Better Late Then Never

Absolutely brilliant

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Chubby rich girl Babe London is all giddy because it's her wedding day, that is she thinks until her father James Finlayson sees the photo of her groom: Oliver Hardy. For what reason, we don't know, but let's just presume it's simply because it's Mr. Hardy. After Laurel practically destroys Oliver's attempts to get ready, they have an even more difficult time getting Babe out of her home and into Laurel's tiny little car. Then it's off to justice of the peace Ben Turpin's for an even bigger mix-up. The visual gags are a big delight, starting with the goofy pictures of the plump bride and groom to be. Oliver gets burnt thanks to a toxic bottle of perfume and eventually literally brings out the dining room and all the intended decorations. A comic delight from start to finish, it made me want to see more of the charming Ms. London.

I am reviewing my L&H knowledge in anticipation of showing these films to others. Just saw this gem tonite. The year is 1931 and the boys have hit their stride in the sound era. I am surprised at how well the gags are paced and executed. There is one prolonged sequence that could have been timed better, but it is punctuated adequately with a couple of sight gags and we are soon back on track.I am wondering now whether this film would work with any other comedians at the helm. Ollie's childish gestures of sentiment towards his beloved fiancé are utterly precious. Stan is the perfect dope, ruining everything in his path as they gear up for the wedding.Silent era film-goers were probably pleased to see Ben Turpin make an appearance near the end. Before I show this film to others, I may have to explain Turpin's role in that era.Highly recommended. Allow no interruptions.

Oliver Hardy is in love and is going to be married to Babe London, who is almost the same size. Laurel is to be best man. While Hardy tries to dress for the occasion, some flies begin to light on the elaborately prepared wedding cake. Laurel is irritated by this and spritzes the entire cake with flit. There's a conspicuous close up of the can of Flit. It was a real product, and some people still call the old fashioned sprayer with a reservoir a "flit gun." Murphy's Law applies. Everything that could possibly go wrong, goes wrong. Hardy inevitably winds up falling face-down into the wedding cake. The apartment is ruined by falling furniture and decorations. Babe London's father, James Finlayson, objects to the wedding and Hardy and his bride must try to elope in a clown car. The preacher performing the wedding ceremony is cross-eyed and marries Hardy to Laurel.It's one of the better-known shorts from the team, partly because of the climactic gag about the cross-eyed preacher. Some of the gags are adventitious -- a window slams down on the back of Finalyson's neck without any set up -- but it's still funnier than many of the other episodes.When Finalyson, a Scot, showed up, it brought to mind the varied backgrounds of the cast, with Laurel from England's Lake District and Hardy from small-town Georgia with a father who'd been wounded at Antietam. And I began to think of how NICE it must have been to make up stories and jokes with the same people over the course of so many year, and without having to take anybody else home at night. There were abrasive moments. There always are. Laurel had some problems with producer Hal Roach. Yet, being part of a team like this and working with such amusing material, must have been reasonably pleasant overall. So much more satisfying than sitting in a cubicle, at an office desk on which the most interesting object is a Boston stapler.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are the most famous comedy duo in history, and deservedly so, so I am happy to see any of their films. Ollie is preparing to get married to his beloved Dulcy (Babe London), while Stan is setting the table, and filling a mouth spray squirter with bug spray to kill the flies on the cake, which Ollie puts in his mouth, needing ice, which he slips on and crashes into the table, his face landing in the cake, and causing many room objects to drop. Dulcy's father (James Finlayson) has forbidden her to marry Ollie after seeing his picture, so Ollie and Stan go to her house to take her and get eloped (secretly married), which the father manages to find out about from Stan. There is a big fuss trying to get a ladder, get Dulcy's luggage, and especially squeezing into the small limousine, but they eventually get to the Justice of the Peace, only to have a cross-eyed official (Ben Turpin) shaking hands with and kissing Stan and Ollie. Filled with good slapstick and all classic comedy you want from a black and white film, it is an enjoyable film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian. Worth watching!