The Bullfighters

THE BULLFIGHTERS (1945)

This was the last movie the aging Laurel and Hardy made for Twentieth Century-Fox, and it's another fun and underrated one at that, even if it doesn't quite measure up to the classic shorts they made a decade earlier. They really manage to inject a lot of old tried and true gags into the proceedings, thanks in part to the fact that Stan Laurel is reported to have co-directed, and so the team had more input with regard to their jokes and material. Here, the "boys" are in Mexico where Stan is mistaken for a famous bullfighter. Many laughs ensue, and this one's a winner.

*** out of ****

Of all the six films Laurel and Hardy made for Fox Studios, THE BULLFIGHTERS is probably the second best of the lot and as such wasn't a bad way for the team to finish their last American film. Too bad they later decided to star in the rather dismal ATOLL K for a French studio.

For years, I assumed that all the films the team made post-Hal Roach Studios were bad. However, I recently finished watching all their RKO, MGM and Fox films and found them much more enjoyable than I'd anticipated. Now this isn't to say that they were great or nearly up to the quality standards of the Roach films--they weren't. But at least they were pleasant little films (aside from the dreadful THE BIG NOISE and perhaps THE DANCING MASTERS).

I think the reason why THE BULLFIGHTERS was such a watchable film is because the team had more say-so in the film and it was a bit more fun than the rather dull previous films (excepting JITTERBUGS). While a couple of the routines were unfortunately copies of fights from earlier films (such as BIG BUSINESS, TIT FOR TAT and Hollywood PARTY), the rest of the film was rather amusing. About the only let-up was towards the end when the whole film seemed to just degenerate into a riot. Fortunately, however, there was a bit more to the film and the final scene is really creepy--but also very creative and funny.

As I said before, not a great film but fortunately not one that was beneath them or embarrassing. Plus, unlike so many of these 40s films, there is no stupid sub-plot to get in the way--just lots of Laurel and Hardy. A pretty decent send-off from their American film career.

Mexico, Detectives Laurel and Hardy are on the trail of the evil Larceny Nell, but they get distracted by the usual assortment of Fox Studio gangsters. One of the gangsters notices Stan's remarkable resemblence to Don Sebastian, the great bullfighter. A lightbulb goes off in his head. Wackiness ensues.

Standard Laurel and Hardy film which is enjoyable from start to finish. There's plenty of slapstick; the egg smashing scene in the bar had me in stitches. Laurel & Hardy were visibly ageing but they still had the comic timing to pull it off. There's an energetic dance sequence by Diosa Costello and a pant splitting one.

Laurel & Hardy's last American film is also probably the best(or more accurately,least worst)of their post-Hal Roach movies.One positive aspect,unlike their previous Fox/MGM wartime efforts,is that there are scenes in the film which are reasonably in character,as likeable innocents,and not complete idiots. A reworking of the egg-breaking sequence from HOLLYWOOD PARTY(1934)works quite well,as does a water-throwing routine.Arguably the best moments in the film are with cult character actor Hank Worden,who while registering at the hotel says he can't write("He's forging my name!",Stan protests!). Where the film falters is with supposed villain Ralph Sanford.Walter Long,Rychard Cramer,Charlie Hall and James Finlayson were both menacing and funny in the Roach films,but in this film,Sanford is neither despite his bulky frame.Former Radio announcer Richard Lane is good though,but the film falters in it's second half with a hackneyed 'double' story;namely Stan being a lookalike for the great bullfighter Don Sebastian.And for the first time since their earliest silent days,Fox's make-up department do away with their comic hairstyles.Still,the film brightens up with an amusing 'freak' ending,which Stan liked to employ occasionally with the Hal Roach studios.Not a good film,but certainly a tolerable one compared to A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO(1942) and THE DANCING MASTERS(1943).

Ironic this became the last film Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy made in Hollywood-and for 20th Century-Fox-as it was a definite improvement to those other post-Hal Roach movies from the previous five years. No longer do they have to deal with gangsters or spies, certainly what a relief to no longer have to also support any romantic couples, that's for sure! No, Stan & Ollie are once again left to their own devices in dealing with a cruel world. They're detectives here in Mexico where they're attempting to snag a woman while someone else they earlier prosecuted has threatened to skin them alive if he sees them again! It's only because of a fast-talking go-between man named Hotshot Coleman (Richard Lane who has great chemistry with Stan & Ollie) that the boys mostly manage to avoid Richard K. Muldoon (Ralph Sanford). In this one, Stan plays both himself and a bullfighter named Don Sebastian. Also appearing were Carol Andrews-the woman L & H are looking for-who participates in perhaps one of the funniest sequences in the movie, a reprise of the boys' "egg battle" sequence they previously did with Lupe Velez in Hollywood Party, and Hispanic bombshell Diosa Costello who performs her sexy song-and-dance act here. She was previously a partner with one Desi Arnaz before he met Lucille Ball. One more supporting player worth mentioning is Edward Gargan who is active in another "tit for tat" sequence involving Hardy. I initially saw this movie 25 years ago on VHS and I enjoyed it then and still do now especially since the DVD version I just watched also had a fine commentary track by Scott MacGillivray, author of the book-"Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward".