Thanks for reading
Antony Hudson
(TonyHadNouns)
My book, Sector 22: Zoey, is now available on Amazon, eBay, and SkyCat Publications' website:
Amazon:
eBay:
SkyCat Publications:
Ask me anything at:
ahudsonpresents@live.co.uk
Thursday 31 March 2016
Wednesday 30 March 2016
… Of the Week: 30th March – 6th April 2016
Film of the
Week:
Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice
This is going to be my non-spoiler review. My spoiler filled
review will be not this Friday, but the Friday afterwards.
Batman Vs Superman hit cinemas across the country, generating a tsunami
of mixed reviews. Most critics hated it, yet some fans enjoyed it. And when I
mean some fans, I mean the fans that did enjoy the film, raved about Ben
Affleck’s performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman and not Henry Cavill’s performance
as Clark Kent/Superman.
This film is a sequel to the film Man of Steel. Whilst the fight
between Superman and General Zod was happening, Bruce Wayne was fighting his
way through the terrified city to get to the people he cares about, who are at
his building in the city which Zod destroys with the fire from his eyes. This
cements Bruce’s opinion on Superman and the rivalry begins. Director Zack Snyder
told Ben that Bruce is tired. He’s experienced the lot, yet there’s still so
much more he has to do. He’s Batman and Batman doesn’t stop. Ben did a superb
job doing that.
Jesse Eisenberg plays Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor has been played brilliantly
by a number of actors over the years, all catching his genius, but insane personality,
hell-bent on defeating Superman because he believes that the city will start to
rely on him and not do anything to help themselves. Jesse performed just as well
as all the others. He captured Lex’s insanity well.
Wonder Woman blended well with everyone. She helped tell the audience that this was all part of a bigger story, which involves all the members of the Justice League, including the Flash and Aquaman.
And now we get to the two main people. Clark Kent/Superman, and
Lois Lane. We are already familiar with Henry Cavill as Superman, so we didn’t
really need much of an introduction. He carried on struggling to decide whether
to be good or not. It’s understandable that the city would be scared of his
actions, considering that he is an alien with immeasurable powers that almost
obliterated the entire city during his last encounter with another one of his
kind. That confrontation happening whilst Lex goes about his plan in the background
blended together nicely, only overlapping when absolutely necessary. Lois Lane
was the same character as she has ever been in the comics and films: Strong and
independent, and doesn’t take no for an answer. The Clark and Lois’
relationship also worked well.
And say what you want about the film, you can't deny that the climatic battle at the end wasn't epic, because it was. Doomsday pushed Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to their limit, showing us that even the most powerful of superheros struggle sometimes.
That’s pretty much all I can say about it without giving anything
away. There is one thing that I would like to address before we move on to the
next section, however, and that’s the reviews many critics have been giving the
film. They have been saying that the film is terrible, and it only has, as of
this Monday, 29% on Rotten Tomatoes. But, despite all of that, the film has
broken the record for the highest opening weekend for any Warner Bro. film,
beating the likes of Harry Potter and the Dark Knight trilogy, scoring a
staggering, as of 11 hours ago, $468 million. The fans have been swarming to
see the film, which got me thinking. The immensely epic Science Fiction
thriller, Watchmen, also scored considerably lower with the critics, than with
the fans who has labelled as the best superhero film of all time by the fans. The
also as epic film 300 was obliterated by the critics, but fans loved it. It
seems that both times, critics’ opinions have been pushed aside and ignored. The
question I’m asking here is, what’s stopping the same happening with Batman Vs
Superman?
TV Episode
of the Week:
Supergirl – Season 1 – Episode 18: Worlds Finest
It has to be noted that the production schedule for the crossover
was a bit off. Supergirl airs on Mondays, whereas the Flash airs on Tuesdays,
but the Flash sets up the crossover. Well, sort of. If you watch Supergirl,
without knowing the Flash’s story, then his appearance may be sudden a little
out of place with the main storyline of the show.
The episode of the Flash that aired on Tuesday did start to set up
the crossover, but in the crossover, he has a device that he had built from the
information he got from Eobard Thawne after travelling through time to ask him
to teach him to go faster. A whole lot of crazy happened during that episode. Barry
accidentally messed with the timeline, causing a Time Wraith to appear,
hell-bent on destroying the future Barry to set the timeline right again. It’s
a nostalgic episode because you got to see Tom Cavanagh play the evil version
of Dr Harrison Wells, who is secretly the Reverse Flash/Eobard Thawne. Without
going into the complete lore of the Flash’s continuity as this section is more
dedicated to Supergirl’s episode, Barry does manage to convince him to hand
over enough information to help him go faster. At the end of the episode, not
much has changed, and things carry on as normal. I would like to say, however,
that even though it was great to see Eddie back again, he was only there to
help Iris’s character development, and although that can be classed as an important
role, having him back, I thought he would have done something a little bit more
than just be stared at with nostalgic memories and say a few words that we may
already have known, but that’s just one element of the show. The rest of the
episode was great.
