| The Midnight Patrol | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lloyd French |
| Written by | Stan Laurel Sidney Rauh |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy |
| Cinematography | Art Lloyd |
| Edited by | Bert Jordan |
| Music by | James Greene |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 19:40 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Midnight Patrol is a short American pre-Code comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy released August 3, 1933.
Laurel and Hardy play two police officers on night patrol. They get a call about a break-in and encounter a thief trying to crack a safe. Despite mistaking the thief for the shop owner, they unintentionally help him. When they realize their mistake, they let him go, coinciding with his planned bank robbery.
Later, they mistakenly arrest a homeowner locked out of his mansion, thinking he is the thief. Their colleagues praise them, but they soon discover the "thief" is actually the Chief of Police. Unable to explain their blunder, they flee as gunfire erupts, highlighting the consequences of their missteps.
The Midnight Patrol features two notable automobiles — a 1927 Cadillac Standard Line utilized as the police car and a 1925 Chevrolet Superior employed by the street thugs. [1]
The Midnight Patrol features an African American character, portrayed by Al Corporal in the role of the Police Chief's butler. Additionally, deleted scenes intended to feature Louise Beavers as a maid would have further expanded the representation of African American characters.
The influence of this film extends beyond its cinematic realm, as evidenced by its commemoration in Laurel & Hardy fan organizations. Both the Stoke-on-Trent and San Jose tents of the Sons of the Desert pay homage to the film by adopting the name "The Midnight Patrol Tent." [2]
Louise Beavers was an American film and television actress who appeared in dozens of films and two hit television shows from the 1920s to 1960. She played a prominent role in advancing the lives of Black Americans through her work and collaborated with fellow advocates to improve the social standing and media image of the Black population.
Charlie Hall was an English film actor. He is best known as the "Little Nemesis" of Laurel and Hardy. He performed in nearly 50 films with them, making Hall the most frequent supporting actor in the comedy duo's productions.
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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.
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.
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.
Any Old Port! is an American 1932 pre-Code comedy short film directed by James W. Horne and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was produced by Hal Roach.
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.
Now I'll Tell One is a 1927 silent film starring Charley Chase. The film features Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy. Both comedians had bit parts and share no scenes together.
Eddy Chandler was an American actor who appeared, mostly uncredited, in more than 350 films. Three of these films won the Academy Award for Best Picture: It Happened One Night (1934), You Can't Take It with You (1938), and Gone with the Wind (1939). Chandler was born in the small Iowa city of Wilton Junction and died in Los Angeles. He served in World War I.
James Carmody Lankton, known professionally as James C. Morton, was an American character actor, specializing in short-tempered judges, police officers and officials. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1922 and 1942.
The Midnight Patrol is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Regis Toomey, Betty Bronson, and Edwina Booth, and was released on April 10, 1932. Written by George Jeske (screenplay) and Arthur Hoeri (story).
