On the Loose (1931 film)

Last updated

On the Loose
Directed by Hal Roach
Written byH. M. Walker
Produced by Hal Roach
Starring ZaSu Pitts
Thelma Todd
Stan Laurel (guest)
Oliver Hardy (guest)
Music by Leroy Shield
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • December 26, 1931 (1931-12-26)
Running time
20:35
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

On the Loose is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy short released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced and directed by Hal Roach, and starring ZaSu Pitts and Thelma Todd. Laurel and Hardy make a guest appearance.

Contents

Plot

The short begins with Thelma and ZaSu entering their shared New York apartment and complaining about all of the cheap, monotonous dates they recently have endured. In every case their boyfriends have taken them to Coney Island. The next day, while stopping along a city sidewalk, a passing car splashes them with mud and water. The young male driver stops and offers to buy them some new clothes. They accept his offer and later agree to go on a date, which yet again involves a trip to Coney Island. The date does not go well, and they are relieved to go home.

Laurel and Hardy guest

At the end of the film there is a knock at Thelma and ZaSu's apartment door. Stan and Ollie appear and ask them to go on a date to Coney Island. Angered by the offer, the frustrated roommates start throwing ornaments at Stan and Oliver who beat a hasty retreat. [1] Laurel and Hardy are on screen for only 41 seconds.

Cast

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thelma Todd</span> American actress (1906–1935)

Thelma Alice Todd was an American actress and businesswoman who carried the nicknames "The Ice Cream Blonde" and "Hot Toddy". Appearing in about 120 feature films and shorts between 1926 and 1935, she is remembered for her comedic roles opposite ZaSu Pitts, and in films such as Marx Brothers' Monkey Business and Horse Feathers and a number of Charley Chase's short comedies. She co-starred with Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante in Speak Easily. She also had roles in several Wheeler and Woolsey and Laurel and Hardy films, the last of which featured her in a part that was cut short by her sudden death in 1935 at the age of 29.

<i>Brats</i> (1930 film) 1930 short film by James Parrott

Brats is a 1930 Laurel and Hardy comedy short. The film was directed by James Parrott. Laurel and Hardy play dual roles as their own children. It also inspired a helper group for the Michigan tent for The Sons of the Desert, which is composed of all the child members of the tent. This is the first of only three films where the boys each play a dual role: the second is Twice Two and the third and last is Our Relations.

<i>Big Business</i> (1929 film) 1929 American short film by James W. Horne

Big Business is a 1929 silent Laurel and Hardy comedy short subject directed by James W. Horne and supervised by Leo McCarey from a McCarey (uncredited) and H. M. Walker script. The film, largely about tit-for-tat vandalism between Laurel and Hardy as Christmas tree salesmen and the man who rejects them, was deemed culturally significant and entered into the National Film Registry in 1992.

<i>We Faw Down</i> 1928 film

We Faw Down is a synchronized sound short subject film directed by Leo McCarey starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on December 29, 1928. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized orchestral musical score with sound effects. It was remade in part with their film Sons of the Desert in 1933.

<i>Atoll K</i> 1951 French film

Atoll K is a 1951 Franco-Italian co-production film—also known as Robinson Crusoeland in the United Kingdom and Utopia in the United States – which stars the comedy team Laurel and Hardy in their final screen appearance. The film co-stars French singer/actress Suzy Delair and was directed by Léo Joannon, with uncredited co-direction by blacklisted U.S. director John Berry.

<i>Zenobia</i> (film) 1939 film by Gordon Douglas

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.

<i>Unaccustomed As We Are</i> 1929 short film by Lewis R. Foster

Unaccustomed As We Are is the first sound film comedy starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, released on May 4, 1929.

<i>Block-Heads</i> 1938 film by John G. Blystone

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.

<i>From Soup to Nuts</i> 1928 film

From Soup to Nuts is a silent short subject directed by E. Livingston Kennedy starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released on March 24, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<i>Angora Love</i> 1929 American silent film

Angora Love is a 1929 synchronized sound short subject comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy, released on December 14, 1929. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized organ musical score with sound effects. This would prove to be the last Laurel and Hardy film to be released without any audible dialog.

<i>Another Fine Mess</i> 1930 short film by James Parrott

Another Fine Mess is a 1930 short comedy film directed by James Parrott and starring Laurel and Hardy. It is based on the 1908 play Home from the Honeymoon by Arthur J. Jefferson, Stan Laurel's father, and is a remake of their earlier silent film Duck Soup.

<i>The Bohemian Girl</i> (1936 film) 1936 film

The Bohemian Girl is a 1936 comedic feature film version of the opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe. Directed by James W. Horne and Charles Rogers, and it was produced at the Hal Roach Studios, and stars Laurel and Hardy, and Thelma Todd in her final film role. Mae Busch and Oliver Hardy appeared 13 times, this was their last picture together. This was also the only appearance of Darla Hood in a full-length feature produced by Hal Roach.

<i>The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case</i> 1930 short film by James Parrott

The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case is a Laurel and Hardy pre-Code comedy horror 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.

<i>Laughing Gravy</i> 1931 film

Laughing Gravy is a 1931 short film comedy starring Laurel and Hardy. It was directed by James W. Horne, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<i>Their First Mistake</i> 1932 film

Their First Mistake is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy short starring Laurel and Hardy. Directed by George Marshall, the film was produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<i>Going Bye-Bye!</i> 1934 American short film by Charley Rogers

Going Bye Bye is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy short film starring Laurel and Hardy.

<i>Hollywood Party</i> (1934 film) 1934 musical film collaboration

Hollywood Party, also known under its working title of The Hollywood Revue of 1933 and Star Spangled Banquet, is a 1934 American pre-Code musical film starring Laurel and Hardy, The Three Stooges, Jimmy Durante, Lupe Vélez and Mickey Mouse. It was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Each sequence featured a different star with a separate scriptwriter and director assigned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Mineau</span> American actress

Charlotte Mineau was a tall and thin American film actress of the silent era appearing in 65 to 80 films.

Pitts and Todd were a 1930s movie comedy duo consisting of actresses ZaSu Pitts and Thelma Todd. Assembled by Hal Roach as the female counterparts to Laurel and Hardy, the duo's members changed over the years and included actresses Patsy Kelly, Pert Kelton and Lyda Roberti.

<i>Stan & Ollie</i> 2018 film by Jon S. Baird

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.

References

  1. Maltin, Leonard (1972). Selected Short Subjects From Spanky to the Three Stooges. Da Capo Press. p. 85. Retrieved March 4, 2024.