Next week on the Flash, Barry and the team at Star Labs are going
to use that information to build him a device that will help him travel from
one Universe to another so that he can stop Zoom once and for all. That device
is what we saw in Supergirl. So, the production schedule is completely out of
sync by a couple of weeks. That does and doesn’t affect the crossover.
Let me explain. Supergirl’s storyline revolves around stopping Non
and his army from destroying National City. A couple of episodes back,
Supergirl lost trust in the city, and she now has to try and win their trust
back. This episode, there are two enemies for the price of one. Livewire and
the newly introduced Silver Banshee. They both have a vendetta against Cat
Grant and Kara Danvers, and team up to take them both down. If the Flash wasn’t
there, then it would have been just another episode. The gradual character
development of the Silver Banshee was well-written, and if this crossover didn’t
happen, then Supergirl would have had to fight two enemies at once. She would have
struggled a bit, but she would have done so, and things would carry on as
normal. There were fears that Supergirl brought in the Flash just to give the show
an increase in popularity, but that simply wasn’t the case. Supergirl’s
storyline was strong enough to hold its own without any help. The fans asked
for the crossover, and so the two networks delivered.
So, let’s look at the other side of the coin. The Flash being
there did make the episode somewhat better. The Flash’s introduction to the episode
by saving Kara from falling several stories, and due to his speed boost he got
from Harrison Wells, meant that he accidentally ran a little bit too far before
stopping. Instantly, the two characters' chemistry brightened up the show massively.
Barry’s mild awkwardness yet knowing what he is talking about, complete with
Kara’s confidence and being in awe with Barry being from another universe
altogether, allowed them to bond and have a fun time throughout the episode.
Barry told Kara about his experience with the city you love turn their back on
you. All you have to do is give it time and things will slowly go back to normal.
Near the end of the episode, Kara saves a helicopter from being struck down by
Livewire’s bolt of electricity, injuring herself in the process. This gives the
people of National City the message that Kara is not their enemy, but instead
their hero, and does what they can to stop her from getting hurt further. So, because
this crossover happened, Kara was able to help the city trust her again. If it
hadn’t have happened, then she would have earned their trust slower than just
one episode.
Having a crossover of two major characters needed to have some
impact on someone’s storyline, and because the Flash was crossing over the
Supergirl, then it was her storyline that had that impact. The episode was
joyous to watch, and it did push events in the direction they needed to go. One
of the beauties with filming new episodes whilst episodes are being aired is
that you do have a plan as to where you would like the show to go, but that
plan always has some leeway. It can be changed in subtle ways, which is exactly
what happened here, and I believe it was for the better. They used the Flash as
a plot point between Kara and Jimmy Olsen. Kara wants to be with Jimmy, and
what better way to do that than to be seen communicating and getting along well
with another man. They used the crossover as a way to increase the speed of the
show (pardon the pun).
As I said before, you don’t necessarily have to be completely
caught up with the Flash’s story to understand everything that happens, as
Barry does a good job explaining how he arrived in that Universe, the theory of
the multiverse, and the most important thing of all, who he is and how he
obtained his powers. All you need is a few quick and simple sentences to
explain so much, then move on to the main plot of the show. But, it does help
in some ways if you did know the storyline, which is what I was afraid of
happening. Fans of the Flash would come over to watch Supergirl, then leave,
whereas fans of Supergirl suddenly got a new superhero in town, standing out
like a sore thumb. My opinion does originate from knowing both show’s continuity,
which is why it is hard to devise an opinion as if I didn’t, but I do believe
that they did a good job to include him in the show, and the chemistry between the
two leads covered up any unknowing information, and how it pushed the story
forwards that much further and faster than if Supergirl had to do it on its
own, then all I can say is that fans of the show have a good few episodes
coming their way.
The ending went just how I had expected. Kara kissed Jimmy. I was
also expecting some sort of cliff-hanger immediately afterwards, leaving a
questioned unanswered and setting things up for the next episode.
All in all, the episode was great. A lot of comic book Easter Eggs
for those that read the comics, and a couple, but extremely subtle references
to the Flash’s show. It was a well-constructed episode, and I hope that it has
inspired them to do more. It also sets up a major storyline that they may or
may not do: Crises on Infinite Earths, but that’s for another day.
Game of the Week:
Planet Coaster
This came comes from the minds that brought you Roller Coaster
Tycoon 3. Back in 2004, Theme Park games would never be the same again. Tycoon
3 reimagined the entire concept, bringing added realism and unlimited possibilities,
including 3D graphics. And it is still the number one Theme Park game around
today. It still sits on its podium, wearing its crown with pride. Several games
have tried to take the crown from it, but always ended up falling flat on their
face. The latest attempt was with Roller Coaster Tycoon World, which is can
technically be called the fourth instalment in the series. It has been pushed
back more times than anyone can count, and handed to many different developers,
all of which have discarded the previous developers’ workings and started from
scratch once more. It has been a disaster from the very beginning and doesn’t
deserve to be included within the main series.
