Night Owls

Police Chief Anders Randulf is upset with beat cop Edgar Kennedy because of the burglars he hasn't caught. Kennedy has a brainstorm: he offers not to run in a couple of tramps if they'll burgle the chief's house so he can catch them. It's a brilliant plan, with one small flaw: his stooges are Laurel and Hardy.

Edgar Kennedy was a brilliant comic himself, who had been one of the Keystone Kops. He had directed a couple of the Boy's silent shorts, but he was largely a supporting comic at the Roach lot. He gets a couple of good gags here, although Stan and Ollie, of course, are the main show.

"Night Owls" was one of the last Laurel and Hardy films for comic foil, Edgar Kennedy. He was soon to be replaced by Billy Gilbert. Released in 1930, Stan and Ollie are playing their vagrant characters who are offered the change of avoiding jail by carrying out a burglary for corrupt cop, Kennedy (who is on the verge of being fired from the force). The house in question, is none other than that of the police chief! Although this comedy short was all filmed in the "Hal Roach" studios, this doesn't affect the comedy in any way. James Finlayson is great as the put-upon butler of the said household. At one point, he takes a leaf out of Hardy's book by addressing the camera. I loved it! Stan and Ollie's attempts at burglary are like everything else they put their hand to - the final results being a disappointment. They both really squabble with each other during "Night Owls" but they always remain united against any adversity. One of their very best.

NIGHT OWLS

Aspect ratio: 1.37:1

Sound format: Mono

(Black and white - Short film)

Hoping to make an arrest that will please his boss (Anders Randolph), a lowly cop (Edgar Kennedy) persuades two vagrants (Laurel and Hardy) to rob Randolph's house in the dead of night, so he can 'arrest' them. However, things don't go according to plan...

An early sound-era comedy, in which absolute silence is the main objective! Naturally, L&H make enough noise to wake the dead whilst attempting to extricate themselves from a tricky legal dilemma (Kennedy threatens to arrest them if they decline his 'request'!), leading to the usual array of comic complications. James Finlayson hams it up as Randolph's clueless butler, hurling shoes at 'cats' in the garden (actually L&H, trying to evade detection) and getting one hurled back at him for his troubles! Ollie bullies Stan into compliance at every turn, though Stan tolerates his behavior only so far, resulting in conflict at every turn, timed to perfection by artists at the peak of their craft. Directed by James Parrott.

Stan Laurel makes most of the gags in 'Night Owls' work. In this comedy short a police officer (Edgar Kennedy) will be fired when he screws up one more time. He finds Laurel & Hardy sleeping on a bench in a public park. They have a choice. They can spend some time in jail or help the police officer. He wants them to break in with his chief. He will save the day and the chief will like him again.

The short, with sound, shows us Laurel & Hardy as burglars most of the time. They must be the worst burglars ever. They enter the house over and over again but they also manage to lock themselves out every single time. We have some laughs, all because of Laurel. Although this is definitely not the best Laurel & Hardy comedy short, it is another fine little movie.

Laurel and Hardy make incompetent burglars in this fairly good entry. James Finlayson was so talented and his facial expressions are timeless and add to Stan and Olivers' genius. The slapstick comedy is well-staged, and competently done.