Unaccustomed As We Are *** (1929, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Edgar Kennedy, Mae Busch, Thelma Todd) – Classic Movie Review 7373

Directors Lewis R Foster and Hal Roach’s 1929 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy 20-minute comedy short Unaccustomed As We Are is a fine talkie debut for the boys, though it was made both in sound and silent versions.

It is wittily called Unaccustomed As We Are (… to speaking, of course) because it is Laurel and Hardy’s first full talkie, with a script that gets its momentum from making more cute fun out of Ollie’s relations with his wife, Mrs Hardy. The film itself gets its momentum from the seemingly effortless comedy performing of Laurel and Hardy, and brilliant supporting players Edgar Kennedy, Mae Busch, and Thelma Todd.

Mrs Kennedy (Todd), the beautiful wife of the cop Officer Kennedy (Kennedy) from next-door is kind enough to cook for the helpless Stan and Ollie, who has invited Stan over for a home-cooked meal. But Mrs Kennedy ends up burning her dress which, unfortunately, she has just taken off as Mrs Hardy (Busch) returns home, having previously stormed out in a strop.

Unaccustomed As We Are is genial, amusing comedy, with some very funny moments, though the plot was reused to better advantage for their 1938 feature Block-Heads.

Laurel unnecessarily worried about speaking his dialogue because he had a slight lisp.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7373

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com