That top spot may be, or may already have been, taken. Planet
Coaster has just been released, but as an alpha, meaning the full game has yet
to be released, which has been scheduled for the end of this year, but already
it has won over many gamers. And it has won me over as well. Looking further
into the game, I discovered that it was actually made by the same developers
who made Tycoon 3. If a game is worth beating, it’s worth beating yourself.
Already it has proven to be an incredible accomplishment. Tycoon 3
was known for its fantastic light engine, making the night time scene look spectacular.
Planet Coaster today’s technologies, which are vastly superior than what they
had back in 2004 to its advantage, to make the lighting engine bigger, better
and so more dazzling. You can be insanely creative with your placements of multi-coloured
lights, making your park look like a masterpiece. You can customise any ride
you want instead of only having fixed designs, allowing you to create your own
theme if you feel that you want to do something different. The possibilities really
are endless.
As much as it is such a good game, the price does let it down.
When it comes out at the end of the year, it has the potential to be worth
every penny, but being an alpha, despite the amount of stuff you can do already,
the price does need to be lowered, or the game has a few updates before it is
worth that amount of money. So far, the basic package that includes the game is
£30.00. The deluxe package is £69.99, which is a bit much, especially
considering it isn’t the full game. You can get a very decent pair of
headphones for that amount of money, and you would know that it will come
complete, instead of you having to wait for the wires to come so you can plug
them in. Despite that, however, it is a superb game and is set to be the next
best coaster game money can buy.
Video of the
Week:
The LEGO® Batman Movie Teaser – Batcave
(By Lego)
&
The Lego ® Batman Movie Teaser – Wayne Manor
(By Lego)
I don’t know if it was intentional, but having two teaser trailers
for the spin-off movie from the Lego® movie featuring the one and only Batman
in one week does seem pretty intentional to me. But who cares, right. Everybody
loved the Lego® movie, including the critics, and everyone especially loved
Batman. He had a different personality compared to the live-action films. His
subtle narcissistic personality complete with sheer awesomeness propelled him
to the top of most, if not all, of everyone’s favourite character list from the
movie, so it does seem predictable that the studio would bring out a movie
centred round him.
The first teaser showed off his awesomeness once more, by
explaining how the film had been written, directed, choreographed and painstakingly
beatboxed by him, because he’s Batman. Then he dropped the mic, right before
the clips from the film played. After seeing that video, all I can say is that
he most definitely deserves that lobster.
The second teaser shows him in his manor, talking to Alfred, who
broke the fourth wall by saying that Bruce is acting much the same as he always
has done during his previous appearances in all of his films beforehand,
including that weird time in 1966. I agree with Batman that he has aged phenomenally.
Then the clips from the film plays, cementing my want to go and see the film
when it comes out in 2017.
I know, I can’t wait that long either.
Thanks for reading
Antony Hudson
(TonyHadNouns)
My book, Sector 22: Zoey, is now available on Amazon, eBay, and SkyCat Publications' website:
Amazon:
eBay:
SkyCat Publications:
Ask me anything at:
ahudsonpresents@live.co.uk
Tuesday 29 March 2016
The Watch – Part 62:
I arrived home jumping for joy. I was buzzing all over with
excitement from what just happened only a few moments ago. I knew that I had to
get some sleep at some point tonight for I would be rather tired and unable to
concentrate properly tomorrow, but that sudden explosion of adrenaline through
my body woke me up so much so that I’ve never been this awake before in my
life. I have so much energy in my system that I just have to get rid of
somehow.
I shut the front
door behind me and locked it before putting the key back on the hook where it
usually sits so neither me or my parents can lose it.
I sat down on the sofa, wondering
what to do to expel this energy. Even though I have all this energy inside me,
I had a feeling that if I did anything, it would quickly disperse, leaving me
on the floor in a collapsed heap of exhaustion, asleep in seconds, so I didn’t
want to do anything that was too active, but I couldn’t sit here waiting for my
body to calm down. I’ve never experienced this much joy before and so my body
is having a hard time processing it. I kissed Amy. And not on the cheek either,
but on the lips, for more than just a second. I kissed the person I have been
in love with ever since I first saw her enter the classroom at college four
years ago. I never foresaw this coming, never expected me to even build up
enough courage to speak a single sentence, and I’ve just spent the entire day with
her, opening up most of our life stories so that we would be able to understand
and know each other that much more. The more I think of the kiss, the more it
feels so much more unbelievable that it actually happened.
