Although I love 'The Music Box' and I feel that it should be considered an all time classic, I have to say that I saw the Three Stooges use these same steps in 'An Ache In Every Stake' before I ever saw 'The Music Box'. I recognized those steps as being the same ones that Curly climbed on a hot day while delivering melting ice. You see, when I grew up the Three Stooges were on TV every day, Laurel and Hardy would appear only occasionally, maybe on a Sunday. It doesn't take away from what Laurel and Hardy did, because what they did was timeless, absolutely perfect. You can still like both versions, but it's better to know from the source, that is if you're able to.
That said, I think this short film is one of Laurel and Hardy's best, not because it's so funny, which it is, but because of the lasting images it provides, especially that of the long steps (that still exist today) and the many mishaps in the water fountain outside of the house.
This short film is a great place to start if you've never seen a Laurel and Hardy film, but then again, there isn't a bad place to start either.
One of the less celebrated scenes in this film, probably because it is more charming than funny, is the dancing scene inside the house. Once Stan and Ollie get the piano situated inside the house, the two switch the player piano on and proceed with a little soft shoe routine. There's something about the give and take between the two performers that exceeds their business partnership as funny men, they actually seem to like one another as people, if not just their partnership. I think it's this quality that separates Laurel and Hardy from other comedy duos such as Abbott & Costello or Martin & Lewis. It's also probably the main reason you're bound to have a smile on your face after seeing any Laurel and Hardy film. They had a unique chemistry away from the laughs.
You could say that with the amount of steps they had to climb that they had to go a long way to get laughs, but you must know by now, the trip in getting there is what makes it entirely worth it.
10/10. Clark Richards
That said, I think this short film is one of Laurel and Hardy's best, not because it's so funny, which it is, but because of the lasting images it provides, especially that of the long steps (that still exist today) and the many mishaps in the water fountain outside of the house.
This short film is a great place to start if you've never seen a Laurel and Hardy film, but then again, there isn't a bad place to start either.
One of the less celebrated scenes in this film, probably because it is more charming than funny, is the dancing scene inside the house. Once Stan and Ollie get the piano situated inside the house, the two switch the player piano on and proceed with a little soft shoe routine. There's something about the give and take between the two performers that exceeds their business partnership as funny men, they actually seem to like one another as people, if not just their partnership. I think it's this quality that separates Laurel and Hardy from other comedy duos such as Abbott & Costello or Martin & Lewis. It's also probably the main reason you're bound to have a smile on your face after seeing any Laurel and Hardy film. They had a unique chemistry away from the laughs.
You could say that with the amount of steps they had to climb that they had to go a long way to get laughs, but you must know by now, the trip in getting there is what makes it entirely worth it.
10/10. Clark Richards