Come Clean *** (1931, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Mae Busch, Charlie Hall) – Classic Movie Review 7519

‘Mr Hardy holds that every husband should tell his wife the whole truth – Mr Laurel is crazy too.’

Director James W Horne 1931 comedy is a touching and sometimes hilarious Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy black and white short film, with a marvellous start as the Hardys’ domestic bliss is invaded by the arrival of the Laurels. ‘We’ll pretend we’re not in,’ suggests Ollie.

Naturally, the ‘We’ll pretend we’re not in’ thing does not work and the boys are rumbled. Then Stan and Ollie leave their wives, Mrs Laurel (Linda Loredo) and Mrs Hardy (Gertrude Astor), to get ice cream, and then rescue Kate (Mae Busch), a lady of easy virtue, who is wanted by the law, from suicide by drowning.‘ Now you’ve saved me, you have to take care of me,’ she says with undeniable logic. Stan and Ollie are blackmailed into helping Kate and more trouble follows when they try to keep their wives that they have brought home a woman instead of ice cream.

Charlie Hall is particularly funny in support as the soda fountain clerk (or ice cream attendant), and Eddie Baker (detective), Gordon Douglas (hotel desk clerk) and Tiny Sandford (doorman) are also essential in the cast.

Come Clean is directed by James W Horne, 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 Art Lloyd, is produced by Hal Roach, and is scored by Leroy Shield and Marvin Hatley.

Producer Hal Roach remade it in 1942 as Brooklyn Orchid.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7519

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