Today was the
most successful day I have ever had, and I’ve recently stopped a super-villain
from destroying the world by launching many rockets at the earth. I thought it
wouldn’t get any better than that, but I couldn’t be more wrong.
I don’t think I’m
going to try and get rid of this energy, I just thought, for I figured that it
would be beneficial for me to go to bed happy so that I would be able to wake
up in the morning just as, enabling me to have a good day with Amy tomorrow at
the shopping centre. I think that’s a much better idea than expelling my energy
through some activity. My body has to get used to this happiness as I have a
feeling that so many more will come my way so it would be good if I got used to
it instead of being this energetic each time they happened.
I turned off the living room lights,
kitchen lights and the hall lights before heading up stairs where I headed
straight for my bedroom, got myself changed from my clothes to my pyjamas and
crashed onto my bed. I knew that if I kept my eyes shut for long enough, I
would get to sleep soon, I just have to wait it out.
I wonder what’s
going to happen tomorrow. I wonder what that item that Amy wants. I don’t have
to put unintentional worries in my mind. I’m sure everything will go fine.
I have so many
thoughts in my head. Some are just repeating over and over again. Some don’t
even make any sense. A person who isn’t confident by nature, just kissed the
woman he has been in love with for four years. That’s something that is going
to make sparks fly.
An unknown amount
of time passed before I was able to settle my mind down. I tried to keep myself
in one position, but I found myself rolling over this way and that for each new
position quickly became uncomfortable. Eventually, I was slipping away into a
natural sleep cycle.
***
The next morning,
I woke up surprisingly refreshed and relaxed. I wasn’t sure when during the
night my mind had settled down fully, but I was able to think clearly for the
first time since last night. I checked the time and found that it was half
seven, which gives me plenty of time for me to get myself ready before Amy
comes around in about a half an hour’s time.
I jumped out of
bed and practically skipped into the bathroom where I took a quick shower.
After doing up
the belt buckle on my jeans, and pulling a plain red T-shirt over my head
complete with a red hoodie, I checked the time once more and found that only a
quarter of an hour had passed since I climbed out of bed, which gives me
another quarter of an hour to have breakfast, brush my teeth and do anything
else that needs to be done before my day out with Amy. I don’t think I’m ever going
to get used to that fact. Amy’s my girlfriend. Nope, never going to happen.
In the kitchen, I
poured myself some apple juice, popped some bread into the toaster and whilst
they were cooking, I turned on the TV in the living room. I thought that I
would catch up on the news over the past couple of days considering that I
haven’t exactly been around that much. You never know what you might miss if
you don’t pay attention to it. The BBC news, in my opinion, the better channel
to get the breaking news from. As soon as my finger pressed enter on the remote
to change the channel, the toast popped up.
‘The runaway
train, forty trucks long and is carrying highly toxic chemicals that if ignited
can cause some serious damage to the surrounding area,’ the news reporter said
in a very agitated tone. I was buttering my toast at the time and so rushed
from the kitchen to the living room the moment I heard.
‘Experts are
saying that the train must have a fault in its gears to slip from cruise
control to full power, but they are also adding that they cannot know for sure
until they have a proper look. Currently, the out of control train is
barrelling down the tracks, nearing the town of Colchester, which, if not
stopped beforehand, will derail and from what we know of its cargo, the surrounding
houses have been evacuated just in case.’
The woman
continued as footage of runaway train showed up on screen. It was a freight
train and a very long one at that. It was going at quite the speed. As it
rounded a couple of corners, sparks from its wheels flew in all directions as
the train struggled to stay on the tracks.
‘If the train isn’t stopped and
is successful in passing through Colchester’s station, the police has taken
every possibility in mind and has evacuated the village of Lawford as well. So
far, two attempts to try and bring this relentless train to a stop has failed.
The first attempt was lowering someone onto the engine, then had to climb down
into the cab where they would be able to bring the train to a natural stop
using its engine, but try as they might, the train was just going too fast for
any stability. The second attempt was to use what is known as the PDR, or the
Portable Derailer, didn’t go as planned. The train, going at top speed at this
point, smashed straight through the device.
‘So far, we have been unable to
get any more information on what they are planning to do next, but whatever it
is, let’s hope they bring this train to a safe stop before any lives are hurt
or lost in the process.’
I completely
forgot my toast as I watched the epic images of the train hurtling down the
tracks at speed. I watched as they showed the two attempts of stopping it, both
met with a failure.
‘We have word
that the train is only five miles from the town of Colchester. The space needed
to bring this train from top speed to a standstill is about a couple of miles,
which means they have to think of something quick.’
I can give myself
super speed that will allow me to run up to the cab, climb in and then stop the
train before it causes and real damage. But I don’t know anything about how a
train works so even if I do get inside, it might as well still be a runaway
train.
But why am I even
planning to stop this train. Amy is coming round in less than fifteen minutes and
then we’re off to the shopping centre. I don’t have time to go all the way over
there, stop the train and come all the way back in time.
