Should Tall Men Marry?

A Stan Laurel film made after he'd made his first short with Oliver Hardy, but before they had become an established team. He plays a farm-hand who helps James Finlayson protect his daughter from the amorous advances of a villainous rich man. A few funny moments, although with hindsight it's clear that Laurel was in need of a partner to play off.

There was a Stan Laurel before Oliver Hardy, and this 1927 pairing with Jimmy Finlayson -- who, a year later, would be relegated to the role of brilliant supporting actor in their comedies -- shows the Ollie-less Stan at his best. The direction, by Clyde Bruckman, is brisk. The gags all grow out of situations and character, instead of being randomly inserted.

This western comedy is about rancher Finalyson's beautiful daughter, Martha Sleeper -- a real screen beauty if there ever was one -- who refuses to marry the bad guy and how Jimmy and dimwitted cowhand Stan bumble their way into a successful defense of her and the ranch If this shows up, don't miss a chance to see it.

Up until 1927, Stan Laurel was a solo comic in films. Then, after several straight pairings with Oliver Hardy, Hal Roach Studio realized that they were on to something and they became a regular duo. And, once they were an established duo, Stan would never make another film without Ollie again. "Should Tall Men Marry?" is Stan's final film without his partner.

The credits would indicate that Stan Laurel is the lead, while more screen time and laughs were afforded to perennially supporting actor James Finlayson. The story is simple....some baddie wants to force a girl to marry him and two ranch hands (Laurel and Finlayson) come to the resuce...which is tough as they don't exactly seem like the heroic types.

This film only earns a 5 because it really isn't all that funny. There was a cute bit involving a donkey but other than that hardly any laughs at all. An inoffensive but not exactly hilarious short.