Below Zero **** (1930, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Frank Holliday, Tiny Sandford, Charlie Hall, Blanche Payson, Bobby Burns) – Classic Movie Review 7527

Director James Parrott’s sweet and satisfying 1930 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy early sound two-reeler short film Below Zero is amiable and amusing rather than hilarious and uproarious. But it is still a treasure, with long silent, dialogue-free stretches, hints of the peculiar and a big finish.

Laurel and Hardy are buskers memorably playing ‘In the Good Old Summertime’ in a snowstorm until their instruments are destroyed in a run-in with a formidable woman (Blanche Payson). They find a wallet full of money and unwittingly invite the helpful cop (Frank Holliday) who owned it to a restaurant. The cop devises a cunning comeuppance for them.

It opens with: ‘ The freezing winter of ’29 will long be remembered – Mr Hardy’s nose was so blue, Mr  Laurel shot it for a jay-bird.’

Also in the cast are Tiny Sandford, Charlie [Charles] Hall, Lyle Tayo, Retta Palmer, Baldwin Cooke and Bobby [Robert] Burns.

The film does not have much music but it is notable as their first film with a background score and has a few early Leroy Shield pieces.

Below Zero is directed by James Parrott, runs 20 minutes, is made by Hal Roach Studios, is released by MGM, is written by H M Walker, is shot in black and white by George Stevens, is produced by Hal Roach and is scored by Leroy Shield and William Axt.

The 1902 song ‘In the Good Old Summertime’ (music by George Evans, lyrics by Ren Shields) is sung by Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel, with Hardy on bass violin and Laurel on piano.

Laurel and Hardy also filmed an extended Spanish version, Tiembla Y Titubea, speaking phonetically from boards placed out of shot, with Spanish-speaking actors replacing the English-speaking support players.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7527

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