What am I even
thinking about? Of course I can do everything in time. I can teleport myself in
a split second, and it will only take a couple of seconds, if not only a couple
of minutes to successfully stop the train, then another split second to
teleport myself back, then finish having my breakfast all before Amy comes
round. I can do that.
I mean, what’s
the point of having my watch if I’m not going to use it for good. But I said
that I wouldn’t draw attention to myself in this world for Amy and Tom would
probably start asking questions that I won’t be able to answer. They would be
talking about me and I can’t give away anything as that would cause an entire
can of worms would spill out.
But I can’t just
stand here and do nothing. I have to do something. I have the power and so I
should use it.
Screw it, I’ll do
it. If anybody asks, then I’ll just have to think of something. After all, it’s
not like I’m going to go there without hiding my identity.
I tapped in the necessary
commands into my watch allowing my clothes to change into the suit I wore in
the Parallel Universe beforehand, except this one is brand new looking instead
of all beaten up, torn and caked in dust. The sunglasses covering my eyes were
all that I needed to conceal my identity, I was confident in saying that. I did
look like a different person wearing this suit. I don’t think even my mum and
dad will be able to recognise me, which is also a bonus. It really would be an
awkward conversation when they come home and start talking to me about it.
I then inputted
some more commands into the watch and when I pressed the button to activate
them, I disappeared from my living room, only to appear somewhere in
Colchester, next door to the railway track. I knew that the train had already
gone passed this point as I recognised the area it is now in from the TV.
Giving myself the super power of running fast, and after feeling the power
inside my body once more, I started to run.
It was only
moments before I reached my top speed of 300MPH. I figured that this speed
would allow me to be a blur when passing people and not too fast that I have a
bit of control over my running. I know I increased my speed to a 1000MPH
before, but that is only because I was in the air and so I didn’t have any
houses or other obstacles to crash into.
The world around me was a blur. I
forced the air in front of me to one side as I ran. I followed the tracks until
I rounded a corner and saw the tail end of the train. Helicopters, police cars,
all swarmed the area, keeping an eye on the train as they tried to figure out
what to do next. They have no idea what’s about to happen. The train is only
going about 70MPH meaning it was practically stationary compared to my speed,
as were the helicopters and cars.
I neared the train. Soon, I
caught up with the last truck where I kept running forward, passing each and
every one until I reached the engine. Still in super speed mode, I climbed up
to the door and stepped inside the cab. I could already hear the news reporters
and police officers question what just happened. I stopped still whilst I
focused on the controls in front of me. I have no idea what any of these levers
do. As I was figuring out what to do, a police helicopter swung around and
pointed its nose at me, giving the pilot the right angle to see who is behind
the wheel, so to speak. Whether they will start opening fire, I wasn’t worried as
in a couple of minutes, they will have no reason to as this train will be at a
standstill.
I wasn’t a hundred percent sure,
but I chose two levers to pull. The breaks came on and the wheels screeched
against the tracks as the breaks did everything they could to stop this train.
I was slowing down and eventually came to a safe stop. I made sure that
everything was correct before leaving so this doesn’t happen again straight
after, and not waiting around for anyone to question who I am or anything of
the sort, I sprinted away as fast as my speed will allow me to, leaving
everyone to wonder what just happened.
I arrived back into my living
room with minutes to spare. I changed back into my everyday clothes, sat down
on the sofa, eating my breakfast, watching the news. I knew that I did
something that I said I wouldn’t do, but I couldn’t just stand around doing
nothing when I have the ability to make a difference.
Then the doorbell
rang and my day had officially begun.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thanks for reading
Antony Hudson
(TonyHadNouns)
My book, Sector 22: Zoey, is now available on Amazon, eBay, and SkyCat Publications' website:
Amazon:
eBay:
SkyCat Publications:
Ask me anything at:
ahudsonpresents@live.co.uk
Monday 28 March 2016
Top Number: My Top 10 Laurel and Hardy shorts/films
For generations, Laurel and Hardy has been entertaining the masses
for decades. With their unforgettable catchphrases, unparalleled slapstick
humour, and characters that will leave you laughing for the rest of the day,
Laurel and Hardy never stop bringing in the fun.
The ten shorts/films that I will be talking about today all were
when the two were working with Hal Roach. They made a number of shorts/films
when working hat the Hal Roach Studios. Starting off with the silent films in 1927
with “Duck Soup”, then making the transition to what was known at the time as
talkies, in 1929 with “Unaccustomed As We Are”. Since then, some of their best
works were produced.
Their last film before leaving the Hal Roach Studios after a
disagreement over contracts, “Saps at Sea” in 1940. The double act would later
sign a deal with 20th Century Fox and produce a series of feature
length films. Their final film “Atoll K”, in 1951, was met with numerous
difficulties due to Stan’s health and communications with French Director, Leo
Joannon.
