Written and filmed
June, 1927. Released
by MGM, October, 1927. Produced by Hal Roach. Supervised by Leo
McCarey. Directed by Clyde Bruckman. Two reels. Cast: Max Davidson, Lillian Elliot, Spec O'Donnell, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charlie Chase, James Finlayson, Charlie Hall. STORY: Max Davidson and his family are annoyed by the looney antics of their next-door neighbors (Laurel, Hardy, Finlayson and Chase). They move to a new house which immediately starts self-destructing, and find the same neighbors have once again moved next door. |
One film after their first starring vehicle, Laurel and Hardy once again found themselves in supporting roles in somebody else's film. But things were a bit different this time. No longer mere supporting players, they (along with the other Roach "All-Stars," Chase and Finlayson) were now Guest Stars. Filmed but days after The Second Hundred Years, The Boys still sport their shaved heads in an appearance that was designed as a publicity device for the Roach stable of comics. |
JL: Laurel and Hardy's appearance in this film seems almost an afterthought, as if their scenes were added to an already finished comedy. Many have pointed out the home-movie quality to their scenes in Call of the Cuckoos: no rhyme or reason to anything they do, it seems they just ad-libbed whatever silly things came into their minds for the benefit of the cameras. Which is, of course, the beauty of it.
Copyright © 2012 John Larrabee, John V. Brennan