Plot
Ollie's domicile stands in disarray subsequent to an exuberant gathering held the preceding evening. The precarious situation is compounded when Ollie receives a telegram from his vacationing wife, informing him of her imminent return later that day. Fearing the repercussions of his wife's arrival to a cluttered domicile, Ollie enlists the assistance of his friend Stan to rectify the disorder.
However, their efforts to restore order prove futile, leading to further chaos and exacerbating the predicament. Ollie's frustration mounts as their attempts at cleanup yield unintended consequences, culminating in a calamitous mishap involving the mismanagement of the oven, resulting in a destructive explosion that wreaks havoc upon the living room and kitchen, as well as Ollie's attire and personal effects.
As the situation escalates, Ollie's wardrobe is besmirched by soot, immersed in dirty water, and coated in flour, leaving him with no alternative but to greet his returning wife in a comically inappropriate lodge uniform. Meanwhile, Stan endeavors to salvage the interior aesthetics of the dwelling.
Upon Ollie's return from the train station, bearing physical evidence of his misadventures and notably absent of his spouse, he discovers the lamentable state of his now-smoldering abode, courtesy of Stan's ill-fated attempt to ignite a fire within the hearth. Left to contemplate the wreckage amidst a deluge of rain, Ollie finds himself seated amidst the ruins.
Colorization
Helpmates holds the distinction of being the first black-and-white film subjected to the process of film colorization. The pioneering endeavor commenced in 1983 under the auspices of Colorization, Inc., a subsidiary of Hal Roach Studios. Its inaugural public exhibition occurred at the 1984 International Helpmates Convention, organized by The Sons of the Desert, a Laurel and Hardy appreciation society.
The foray into colorization proved to be a lucrative venture for Hal Roach Studios, prompting the subsequent release of the colorized rendition of Way Out West on VHS and Betamax formats under the Hal Roach Studios Film Classics label. Helpmates received similar treatment, alongside The Music Box , in 1986. The technology notably employed in this early colorization process exhibited notable limitations compared to modern iterations, resulting in discernible continuity errors and extravagant color schemes.
Despite its commercial success, the colorization of Laurel and Hardy films was met with criticism. Foremost among the grievances was the alteration or outright removal of entire scenes, thereby compromising the integrity and essence of the original films. In Helpmates, significant modifications included condensing the panning shots of the party debris within Ollie's residence into freeze-frame stills and substantial editing of the pivotal phone conversation between Stan and Ollie regarding Stan's absence from the party due to concerns over hydrophosphates. The most contentious alteration involved the deletion of the scene wherein Ollie inadvertently crashes his head through a dresser drawer after Stan's discovery of a handkerchief.
Despite its completion in 1984, the colorized version of Helpmates was formally copyrighted in 1986. This discrepancy underscores the nuanced timeline of its production and subsequent public release, amidst both commercial success and critical scrutiny.
Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy team during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in the silent film era, they later successfully transitioned to "talkies". From the late 1920s to the mid-1950s, they were internationally famous for their slapstick comedy, with Laurel playing the clumsy, childlike friend to Hardy's pompous bully. Their signature theme song, known as "The Cuckoo Song", "Ku-Ku", or "The Dance of the Cuckoos" was heard over their films' opening credits, and became as emblematic of them as their bowler hats.
The Music Box is a Laurel and Hardy short film comedy released in 1932. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, which depicts the pair attempting to move a piano up a long flight of steps, won the first Academy Award for Best Live Action Short (Comedy) in 1932. In 1997, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film is widely seen as the most iconic Laurel and Hardy short, with the featured stairs becoming a popular tourist attraction.
Pardon Us is a 1931 American pre-Code Laurel and Hardy film. It was the duo's first starring feature-length comedy film, produced by Hal Roach and Stan Laurel, directed by James Parrott, and originally distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1931.
A Chump at Oxford is a Hal Roach comedy film produced in 1939 and released in 1940 by United Artists. It was directed by Alfred J. Goulding and was the penultimate Laurel and Hardy film made at the Roach studio. The title echoes the film A Yank at Oxford (1938), of which it is a partial parody.
Zenobia is a 1939 comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Oliver Hardy, Harry Langdon, Billie Burke, Alice Brady, James Ellison, Jean Parker, June Lang, Stepin Fetchit and Hattie McDaniel. The source of the film was the 1891 short story "Zenobia's Infidelity" by H.C. Bunner, which was originally purchased by producer Hal Roach as a vehicle for Roland Young.
Unaccustomed As We Are is the first sound film comedy starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, released on May 4, 1929.
Block-Heads is a 1938 American comedy film directed by John G. Blystone and starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It was produced by Hal Roach Studios for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, a reworking of elements from the Laurel and Hardy shorts We Faw Down (1928) and Unaccustomed As We Are (1929), was Roach's final film for MGM.
Saps at Sea is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas, distributed by United Artists. It was Laurel and Hardy's last film produced by the Hal Roach Studios, as well as the last film to feature Ben Turpin and Harry Bernard.
That's My Wife is a 1929 short comedy silent film produced by the Hal Roach Studios and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was shot in December 1928 and released March 23, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer with a synchronized music and sound effects track in theaters equipped for sound.
Them Thar Hills is a 1934 American comedy short film directed by Charley Rogers and starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The film was so well received by audiences that producer Hal Roach and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer made a sequel, Tit for Tat, which was released five months later, in January 1935.
Bonnie Scotland is a 1935 American film directed by James W. Horne and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was produced by Hal Roach for Hal Roach Studios. Although the film begins in Scotland, a large part of the action is set in British India.
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case is a Laurel and Hardy pre-Code comedy film released in 1930. It is one of a handful of three-reel comedies they made, running 28 minutes. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Towed in a Hole is a 1932 pre-Code comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. The "two-reeler" short was produced by Hal Roach, directed by George Marshall, and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Blotto is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by James Parrott and starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The short was produced by Hal Roach and originally distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Swiss Miss is a 1938 comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. It was directed by John G. Blystone, and produced by Hal Roach. The film features Walter Woolf King, Della Lind and Eric Blore.
The Hoose-Gow is a 1929 short film starring Laurel and Hardy, directed by James Parrott and produced by Hal Roach.
The Fixer Uppers is a 1935 American short comedy film directed by Charles Rogers, starring Laurel and Hardy, and produced by Hal Roach.
Dirty Work is a Pre-Code Laurel and Hardy short film classic comedy made in 1933. It was directed by Lloyd French, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by MGM.
Me and My Pal is a 1933 pre-Code short film starring Laurel and Hardy, directed by Lloyd French and Charles Rogers, and produced by Hal Roach. In 2016, it was one of several Laurel and Hardy films to be restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Stan & Ollie is a 2018 biographical comedy-drama film directed by Jon S. Baird. The script, written by Jeff Pope, was inspired by Laurel and Hardy: The British Tours by A.J. Marriot which chronicled the later years of the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy; the film stars Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The film focuses on details of the comedy duo's personal relationship while relating how they embarked on a gruelling music hall tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland during 1953 and struggled to get another film made.