In August 1957, after being hospitalised from suffering a major
stoke that left him unable to speak for several months, he suffered two more
strokes and slipped into a coma from which he never recovered, and on August 7th
1957 he died peacefully in his sleep.
Stan vowed never to act again after his friend’s death, and stuck
to his word by turning down a small cameo role in the film “It’s a Mad, Mad,
Mad, Mad World.” Four days after suffering from a heart attack, Laurel passed
away quietly in his armchair on 23rd February 1967. His last words
to his nurse minutes away from death by saying that he wouldn’t mind going
skiing. Surprised to hear that, the nurse said that she didn’t know that he was
a skier, to which he replied by saying, “I’m not, I’d rather be doing that than
this.”
Their legacy is huge, and continue to grow. Today, I would like to
talk about my ten favourite productions of theirs, and spread their genius that
much further.
Number 10:
Our Wife
(1931)
Oliver is making plans to be married to Dulcy with Stan as his
best man. However, the moment that Dulcy’s father sees Hardy’s picture, he
freaks out and forbids her to marry him. So they plan to elope. Laurel and
Hardy, after causing a bit of chaos manages to sneak Dulcy away from her house.
And this is the part that puts this episode on the list. Oliver
asks Stan to order him a limousine for their wedding, to which Stan orders a
tiny car instead. They spend several minutes trying to cram themselves into the
car, along with the suitcases, to which they successfully do, but as it is
about to set off, the car’s front end lifts off and Stan is propelled through
the roof, where his head pokes out of the top of the car for the entire journey
to the vicar who has agreed to marry then.
Unfortunately, the vicar is suffering from cross-eyes and
accidentally marries Stan to Oliver.
Number 9:
Helpmates
(1932)
Oliver’s house is a complete mess from a wild party the previous
night. He receives a telegram from his wife saying that she is at the station,
ready to be picked up. Freaking out, Oliver calls up Stan to come over and help
him tidy the house and to get ready to pick up his wife. Typical Laurel and
Hardy shenanigans commence.
Oliver then rushes out to pick up his wife, leaving Stan to do the
finishing touches. Oliver comes home with a black eye and no wife, only to find
the house is in a worse state than when he left it. Stan explains that he
wanted to leave them a nice fire, but it blew up the house.
The short concludes with Oliver sitting in his armchair,
contemplating what on Earth had happened, only for a storm to break out above
and starts raining on him.
Number 8:
Busy Bodies
(1933)
Stan and Oliver are arriving to their new job with confidence, but
things quickly get out of hand. They immediately fall out with one of their
workmates, and then with themselves, resulting in “tit for tat”.
The problems only but increase, and soon they are being chased out
of the workplace, jump in their car, which they then promptly drives into a
vertical saw and cuts their car in half.
Number 7:
Me and My Pal
(1933)
Oliver Hardy is preparing for his wedding day to the daughter of a
wealthy oil magnet, Peter Cucumber. San Laurel is his best man. Before Oliver
sets off for the wedding, Stan comes to visit and brings a present, which is
revealed to be a jigsaw puzzle. Oliver is puzzled as to why Stan brought that
because he soon won’t have time to play with it, however, they quickly become
preoccupied with it, as well as the Taxi driver who has come to take Oliver to
the wedding, quickly followed by the butler.
A telegram arrives for Oliver, and soon the telegram delivery boy
is also distracted by the puzzle, and even a cop, who only arrived after
crashing into the back of the parked taxi, which is parked illegally. At the
wedding, Peter Cucumber is furious because Stan had ordered a wreath to be sent
to the wedding, and that Oliver is very late. He goes to investigate the
problem, and at the house, orders Oliver to come and marry his daughter. The
jigsaw is almost completed, all they need to do is find one more piece. The
Police Officer says that no one is to leave this place until that puzzle is
completed, including Cucumber, who is confused and even angrier.
A fight breaks out, resulting in the puzzle getting knocked over,
and, the taxi driver, the telegram delivery boy, the butler, and Peter Cucumber
to be arrested, except Stan and Ollie who managed to hide themselves. Before Stan
is about to leave Oliver on his own to think things through, he actually finds
the missing piece, but before he is able to do anything else, Oliver angrily
throws him out. The short film ends with Oliver throwing the puzzle all around
the house out of frustration.
Number 6:
Way out West
(1937)
This is one of their last feature films before leaving Hal Roach
Studios. It also includes their famous dance routine to the equally as famous
song, “At the Ball, That’s all”, by The Avalon Boys.
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy has been entrusted by Seymore “Sey”
Roberts, an old prospector, to deliver the deed to a gold mine, to the man’s
daughter, Mary Roberts. Mary is living in Brushwood Gulch, and doesn’t have
much money and is constantly being tormented by her cruel guardians, Mickey
Finn (James Finlayson) and his wife Lola Marcel (Sharon Lynn), who are both
saloon owners and Lola is saloon’s singer.
