Laurel et Hardy en wagon-lit

This was the only Laurel and Hardy short film that Lewis R. Foster directed, who later wrote the acclaimed film, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON.

Foster did a terrific job, possibly one of the team's best early sound films, from 1929.

Big vaudeville "stars" Stan and Ollie board a train for Pottsville --and the rest is comedy history. This short is chock full with running gags, and excellent timing. To further complicate matters, the boys have to drag along a cello (part of their act, naturally), which proves to be one pain in the XYZ. They also encounter jealous husband Charlie Hall who starts a clothes ripping fight among passengers, believing someone (guess who?) was snooping on his wife.

The boys end the insane day climbing into a tight as a drum sleeping car berth, and painstakingly remove their clothes --that only Laurel and Hardy can do. This hilarious sketch is one of their best, re-created many years later in THE BIG NOISE (1944). Some say you can hear the crew faintly laughing in the background, its that funny.

By the way, the clothes-ripping frenzy continues... and continues...

Without too much surprise, this story was written by comedy master Leo McCarey, who also worked on their silent short films. A labor of love.

Get the dvd box set of the team's legendary short films, especially for this one. By the way, the METV remastered print is absolutely beautiful.