Yes, Yes, Nanette

Its hard to judge one of these old silent comedies apart from another. They were often made in one day, You watch them for overall effect unless there is some notable feature in them, or they were one of the elaborate projects by men we now think of as greats.

In the group of films that Laurel and Hardy made, or either of them, there are only few worth actually identifying by itself and singling out for a comment. All the rest are residue of timeclock punching. This is notable only as a rare example of a project directed by one of them.

In these cases, you usually look for some indicator into the nature of genius. "Oneyed Jack" is essential viewing, for instance, if you want to plumb Brando — and you need to do that to gain access to a huge corner of the cinematic world.

But this isn't of that ilk. Unless you need the fact that the mentality of both of these men was no nonsense workmanlike. That the humor comes from the casual and cheap, not the elaborate, unusual or even dangerous stuff we would see from others.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Yes Yes Nanette has Stan Laurel as co-director of a silent short subject that has in its cast among others Oliver Hardy and James Finlayson. The two are rivals for Nanette with Ollie as her former blue collar boyfriend and Finlayson as the elegant man about town that she marries.

Lyle Tayo plays Nanette, but it really is Finlayson who carries this short subject. The poor guy marries distinctly below his class and his elegant ways get no respect from Tayo's family. His toupee seems to be a prime target with even the dog having some fun with it.

The only thing this short subject has in common with the Broadway musical No No Nanette is the play on words in the title. But it still is a funny film.

As has been noted, this one-reel short does indeed have an impressive pedigree from the perspective of Laurel and Hardy fans -- directed by Laurel, starring their perpetual tormentor James Finlayson, and featuring Hardy. However, on this occasion the talented group produced what was really only a throwaway -- a pleasant and likable throwaway, but still a throwaway. Most of the jokes center around the situation that Finlayson is a new groom who just doesn't look up to stuff for his bride's low-class family. Not an Earth-shaking scenario but it works well, with some fun business involving Fin's toupee and a curious 1920s representation of a snotty, gum-chewing teenage girl.

While I love Finlayson's support in the films of Laurel and Hardy, Charley Chase, and other Hal Roach Studios stars, I don;t really think he had what it takes to be a star on his own. He tends to rely a little too much on mugging and freezing his features into an astonished or disapproving "funny face." "'Babe' Hardy," as he is credited, is good in a small role as the uncouth ex-boyfriend. He had a lot of versatility and while he often played "the heavy" during his solo days could slip into almost any type of role.

In all, a fun and enjoyable nine minutes, but nothing to make it stand out too much.

Lyle Tayo brings he new husband home to meet her unprepossessing family. The groom is an equally unprepossessing James Finlayson.

This was during the period when Hal Roach thought he could turn Finn into a starring comic. Alas, despite the best efforts of the directors, he didn't have it in him, and this short is erratic, with an uneven pace of gags.

Interestingly, one of the directors was Stan Laurel. He was stuck behind the camera because he had a contract as a performer with Joe Rock. The one performer who came out ahead is Pete the Pup, making his Roach debut.