During their journey, they try and flirt with the woman who is
riding with them, only to discover that she is married and she complains to her
husband, who is also the town’s sheriff of their actions, which prompts the sheriff
to order the pair to leave town on the next coach out. Stan and Oliver promises
to do so, but they first must complete their mission. Before they enter the
saloon, they perform their famous dance routine.
They introduce themselves to the saloon’s owner, who quickly
formulates a plan of having his wife, Lola, play Mary so she can get the deed
for them. The plan works because neither Stan nor Oliver has ever seen Mary
before, so unknowingly hands the deed to the wrong person. Happy with their
success, they stick to their promise to the sheriff and head to the next coach
out of town, only to then bump into the real Mary. Upon learning who the real
Mary is, they quickly turn back to collect the deed from the wrong people, but
the husband and wife duo will not surrender the deed. A massive struggle
ensures. Stan successfully grabs it, but is then locked in the bedroom with
Lola, who doesn’t back down from doing anything she can to make him give the
deed, which includes tickling Stan into hysterics. Stan gives Lola the deed,
and she locks it in the safe. Stan and Oliver calls the Police, but, their plan
backfires with the angry sheriff they encountered earlier turns up and chases
them out of town.
They are not about to give up yet. Outside town, Stan comes up with
a plan to sneak back into the saloon and take the deed, of which Oliver agrees
and they go ahead with it. Whilst attempting to do so, classic Laurel and Hardy
shenanigans erupt, but they do make it inside without alerting anyone, except they
do encounter the real Mary, who doesn’t hesitate with helping them break into the
safe and take the deed. Some more classic mishaps happen, but they are
successful.
The three walk off into the sunset singing the song, “We’re Going
to See My Home in Dixie”. A running gag throughout the film shows Oliver
falling into a sinkhole in the middle of a lake, of which Stan walks around seemingly
aware that it is there. The first time, is near the beginning of the film, the second
is when he is being chased out of town, and the third is at the very end.
Despite that, unlike most of their shorts and films, they have a happy ending
as Oliver falling into the sinkhole is meant for comic effect.
Number 5:
Twice Two
(1933)
Oliver is married to Stan’s sister – who is played by Stan – and Stan
is married to Oliver’s sister – who is played by Oliver. They all live together.
The short opens with Stan and Oliver in their office, just before they leave
for home. A few funny moments with two telephones later, and the scene changes
to their sisters preparing for a nice meal as it is their anniversary. Nothing
changes: Stan’s sister tries to help Oliver’s sister, but it ends with a cake
being dropped on Oliver’s sister’s head, making her look like Elizabeth I. Stan
and Oliver then arrive home, to which Stan’s wife instructs him to go and get
some ice-cream as their newly ordered cake may not arrive in time.
Stan goes to the shop to order some ice-cream, but they haven’t
any. It turns out he went to the wrong shop. He comes home without any
ice-cream because he had spent the money phoning up the house to say they don’t
have a particular flavour. Eventually, they sit down to have dinner, but they
do nothing but argue.
The short ends with the delivery boy (Charlie Hall) arrives with a
new cake, which is promptly dropped on Mr’s Laurel’s face by an angry Oliver
Hardy.
Number 4:
Towed in a Hole
(1932)
This short starts off with Stand and Oliver working in the fish
business. They drive around town, advertising their fish, but they aren’t
successful with selling any. Stan then gets the idea of catching their own fish
with their own boat, so they can keep all the profits for themselves. This
scene includes one of their most famous running jokes, which consists of Stan
telling the plan to Oliver perfectly, only for Oliver needing to be told it twice
because he didn’t quite understand it the first time. Stan tries to tell him
the plan, but gets all his words messed up, but Oliver says that he now
understands what Stan means, and agrees to the plan.
They head straight to a junk yard to by themselves a boat. They go
ahead of refurbishing the boat. Classic Oliver and Hardy mishaps ensures, but
they do manage to get the boat ready for the water.
Their entire plan goes downhill fast when they decide to hoist the
sail. The wind catches hold and pushes the boat towards the car. The camera
famously cuts to Stand and Oliver watching the crash with blank expressions.
All that can be heard is the sound of the crash. When they go to investigate
the wreckage, it isn’t a pretty sight.
Number 3:
Tit for Tat
(1935)
This is the first and only official sequel to one of their shorts.
This story is a continuation to the short, “Them Thar Hills” which came out the
previous year, and saw Oliver and Hardy travel to the mountains to get some
fresh air as Oliver recovers from gout. The meet a motorist couple who had
become stranded after running out of petrol. Stan and Oliver are more than
happy to help and gives them their spare can of petrol. The husband, who is
never best pleased the best of times, (Charlie Hall) walks back to the car
leaving his wife (Mae Busch) with Stan and Oliver, who provide a warm and kind
atmosphere that she finds refreshing after spending so much time with her
irritable husband. She joins the two with having dinner, and they drink an
incredible amount of mountain water. The problem is, it isn’t water, it is rum.
