Scram!

Scram finds Laurel&Hardy being told to Scram, as in scram out of town. Judge Richard Cramer who has no tolerance for drunks and vagrants tells them to get out of town after they've been caught sleeping on a park bench.

In 1932 that would have gotten a lot of sympathy from the movie audience as it seemed about half the country had similar sleeping quarters. Still this judge is a mean one.

Fortunately they find an amiable drunk in Arthur Housman whom they help in true Stan and Ollie fashion break into his house and he invites them to spend the night out of the rain. In breaking in there are a whole treasure trove of gags.

Once in the lady of the house is not thrilled with their presence.

All I can say there is heed the words of Paul Newman who says it is best to use gin when drinking with a mark in The Sting. Water in a gin bottle is most effective. But in this case it's gin in a water jug. Also effective.

The last gag is the end to a perfect evening for Stan and Ollie.

A most timely Prohibition era short subject.

A particular favourite of mine, 'Scram!' provides yet another reminder that the films of Laurel & Hardy were preCode in their acceptance of drunkenness at a time of prohibition - which provided Arthur Housman with steady employment for the duration and after - which serves as the mainspring for this priceless instalment of the pair's adventures.

Also in evidence is the generosity regularly shown to their supporting players. Vivien Oakland - usually a prim bluestocking - gets to drunkenly carouse with the boys scantily dressed. But the most memorable performance is easily given by toad-faced Richard Cramer - usually cast as a western heavy - who bookends the film as the judge with improbably flamboyant taste in pyjamas, who "hates drunken people" and whose scowling face at the film's conclusion is an absolute picture.

Scram! (1932)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Since the jail is too full a judge orders Laurel and Hardy to get out of town within a hour. Outside the courthouse they help a drunk man who then offers to let them spend the night with him but the drunk takes them to the wrong house. Plenty a gags from start to finish in this very good short. The highlights include trying to get a key from a drain and the terrific ending where L&H get drunk with another man's wife.

Saps at Sea (1940)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Terrific Laurel and Hardy feature has Hardy suffering a nervous breakdown so Laurel suggests they go to the sea for peace of quiet. This doesn't work as planned but things get worse when an escaped killer kidnaps them. Clocking in at just around 57-minutes this here basically plays out as two shorts with the first half taking place at home and the second half at sea. The first half is a lot funnier but the ending is among the funniest stuff I've seen from any L&H film.

Convicted of vagrancy, Laurel and Hardy are give one hour to get out of town or be jailed. On their way out of town they meet a drunk who has lost his car keys. They help him find them and he takes them to his house, but given the trouble they have getting inside, is it even his house?

As usual Stan and Oliver are homeless and workless. Here they are forced out of a town but think they've landed on their feet when a drunk takes them into his luxury home. This plot gives the leads only really one type of humour to concentrate on – physical routines. That isn't a major problem as they are pretty funny is never exactly setting the world on fire.

However I always liked their dialogue together as it is often hilarious and well written to make them both look foolish. Here there is none of this worth speaking of. Both the leads do well and there's no doubting their abilities when it comes to falling over in amusing way.

Overall this is funny if you like L&H's physical stuff which I do, but I did feel like the job was only half done when their was none of their usual banter.

This is a "vintage" Stan and Ollie film in more than one sense of the word as four of the five main characters in the story are innebriated for a large portion of the proceedings.

Token Hollywood drunk Arthur Houseman (an...ahem...method actor) is at his career best, and the boys are also on form. Watch for Stan's bewildered reply to the judge's question: "On what grounds?". It's a classic.

Richard Cramer is truly menacing as the judge, and the scenes featuring the judge's wife (played by Vivien Oakland) made me laugh out loud along with the characters.

8/10