Sons of the Desert

Last updated
Sons of the Desert
Sons of the Desert (1933 window card).jpg
Theatrical release window card
Directed by William A. Seiter
Written by Frank Craven
Byron Morgan (continuity)
Produced by Hal Roach
Starring Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy
Charley Chase
Cinematography Kenneth Peach
Edited byBert Jordan
Music by Marvin Hatley
Production
company
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • December 29, 1933 (1933-12-29)(US)
Running time
64 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Sons of the Desert is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. Directed by William A. Seiter, it was released in the United States on December 29, 1933. In the United Kingdom, the film was originally released under the title Fraternally Yours.

Contents

In 2012, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. [1]

Plot

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, members of the fraternal lodge, Sons of the Desert, attend a California meeting where it is mandated that all members must attend the upcoming national convention in Chicago. While Oliver is eager to honor the oath, Stan is apprehensive about his wife Betty's reaction. Despite initial reluctance, Stan succumbs to Oliver's persuasion. However, their plans are thwarted by their wives' conflicting agendas.

Lottie, Oliver's wife, vehemently opposes the trip as she has organized a mountain retreat. Resorting to deception, Oliver feigns illness to avoid Lottie's plans. Stan orchestrates a ruse involving a faux doctor's recommendation for a Honolulu voyage, enabling them to attend the convention without their wives' knowledge. At the convention, the catchy tune "Honolulu Baby" is performed, adding a jovial atmosphere to their escapade.

Meanwhile, their wives, unaware of the deception, become concerned when a ship returning from Honolulu sinks in a typhoon. As they investigate the fate of the survivors, Stan and Oliver return home to an empty house, only to discover their wives' suspicions upon their return. To evade confrontation, the duo hides in the attic, but their secret is jeopardized when their wives stumble upon footage of the convention in a cinema newsreel.

Facing mounting pressure, Oliver attempts to maintain the illusion of a shipwreck survival, but his fabricated story quickly unravels under Betty's scrutiny. Stan, on the other hand, decides to confess, prompting a mix of relief and anger from Betty and Lottie, respectively. While Betty welcomes Stan's honesty, Lottie unleashes her fury on Oliver, culminating in a altercation.

Stan ultimately receives unexpected compassion from Betty, while Oliver endures Lottie's wrath, followed by Stan's oblivious departure, serenading "Honolulu Baby," while Oliver faces the aftermath of his wife's fury.

Cast

Half-sheet theatrical release poster Sons of the Desert (1933 half-sheet poster).jpg
Half-sheet theatrical release poster

Production notes

The fraternal organization seen in the film is styled to resemble the Shriners, known formerly as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Soundtrack

Awards and honors

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

Similar films

Legacy

The international Laurel and Hardy society The Sons of the Desert takes its name from this feature film.

The title was also used as the name of a country group, as well as that of the Danish comedy quartet "Ørkenens sønner" (1991–present), the literal translation of the movie's title. The comedy group uses the basic theme of a fraternal organization, and their stage costumes are identical to the ones used in the movie's organization. Even their theme song is a translation of the one from the movie. Though adult themed, their gags and jokes resemble the ones seen at the movie's Chicago party. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurel and Hardy</span> British-American comedy duo

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sons of the Desert</span> Next Convention is Sacramento CA

The Sons of the Desert is an international fraternal organization devoted to the lives and films of comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The group takes its name from a fictional lodge that Laurel and Hardy belonged to in the 1933 film Sons of the Desert.

<i>Way Out West</i> (1937 film) 1937 film by James W. Horne

Way Out West is a 1937 Laurel and Hardy comedy film directed by James W. Horne, produced by Stan Laurel, and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was the second picture for which Stan Laurel was credited as producer.

<i>Brats</i> (1930 film) 1930 film

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>We Faw Down</i> 1928 film

We Faw Down is a silent short subject directed by Leo McCarey starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on December 29, 1928. It was remade in part with their film Sons of the Desert in 1933.

<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>Helpmates</i> 1932 short film by James Parrott

Helpmates is a Laurel and Hardy Pre-Code short film comedy. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and released by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer on January 23, 1932.

<i>Duck Soup</i> (1927 film) 1927 short film by Fred Guiol

Duck Soup is a 1927 American silent comedy short film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy. The team appeared in a total of 107 films between 1921 and 1951.

<i>Our Relations</i> 1936 film by Harry Lachman

Our Relations is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Harry Lachman starring Laurel and Hardy, produced by Stan Laurel for Hal Roach Studios.

<i>The Second Hundred Years</i> (film) 1927 short film by Fred Guiol

The Second Hundred Years is a 1927 American silent comedy short film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy. The team appeared in a total of 107 films between 1921 and 1951.

<i>Slipping Wives</i> 1927 film

Slipping Wives is a 1927 American silent short comedy film starring Priscilla Dean, Stan Laurel, and Oliver Hardy prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy. The team appeared in a total of 107 films between 1921 and 1951. Priscilla Dean was a popular silent film star.

<i>Perfect Day</i> (1929 film) 1929 film

Perfect Day is a 1929 short comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy.

<i>Twice Two</i> 1933 American film

Twice Two is a 1933 American pre-Code Laurel and Hardy short film.

<i>Be Big!</i> 1931 film

Be Big! is a Hal Roach three-reel comedy starring Laurel and Hardy. It was shot in November and December 1930, and released on February 7, 1931.

<i>Night Owls</i> (1930 film) 1930 film

Night Owls is a 1930 American Pre-Code Laurel and Hardy short film. It was filmed in October and November 1929, and released January 4, 1930.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurel and Hardy music</span>

Laurel and Hardy were primarily comedy film actors. However, many of their films featured songs, and some are considered as musicals in their own right. The composer Leroy Shield scored most of Laurel and Hardy sound shorts although they were often misattributed to Marvin Hatley.

"Honolulu Baby" is a song written by Marvin Hatley for the 1933 Laurel and Hardy film Sons of the Desert. Ty Parvis performed the song in the film, which is later performed by Oliver Hardy.

<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. ↑ King, Susan. "National Film Registry selects 25 films for preservation " Los Angeles Times (December 19, 2012)
  2. ↑ "Detail view of Movies Page".
  3. ↑ "Charita". IMDb.
  4. ↑ "Honolulu Baby Lyrics". International Lyrics Playground. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Soundtracks for Sons of the Desert". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  6. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies Nominees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs" (PDF). American Film Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes" (PDF). American Film Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies Nominees (10th Anniversary Edition)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Sons of the Desert". TCM.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.