Stop, Look and Listen | |
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Directed by | Larry Semon |
Written by | Larry Semon |
Based on | Stop, Look and Listen by Irving Berlin and Harry B. Smith |
Produced by | Larry Semon |
Starring | Oliver Hardy |
Cinematography | James S. Brown Jr. Hans F. Koenekamp |
Production company | Larry Semon Productions |
Distributed by | Pathé Exchange |
Release date |
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Running time | 6 reels |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Stop, Look and Listen is a 1926 American film comedy film starring Larry Semon and Dorothy Dwan and featuring Oliver Hardy. [1] Semon and Dwan were married at the time. This was Hardy's final film appearance with Semon.
As described in a film magazine review, [2] Luther Meek is a well-behaved young citizen of a small town with a sweetheart named Dorothy who pines for footlight fame. She coaxes him into backing a traveling show in which she is starred. On the opening night of the show, while the stage-struck Dorothy gets muddled in her initial appearance, the Stage Manager and Dorothy's graceless stepbrother rob a bank. Luther is blamed for the crime, but he escapes his pursuers and follows the thieves, finally catching the ringleader and recovering the money. Dorothy then decides to abandon her stage dreams and weds Luther.
Stop, Look and Listen was the first film by Semon's production company and was based upon the successful 1915 musical comedy play of the same name by Irving Berlin and Harry B. Smith. The film, however, was not a financial success for Pathé Exchange. [3]
The African-American actor and stuntman Curtis McHenry is featured during the motorcycle and sidecar chase sequence. Oliver Hardy, who co-directed, also performs a difficult high and hard fall on to train tracks at the finale.
The majority of the film was considered to be lost. [1] In early 2020, it was announced that approximately 10 minutes of footage exists. The last reel of the film was found by a Japanese film researcher, Toshihiko Sasayama, who bought it off an antiques dealer. [4] A 43-minute reunited version, including the climactic motorcycle and train chase, was exhibited by Matsuda Film Productions in Tokyo in January 2024 with a live benshi commentary and piano accompaniment.
Oliver Norvell Hardy was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his comedy partner Stan Laurel in 107 short films, feature films, and cameo roles. He was credited with his first film, Outwitting Dad, in 1914. In most of his silent films before joining producer Hal Roach, he was billed on screen as Babe Hardy.
Lawrence Semon was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter during the silent film era. In his day, Semon was considered a major movie comedian, but he is now remembered mainly for working with both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy before they started working together.
The Wizard of Oz is a 1925 American silent fantasy-adventure comedy film directed by Larry Semon, who also performs in the lead role as a Kansas farmhand and later in the story disguised as the Scarecrow.
Frank Dwight Alexander was an American silent film comedian and actor. He was occasionally billed as Fatty Alexander.
A Brewerytown Romance is a lost 1914 American silent comedy film produced by the Lubin Manufacturing Company, starring Eva Bell, Raymond McKee, Frank Griffin, and Oliver Hardy.
The Stage Hand is a 1920 American silent short comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.
The Fall Guy is a 1921 American silent comedy film featuring Larry Semon and Oliver Hardy.
The Bell Hop is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and Norman Taurog and featuring Oliver Hardy.
The Show is a 1922 American silent short comedy film directed by Larry Semon and Norman Taurog and featuring Oliver Hardy.
Golf is a 1922 American silent comedy film starring Larry Semon and featuring Oliver Hardy. The film has been released on DVD.
The Counter Jumper is a 1922 American film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Oliver Hardy. It is a remake of the 1919 film The Grocery Clerk, which was also directed by Semon. The film was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in 2009 as part of a series examining slapstick.
The Gown Shop is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Larry Semon that featured Oliver Hardy.
Her Boy Friend is a 1924 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.
Dorothy Dwan was an American film actress.
Kid Speed also known as The Four Wheeled Terror is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Oliver Hardy.
The Perfect Clown is a 1925 American silent slapstick comedy film starring Larry Semon and Kate Price. It features an early screen appearance by Oliver Hardy. Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, the screenplay was written by Thomas J. Crizer, who also wrote the subtitles along with Charlie Saxton.
Edward Frank Dunn was an American actor best known for his roles in comedy films, supporting many comedians such as Charley Chase, Charlie Chaplin, W. C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy.
Spuds is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Larry Semon, Dorothy Dwan, and Edward Hearn. Semon and Dwan were married.
Earl Triplett Montgomery was a film director, writer, and comedian who performed in silent films including as the character Hairbreadth Harry. He established the producing company Earl Montgomery Comedy Company. Joe Rock partnered with him at Vitagraph.
Curtis 'Snowball' McHenry was an American stuntman and comedian who appeared in Larry Semon comedies in the 1920s.