Their Purple Moment

Last updated

Their Purple Moment
L&H Their Purple Moment 1928.jpg
Directed by James Parrott
Fred Guiol (uncredited)
Written by H.M. Walker (titles)
Produced by Hal Roach
Starring Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy
Anita Garvin
Kay Deslys
Fay Holderness
Tiny Sandford
Lyle Tayo
Leo Willis
Cinematography George Stevens
Edited by Richard C. Currier
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • May 18, 1928 (1928-05-18)
Running time
22 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages Silent film
English (Original intertitles)

Their Purple Moment is a silent short subject directed by James Parrott and Fred Guiol (who was uncredited) starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on May 18, 1928. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

Submissive husband Stan has clandestinely saved money from his thrifty wife. Upon discovering Stan's savings, Ollie proposes they utilize the funds for leisure. However, before they can embark on their escapade, Stan's wife intercepts the wallet, replacing the cash with cigar coupons. Oblivious to the substitution, Stan and Ollie venture to an upscale cafe where they witness two men being ejected for failing to settle their bill, prompting their dates to depart as well. Approaching Stan and Ollie, the women explain their predicament, leading the duo to offer payment for the bill and subsequent expenses, treating them to a lavish night out.

Their evening takes an unexpected turn when a meddlesome observer witnesses their interaction with the women and notifies their wives. Despite Stan's enjoyment of the entertainment, his joy is dampened upon realizing his wallet contains only cigar coupons. In a desperate attempt to stall, Stan instructs the cigarette girl to charge the purchases to his account. However, their evasion tactics fail, resulting in a confrontation with the irate headwaiter(who keeps tripping over them in the dark) and their furious wives. The evening culminates in a chaotic altercation, culminating in a pie-throwing melee in the restaurant's kitchen.

Cast

Credited

Uncredited

Production notes

A "purple moment" is an antiquated slang term that means "a defining moment in a person's life."[ citation needed ]

There was an alternate ending filmed where Stan and Ollie disguise themselves as "little people" and try to escape from the club on their hands and knees. A more traditional food fight was substituted.

Laurel and Hardy's house seen in the film is still standing as of 2024. The address is 1750 West 22nd Street in Los Angeles. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Music Box</i> 1932 short film by James Parrott

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.

<i>Sons of the Desert</i> 1933 film by William A. Seiter

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.

<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>The Flying Deuces</i> 1939 film by A. Edward Sutherland

The Flying Deuces, also known as Flying Aces, is a 1939 buddy comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy, in which the duo join the French Foreign Legion. It is a partial remake of their short film Beau Hunks (1931).

<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>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>Should Married Men Go Home?</i> 1928 film

Should Married Men Go Home? is a silent short subject co-directed by Leo McCarey and James Parrott, starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was the first Hal Roach film to bill Laurel and Hardy as a team. Previous appearances together were billed under the Roach "All-Star Comedy" banner. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on September 8, 1928. McCarey is also one of the script writers for the film.

<i>Habeas Corpus</i> (1928 film) 1928 short film by Ray McCarey and James Parrott

Habeas Corpus is a synchronized sound short subject comedy film co-directed by Leo McCarey and James Parrott starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized orchestral musical score with sound effects. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on December 1, 1928. This film is importantly historically as the first Laurel and Hardy film to be released with recorded sound.

<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>Thats My Wife</i> (1929 film) 1929 short film by Lloyd French

That's My Wife is a 1929 synchronized sound short subject film produced by the Hal Roach Studios and starring Laurel and Hardy. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized orchestral musical score with sound effects. It was shot in December 1928 and released March 23, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<i>Slipping Wives</i> 1927 film

Slipping Wives is a 1927 American silent short comedy film starring Priscilla Dean with Stan Laurel, and Oliver Hardy prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy.

<i>Leave Em Laughing</i> 1928 film

Leave 'Em Laughing is a 1928 two-reel silent film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Produced by the Hal Roach Studios, it was shot in October 1927 and released January 28, 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<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 Dancing Masters</i> 1943 film by Malcolm St. Clair

The Dancing Masters is a 1943 black and white American comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair, produced by 20th Century-Fox, and featuring Laurel and Hardy. A young Robert Mitchum has a small, uncredited role as a gangster posing as an insurance salesman.

<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>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>The Fixer Uppers</i> 1935 American film

The Fixer Uppers is a 1935 American short comedy film directed by Charles Rogers, starring Laurel and Hardy, and produced by Hal Roach.

<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. ↑ "Their Purple Moment (1928)". archive.org
  2. ↑ "Their Purple Moment (1928) - Cast&Crew. allmovie.com
  3. ↑ "Their Purple Moment (excerpt, 1928)". publicdomainmovies.net. Retrieved January 26, 2017
  4. ↑ Now, Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and. "Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now". Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
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.