Brats **** (1930, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy) – Classic Movie Review 9437

Director James Parrott’s two-reeler 1930 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy comedy short Brats is a plotless series of funny gags, with witty characterisations, clever trick photography, expert sets and a very good production. The Brats of the title are Laurel and Hardy’s children.

Stan and Ollie play checkers (draughts) and pool as they baby-sit for their own sons, Stanley Jr and Oliver Jr, played by themselves of course, in this carefully constructed, delightful showcase for their extremely jovial brand of comedy.

With some logic, though one from another planet, Stan tells the kids: ‘If you must make a noise, make it quietly’, a funny line repeated by Ollie in Their First Mistake (1932) and Great Guns (1941), though this time Ollie’s line is the derisory reactive ‘Make a noise quietly! Hmph!’

There are also versions in German, Spanish and French. There is also a computer colorized version, from which the scene of Stan tripping on a roller skate is missing.

Brats is directed by James Parrott, runs 20 minutes, is made by Hal Roach Studios, is released by MGM, is written by H M Walker (dialogue), from a story by Leo McCarey and Hal Roach, is shot in black and white by George Stevens and is produced by Hal Roach, with photographic effects by Roy Seawright.

It is the first of three films where Stan and Ollie play dual roles, followed by Twice Two and Our Relations. It is one of two shorts to feature only Stan and Ollie. The other is the 1928 silent Early to Bed. And it is the only film where they play natural fathers.

Brats was reissued with Blotto, County Hospital and Perfect Day in 1937 with new background music scores by Leroy Shield.

‘Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy remained at home to take of the children. Their wives had gone out to target practice.’ This is Brats’s amusing introductory title, weirdly eliminated from the 1937 reissue print.

The idea of Laurel and Hardy as children is achieved with oversized furniture and large scale sets. The mouse Stanley Jr tries to shoot with a pellet gun is animated.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9437

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