bobby Burns, who plays one of the officers, starred in a movie series in the 1910s called Pokes and Jabbs, in which a young Oliver Hardy - billed as Babe - starred before he and Laurel were a comedy team.

Anyway, it's not the funniest movie ever, but it's still a riot. I'll have to see the sequel.