Helpmates **** (1932, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Blanche Payson, Bobby Burns) – Classic Movie Review 10,732

Director James Parrott’s 1932 comedy short Helpmates stars the priceless Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy on top form. It was produced by Hal Roach and released by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer on 23 January 1932.

Hardy makes the mistake of calling in Laurel to help him tidy up the mess in his house when his shrewish wife Mrs Hardy (Blanche Payson) is due back home early from vacation in Chicago the day after his wild party. Naturally, they make even more mess. Stan helps Ollie to lose his clothes, wife and house.

Helpmates is exhilarating slapstick comedy from the boys at their finest. It is fast, funny and (satisfyingly) they have it virtually all to themselves – their perfect relationship never needed anyone else. Stan: ‘Who do you think I am? Cinderella? If I had any sense, I’d walk out on you!’ Ollie: ‘Well, it’s a good thing you haven’t any sense!’ ‘Stan: It certainly is!’

Also in the cast are Blanche Payson as Oliver Hardy’s brutal and dominant wife Mrs Hardy, Bobby Burns as neighbour in garden, and Robert Callahan as messenger.

Helpmates is directed by James Parrott, runs 21 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 Marvin Hatley and Leroy Shield.

Helpmates was the first black-and-white film to be colorized, released with the colorized version of The Music Box in 1986. The colorization technology by a company called Colorization Inc, a subsidiary of Hal Roach Studios, was pioneering but understandably inferior compared to today’s technology. Shamefully, as well as continuity errors and garish colour design choices, scenes were altered, cut or edited. Helpmates was premiered at the 1984 fan club The Sons of the Desert-sponsored International Helpmates Convention. The colorized Helpmates was a success with the public, and many Laurel and Hardy films were then colorized too.

 © Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,732

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