Their First Mistake **** (1932, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Mae Busch, Billy Gilbert) – Classic Movie Review 7815

Director George Marshall’s 1932 comedy Their First Mistake is a top Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy short, with all too credible home truths among the very amusing comedy, as recognisable situations and feelings mix expertly with farce and daftness.

Stan persuades Ollie to adopt a child to save his teetering marriage and allow them to carry on carousing. But on returning home with the infant, they find that Ollie’s wife, an angry Mrs Arabella Hardy (the redoubtable Mae Busch), has walked out, leaving the boys holding the baby back home, where a writ server (Billy Gilbert) hands Ollie divorce papers, naming Stan as co-respondent. The director also appears as the neighbour in the hall to whom Laurel and Hardy give a cigar.

Their First Mistake is directed by George Marshall, 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 Marvin Hatley (composer theme music) and Leroy Shield composer stock music).

As it is, the story is nicely resolved, with Stan and Ollie turning victory into bitter-sweet defeat, as usual. But, in the original script, Mrs Hardy came back to Ollie with another adopted baby. However, this last scene was not needed as much time and money had been spent on adding Laurel’s improvisations.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7815

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