Laurel und Hardy: Die Leibköche seiner Majestät

Some very good comedy films have been made about butlers and maids. One of the all-time funniest is "Standing Room Only" of 1944, in which Fred MacMurray and Paulette Goddard have to take such jobs in wartime Washington, D. C. - just in order to have a place to sleep at night. Well, this Laurel and Hardy film picks up on that shortage of labor that existed during World War II, especially for domestic help in the nation's capital.

Stan is a butler and Ollie is a chef who specializes in Steak a' la Hardy. Of course, this is after the boys have tried their hand before the war at working in the restaurants of Europe. They have been summarily tossed out in several countries. There's always something said in whatever language it is, that's an unmistakable reference to Steak a' la Hardy.

Well, it's wartime when the boys are back home and in desperation go to the unemployment office. After some preliminary comedy that insults their future employers, the boys wind up working for Mrs. Elvira Hawkley. Mary Boland reinforces the Laurel and Hardy comedy in her role. A sub-plot with a young king displaced from a small European country during the war takes some of the time, and only adds a little humor toward then end.

Although this is in the later years of the duo, Stan and Ollie still have what it takes to make people laugh. It's not among their funniest, but still a good comedy. The long scene with people trying to cut into Ollie's masterpiece steak is a riot. It's harder than rubber. And, of course, Stan causes various mishaps at the table.

The boys clearly did their part during the war, with some comedy films to give people a laugh during a somber time. After the war they would make only one more film together as both ended their movie careers.

Nothing But Trouble, like most of the films Laurel and Hardy made for MGM and Fox at the end of their career, is really sad to watch. For fans familiar with their earlier work, it is depressing to see them half-heartedly reworking their earlier material. It is unfortunate that these weak films from the end of their career are among their most frequently found video titles. Younger people picking up Nothing But Trouble off the video rack may never realize what they are missing.

On my nineteenth birthday I went to the movies to see BENCHWARMERS, which was decent but I feel that it had too many gross out moments. It is interesting to see that when a comedian is in decline they turn towards the children audience that's what happen with David Spade and Rob Schneider and also Abbott & Costello. This goes the same with Laurel and Hardy. I taped this movie off of TCM and I watched it later on and I found this was a lot more funny and lot more heart than say, BIG DADDY. To me they are the only comedians to have been so cuddley they could've been dolls. The movie is a mix of THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER and THE KID. The boys are hired as chefs for a social woman who is planning a dinner for a king. The king is a boy who dreams to be a football player and runs off to pretend he's ordinary and he runs into Stan and Ollie. His uncle wants him dispose and hires Stan and Ollie to put them on a murder rap for the king. This is very funny movie highlights include the boys referring a boys football game and Stan stealing a steak from a lion. The sentiment of the film works best for them because it makes you feel more close to them then ever. Most L&H fans dislike the movie but since I don't have a chance to see all their films are out of availibility, I think its their best work.

Nothing But Trouble (1944)

** (out of 4)

Laurel and Hardy meet a young boy and soon they discover that he's really a King. The duo must protect the boy from a few people trying to kill him. Once again, I had heard this was a pretty bad film but while it's miles from Hal Roach material, the film contains a few laughs and has a little charm to it. It's too bad Warner isn't including this in their upcoming set but my recording from TCM, which seemed to be remastered, will do just fine. The best moment takes place in a zoo where L&H must try and steal a streak away from a lion. Another nice moment is when Laurel is trying to ref a football game. Most of the gags are lazy and fall on their face but the film is a decent time killer.

Nothing But Trouble, one of Laurel&Hardy's last comedies relies more on the well known characters they've created as opposed to Hal Roach like gags. It's not a bad film, but I fear disappointing to their fans then and now.

Even in wartime America Stan and Ollie just can't find work. But a desperate Mary Boland in a typical rich empty headed dowager hires the two of them as cook and butler. Needless to say they're not real good at these jobs like all the others they've tried over the years in short subject and feature length movies. Boland and her husband Henry O'Neill regret it before the film is over.

But the boys also meet young David Leland who is an exiled king from some Ruritanian Balkan country that Mr. Hitler has overrun. Even in exile the young king has enemies.

Best part of the film is when the boys try to serve Ollie's favorite specialty Beef Oliver as he names it. It's quite a slab of meat and most under cooked. They bring in a cross cut saw to try and slice it up.

I wish there were more moments like these.