Block-Heads

Twenty years after World War I, Private Laurel remains on duty guarding his lonely post in the trenches; no one ever told him that hostilities had ceased. Following his rescue and happy reunion with long lost pal Mr. Hardy at the Old Soldiers’ Home, Laurel is invited home to the meet the missus, but she greets him with less than a hero’s welcome. Undervalued in the Laurel & Hardy canon, this timeless entertainment and last of their features distributed by M-G-M was full of tried and true situations — most notably from UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE and WE FAW DOWN. The story was written by a team that included silent comedians Jimmy Parrott and Harry Langdon, who contributed gags from his own SOLDIER MAN (and would serve on succeeding Roach brain trusts as well). The score by Marvin Hatley was nominated for an Academy Award®. Though it plays as a serene and masterful comedy, full of charm and warmth, behind the scenes this production was plagued by a myriad of adversities. Consequently, more money was expended producing this picture than SONS OF THE DESERT, FRA DIAVOLO, HELPMATES, and BIG BUSINESS — combined! The studio staff, as well as the trade media, believed this film would conclude the Laurel & Hardy screen partnership. Directed by John G. Blystone. With Minna Gombell, Patricia Ellis, and old favorites Billy Gilbert, James Finlayson, James C. Morton and Sam Lufkin.

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