The Lucky Dog

Oliver Hardy was a character actor who had played in dozens of movies, mostly villains, when he first appeared in the same movie as the British comic Stan Laurel. The 31-year-old Laurel had recently changed his name from Stan Jefferson because it contained an unlucky 13 letters on the advice of his girlfriend and sometimes stage partner, Mae Dahlberg. Gilbert 'Billy Bronco' Anderson had sold his partnership in Essanay Studios and was looking to begin a comedy serial headlining the up-and-coming Laurel. His new small studio produced a pilot, December 1921's "The Lucky Dog," in an attempt to sell to sponsors the series 'Stan Laurel Comedies.'

It was simply happenstance Hardy was brought in to play a robber and the bad guy in "The Lucky Dog." He was freelancing for several studios and was hired to play the foil for Laurel's character. In the short film, Laurel plays a homeless person who befriends a dog and first meets Hardy robbing his victim. Hardy then robs Laurel of the money he had taken from his initial victim. Such are the roustabout frivolities taking place throughout the remainder of the movie.

Anderson's dream of a serial with Laurel didn't materialize, but the two did collaborate on several shorts afterwards. As for Hardy, he eventually signed with Hal Roach Studios in 1924 before appearing in a handful of films directed by none other than Stan Laurel in the mid-1920's.

The date of "The Lucky Dog" is uncertain; it has traditionally been given as 1917, but it has been suggested that it may have been shot as late as 1921. Stan Laurel here plays a down-on-his-luck young man who is thrown out of his lodgings for not paying his rent. He is held up by a robber and twice narrowly avoids being run over by a tram. His only friend is a stray dog who befriends him. The dog, however, proves to be his lucky charm, as it is through the dog that he meets a dog-loving young lady. The dog also saves his life from the girl's jealous boyfriend who is plotting to blow him up with the assistance of the robber.

There is nothing specially interesting about the film, which lacks the inventiveness and the slapstick brilliance of many silent shorts from this period, It has, however, become famous because of an accident of history. It was the first film to star both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, although they had not yet become a comedy partnership. In most of their films they play close friends, work colleagues or business partners, but here Ollie plays the robber who holds Stan up and later conspires with the jealous boyfriend. Had these two not gone on to become the famous duo of Laurel and Hardy, this film would doubtless today be forgotten.

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.

'The Lucky Dog' is most notable for being of historical interest, in that it was the first time Laurel and Hardy featured together on film and where this legendary partnership was born. That is the main reason to see it, but there is more to 'The Lucky Dog' for that to be the only reason for watching. There are some good elements here and it's fun to watch but Laurel and Hardy definitely went on to much better things when their style and such were properly settled.

It is amusing with some well-engineered slapstick, but later efforts were much funnier (to a more consistent level) and inventive. It would have benefitted from sharper timing and more wit and the predictability factor was high with easily foreseeable outcomes. The story is very flimsy and tends to be too busy and towards the end confused.

Do agree that 'The Lucky Dog' gets very messy in storytelling and coherence of the action towards the end, which makes the second half less enjoyable than the promising first. There is a sense of "yet to find its feet".

However, the two are on good form and their chemistry is great fun to watch. Laurel has more to do and has the funnier material which he sinks his teeth into, but Hardy is suitably formidable and his comic timing is just as good in his own way.

First half is very promising and where the best of the humour comes from. The best parts are well-timed and very amusing. 'The Lucky Dog' is never dull and there's a lot of energy, despite being too busy in latter stages. Technically and visually, while not exactly refined, 'The Lucky Dog' is quite good and the direction is competent.

In summary, worth the look and interesting but not Laurel and Hardy at their best

SERVING AS A SORT of "Back To The Future" convoluted, retro precursor of the still unformed Laurel & Hardy team, THE LUCKY DOG is a dichotomy of film history. In the first place, it is the first time than both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy appear in the same comedy. And, although it is a delight to see the two great funny men working together for this initial encounter, it is not a true L & H comedy as we know it.

BEING THAT THIS is a starring vehicle for Stan, it should surprise no one that he has the Lion's share of the screen time. The scenario, such as it is, revolves around a rather typical 'Boy meets Girl' plot. As is so very commonplace, much of the humor is derived from the frustrations that plague all of us when it comes to romantic involvement.

ADDING WHAT WE would call a parallel sort of romance, Stan's mongrel dog displays definite interest in the girl's poodle. The inclusion of this plot device serves not only to provide a canine mirror image of their masters' world; but also provides a strong moving force for the story. Much of the middle action takes place at the Kennel Club Show, all of which brings all of the principals together.Even the title takes on a deeper, multi-faceted meaning; making "Lucky Dog" a sort of cinematic pun.

THE SCREEN PERSONA displayed by Stan Laurel, while energetic, clever and inclined toward physical comedy, is not the dimwitted guy that we all know and love. This character is brash and highly energetic. In many respects, what is presented on the screen is more akin to that of many other comics' films. This manic Stan's comedy is much more like that of Harold Lloyd or Charley Chase. This comedy could have been done by either of these silent masters.

AND THAT BRINGS us back to the main interest in THE LUCKY DOG; that being the first work that Stan and "Babe" did together. Being filmed in 1919 and released in 1921, the film predated the actual formation of the Laurel & Hardy team by a good 7 or 8 years. At that time, at Hal Roach Studios, association with folks like Mr. Roach, Leo McCarey and others, Stan's brash, young guy left. In his place, the slowly paced, dimwitted man-child replaced him forever.

SLOWING THINGS DOWN sped up their success.

I can't complain too much, since I picked up 14 Laurel & Hardy films for $6, but I am disappointed in this cut. The movie is missing the entire second half, cutting off at the point where Stan has Babe stuck in the plank fence.

This version (Platinum Disc) is also totally without title cards, so it lacks the infamous line 'Put 'em both up, insect, or I'll comb your hair with lead!' that marked the first dialogue to take place between the greatest comedy team who ever made movies.

Still, for six bucks, I'm glad to have even this fragmentary version, though I will certainly seek the full film, in the future.