Dick und Doof gehen vor Anker

Big, ole tough hombre Walter Long, a staple in 1930s crime films and comedies, is right at home with the boys. He owns a run-down hotel and is bullying a helpless girl (played by young Julie Bishop) --that is until Stan and Ollie stop by. Fortunately, the girl escapes, but Mugsy doesn't forget!

Best part is all the wild stuff that happens in between; Mugsy getting his head caught in a table and the local justice of the peace getting the back of his head shaved by a fan? No question, lots of this material was later imitated by the THREE STOOGES.

In a real goofy change of luck, Ollie meets up with an old pal who offers him fifty bucks to go four rounds with a boxer --just for kicks? Of course, Ollie agrees because Stan is going to fight the thug. And surprise! The boxer turns out to be Mugsy.

10 Stars.

Laugh out loud comedy, one of the best and original of their film shorts. Stan Laurel works his magic, lots of fun in the ring and don't miss the boxing glove loaded with some "heavy" stuff. One of the few Laurel and Hardy shorts with the largest number of extra and bit actors, appearing in the boxing arena.

Best line from Ollie; "I bet on you to lose, and you double crossed me!"

A comedy to treasure, written by comedian and gag writer Charley Chase, brother of director James Parrott. Actress Julie Bishop was actually a child star in the 1920s, later returning to films in the 1930s and appearing with Laurel and Hardy and WC Fields in adult roles.

Get the remastered dvd box set of Laurel and Hardy short films for this one. Thanks much to METV Plus for running L & H all the time, also MOVIES Net on Saturday mornings.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were comedic geniuses, individually and together, and their partnership was deservedly iconic and one of the best there was. They left behind a large body of work, a vast majority of it being entertaining to classic comedy, at their best they were hilarious and their best efforts were great examples of how to do comedy without being juvenile or distasteful.

Although a vast majority of Laurel and Hardy's previous efforts ranged from above average to very good ('45 Minutes from Hollywood' being the only misfire and mainly worth seeing as a curiosity piece and for historical interest, and even that wasn't a complete mess), 'Two Tars' for me was their first truly classic one with close to flawless execution. Didn't find 'Any Old Port!' quite one of their very best, but it to me still very good and some of the best material is among their funniest.

Admittedly, the story is pretty thin and is pretty standard and the beginning is a touch slow.

Despite that, 'Any Old Port!' is great fun, never less than very amusing and the best moments, such as the ending, being classic hilarity. It is never too silly, there is a wackiness that never loses its energy and the sly wit is here, some of the material may not be new but how it's executed actually doesn't feel too familiar and it doesn't get repetitive. A lot happens yet it doesn't ever feel rushed or over-stuffed. The ending is a sheer delight.

Laurel and Hardy are on top form here, both are well used, both have material worthy of them and they're equal rather than one being funnier than the other (before Laurel tended to be funnier and more interesting than Hardy, who tended to be underused). Their chemistry feels like a partnership here too, before 'Two Tars' you were yearning for more scenes with them together but in 'Any Old Port!' and on the most part from 'Two Tars' onwards we are far from robbed of that. Their comic timing is impeccable.

'Any Old Port!' looks good visually, is full of energy and the direction gets the best out of the stars, is at ease with the material and doesn't let it get too busy or static. The supporting players are solid, but it's Laurel and Hardy's show all the way.

In summary, very good if not one of the best. 8/10 Bethany Cox

By 1932 the Laurel and Hardy comedy partnership was at the top of its game and Any Old Port! is a fine example of the resultant product. The two star performers and the characters they had honed naturally steal the show, but make no mistake, they are far from being the only talents present here.

In order to fit the short two-reel running time the plot is, of course, a simple one - Stan and Ollie, eager to do the right thing, come to a girl's rescue when a brute tries to force her into marriage. But in so doing they make an enemy, one which they must face again when Stan finds himself drawn against the very same man in a boxing contest.

The magic of the Laurel and Hardy series is just how simple everything appears to be on the surface, belying just how carefully crafted every detail actually was. Comedy is injected into every moment, not just the obvious gags but the deft little touches such as the brief cutaway shot of Long's incredulous reaction as Stan and Ollie make the simple task of signing in at the guest house a cumbersome exercise, or the nervous fumbling with the pool table cues when Long calls the Boys over.

Long excels in this film every bit as much as Laurel and Hardy, making a truly frightening opponent. At the same time, however, and like just about every supporting character in this successful series of shorts, there remains that perceptible undercurrent of the comically absurd even in the scenes when he is threatening the girl. It was this comedic depth to all of the characters that was so sorely missed when Laurel and Hardy made the switch to the big studios , but that's another story.

One of the other unsung stars of Any Old Port! is the pacing; the cutting, the skillfully-planned chase sequence, the comic timing of the performers all contrive to enhance the experience of watching this film and keep the viewer's interest at a high level throughout.

And whilst the passage of decades has wrought many changes on the world, the core themes within this short have ensured that the comedy has not dated: the basic ideas of good against evil, David pitted against Goliath, money corrupting morals and, fundamentally, grown men still being capable of acting like children.

This is another nice Laurel & Hardy comedy short, in black and white with sound. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy want a room in a hotel. In that hotel a young woman (Julie Bishop, but credited as Jacqueline Wells) who is working there is forced to marry the hotel manager (Walter Long). Of course Stan & Ollie makes sure this will not happen. Later that day, when the two heroes need some money, Ollie arranges a boxing match to earn some. He wants Laurel to fight and the opponent happens to be the hotel manager.

This comedy short has some great moments. Especially the boxing match is terrific. The first half is a little slower than other Laurel & Hardy movies, but gives us some laughs anyway.

This has a bit of the Way Out West feel as the boys attempt to save a girl from a forced marriage to a horrible hotel owner (Walter Long). The antics of trying to get her away from him are quite good. However, the main event is a boxing match where Stan and Ollie try to earn some money betting on a boxing match. Oliver is scheduled to box but soon tricks Stan into going against the very same Long. Why long felt he needed to load up his boxing glove to stop the 120 pound Stanley is questionable, but it will work against him for sure. Laurel and Hardy never, ever come out on top so we know that the situation, while hilarious, is going to be less than successful. Once again, it is worth watching to see these two guys.