Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy (themselves), Mae Busch (rich widow), Jack Barty (Jitters, the butler).
Director: LLOYD FRENCH. Photography: Art Lloyd. Film editor: Bert Jordan. Music composed by LeRoy Shield and Ray Henderson. Production manager: Henry Ginsberg. Sound recording: Warren B. Delaplain. Producer: Hal Roach. A Hal Roach Studios Production.
Copyright 13 February 1934 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp. A Hal Roach/Laurel-Hardy Comedy. U.S. release: February 1934. 3 reels.
COMMENT: Also known as "Private Life of Oliver the Eighth", although the last of the team's three-reelers, this entry fails the acid test of a good conclusion.
Nevertheless, Oliver the Eighth (as the film was titled on its original U.S. release), has many likable qualities, not the least of which is the nicely honed comic performance contributed by Jack Barty as the eccentric butler to end all eccentric butlers.
Alas, Mae Busch tends to overdo the wicked widow who plans to murder Oliver (she has a thing against men named "Oliver"), but the boys themselves are in excellent form. Although the critics didn't like the movie, it still numbers among my favorites.
Director: LLOYD FRENCH. Photography: Art Lloyd. Film editor: Bert Jordan. Music composed by LeRoy Shield and Ray Henderson. Production manager: Henry Ginsberg. Sound recording: Warren B. Delaplain. Producer: Hal Roach. A Hal Roach Studios Production.
Copyright 13 February 1934 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp. A Hal Roach/Laurel-Hardy Comedy. U.S. release: February 1934. 3 reels.
COMMENT: Also known as "Private Life of Oliver the Eighth", although the last of the team's three-reelers, this entry fails the acid test of a good conclusion.
Nevertheless, Oliver the Eighth (as the film was titled on its original U.S. release), has many likable qualities, not the least of which is the nicely honed comic performance contributed by Jack Barty as the eccentric butler to end all eccentric butlers.
Alas, Mae Busch tends to overdo the wicked widow who plans to murder Oliver (she has a thing against men named "Oliver"), but the boys themselves are in excellent form. Although the critics didn't like the movie, it still numbers among my favorites.