Before Stan and Oliver arrived at the mountains, a group of criminals dumped
their rum into the well to get rid of any evidence of them having it. The
husband returns to find them drunk and singing. The husband isn’t best pleased
with Stan and Oliver getting his wife drunk, and a “tit for tat” sequence is
triggered, which ends with the wrecking of the camper.
A year later, Stan and Oliver have set up an electrical goods
store. They go next door to introduce themselves to the owner of the grocery
store next door, which is none other than the husband seen in the previous
short. He is still unhappy with what they did back at the mountains, and says
that it is best if they stay away from one another. However, after a comical
mishap between Stan and Oliver, the husband mistakes Oliver’s actions for trying
to win over his wife once more, and another, longer “tit for tat” sequence happens,
which quickly escalates from simple annoyances, to outright destroying each
other’s shop.
As this is going on, every time Stan and Oliver leaves their shop
unattended, despite putting up a sign to say that they will be back in a few
minutes, a person enters the shop anyway, and starts stealing stuff. At first,
it is small items, but it too quickly escalates to larger items, such as a
grandfather clock, until taking all the items and loading them into the back of
a lorry.
Number 2:
Brats
(1930)
This is the only short where Stan and Oliver play natural fathers.
Their sons, Stan Jr, and Oliver Jr, are played by Stan and Oliver respectfully.
They achieved the illusion of the two being kids by making the furniture and
other props larger in size. This is also only the second time when only the two
appeared in a short, the first being the short “Early to Bed” in 1928. This is
also the first of three films where they play a duel role. The second is Twice
Two (mentioned above) and the third and last is the feature film “Our Relations”,
where they play twin brothers.
Brats start off with Laurel and Hardy playing checkers whilst
their children are playing with their blocks. The children start to fight and
create havoc, so their fathers send them off to bed. Whilst getting ready to
bed, they continue to fight, but during their fight, Laurel sees a mouse and
uses a pellet gun to try and shoot it, which he accidentally hits Oliver Jr’s
bottom. Trying to help Oliver Jr after being shot with the pellet, Stan Jr runs
him a bath, but certain mishaps ensures leaving them to abandon the bath altogether,
but they forget to turn the taps off and the bath continues to fill up. After
struggling to settle the kids down, the kids ask if they could have a glass of
water. Oliver says that if he gets it, then they go straight to sleep, which
they agree. Oliver then opens the wrong door and the water from the bathroom
pours out into the bedroom.
This short has one of my favourite moments in. Laurel and Hardy are
talking at the top of the stairs. After they have agreed on something, Hardy
starts to make his way downstairs, only to trip on something and fall down the
stairs in such a manner, it’s hard not to laugh at it.
Number 1:
The Music Box
(1932)
Anyone reading this article who is a fan of Laurel and Hardy will
know of their most famous short, the Music Box, which sees them attempting to deliver
a piano up a huge staircase. The postman tells them that they house they are
looking for is at the top of the staircase, so they take the majority of the
time trying to carry it up. They are constantly being interrupted by people, a
Policeman, but eventually they manage to make it up. The postman meets them at
the top of the stairs and tells them that they needn’t have carried it up the
stairs, they could have simply pulled it by horse and cart up the hill. For
reasons only they can understand, they carry the piano back down, load it back
onto to the horse and cart, and pull it up the hill.
They then try and deliver it to the house, which doesn’t go as
smoothly as they were hoping, and they end up wrecking the house. The owner
comes back and isn’t at all happy with the damage they have done, claims that
he hates pianos and starts destroying the piano with an axe. His wife comes
home, shocked to see him destroying the birthday present that she had brought
him. Upon learning this information, he quickly calms down and apologises to
his wife and to Laurel and Hardy for his actions, and makes up for it by simply
signing for the piano so they can carry on with their day. The pen’s ink
squirts in his face, which makes him angry once more.
The short is actually a partial remake of their silent film “Hats
Off”, which sees them trying to deliver a washing machine. It was filmed at the
same location. Today, unfortunately, it is classed as a lost film.
This short has gained some incredible popularity, inspiring people
to pay homage to it in their own unique way. In the film “Phineas and Ferb: The
Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension”, a musical number briefly pays tribute
to the short, and in the comedy film “Mousehunt”, which stared Nathan Lane, and
Lee Evans, the scene where they are carrying a Jacuzzi up a flight of stairs
was inspired by this short.
The stairs that the short was filmed at has been named “Music Box
Stairs”.
Thanks for reading
Antony Hudson
(TonyHadNouns)
My book, Sector 22: Zoey, is now available on Amazon, eBay, and SkyCat Publications' website:
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