Andando a spasso

Stan & Ollie testify against a dangerous criminal "Butch" who swears revenge and then promptly escapes from jail and goes looking for them. Laurel & Hardy meanwhile prepare to get out of town and, by a million to one chance, find themselves in Butch's apartment. To say any more would be giving the (wonderful) plot away, so you'll have to watch it. of course, I'm sure most people on Planet Earth have already seen this delightful "short". It's not one of L&H's best but still VERY funny. The film is greatly assisted by Walter Long (the ultimate comedy tough guy) who plays "Butch". I've just seen Going Bye Bye on BBC2. The restored version is magnificent. It looks as if it was made yesterday! Well worth watching.

The critic in me says that the entire film is structured for the sole purpose of the sight gag with which the film ends. But, OH, WHAT A SIGHT GAG!

I saw this the other night at a local arts club screening, but available nowhere else. Why isn't this (or for matter, their masterpiece "The Music Box") on video?

If you're a Laurel and Hardy fan, you know that anything with Mae Busch is a howl. GOING BYE BYE is filled with gags and one liners, exceptionally directed by Charley Rogers. He may have just let he cameras roll and had the boys improvise their material, which was the key to their success.

Stan and Ollie's testimony have locked away tough guy Walter Long --for LIFE. Of course, Long declares somehow, someway he'll get out of prison and wrap their legs around their necks! The boys decide to get outta' town fast and advertise for a companion to pay expenses. Who else but Mae Busch --Long's gal pal? As can be expected, he crashes out of the big house and there's trouble ahead.

Lots of goofy stuff; Long is locked inside a trunk and the boys try to get him out --not knowing who he is. By the way, watch the room fall apart during an explosion. The production folks were very creative.

Interesting footnote, mentioned many times; Stan Laurel liked using Walter Long as a heavy, because --as he put it --he had no comedic ability. Best as a bad guy with NO smiles.

Mae Busch is a stylish dresser in this one, looking just fabulous.

This short is one of a handful that was colored for vhs back in the 1980s and 90s, but the old black and white prints have never lost their charm. Also remastered dvd and blu ray. Thanks to both METV and MOVIES Net for running these gems daily.

Laurel and Hardy's testimony have helped convict Walter Long. He announces that he's going to bust out of prison and kill them. They prepare to leave town, but don't have enough money. They advertise in the paper and Mae Busch answers. If that's not enough trouble, she's Long's girlfriend. If that's not enough trouble, he's escaped and coming along with them. However, he's locked in a trunk. Always ineptly helpful, the Boy's try to get him out.

This is the short with the immortal line, "I have milk in my ear." Filled with ridiculous details, this is one of Stan and Ollie's best short..... which can be said of an astonishing number of them.

This is a very simple made Laurel & Hardy short with an almost non-existent and not that great story. However the gags in the movie are absolutely hilarious and are the reason why this is one of the better Laurel & Hardy comedy shorts.

It's a very consistent movie that remains funny throughout its entire running time. It has some absolute priceless visual jokes in it and a really funny ending.

It's always fun to see Walter Long in a villainous role in any Laurel & Hardy movie, so this one included. He probably is also one of the reasons that makes this movie oh so fun and hilarious to watch. Also a couple of other Laurel & Hardy regulars show up again.

Simple comedy short but the humor in it is absolutely priceless and its timing spot-on!

8/10

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