I've got to be honest and say that I haven't seen many Laurel and Hardy shorts, but when I do see one, I usually find myself laughing uncontrollably and this is definitely the best one I've seen. This short sees everyone's favourite bumbling workmen trying to haul a piano up a huge flight of stairs. Of course, everything goes to plan and they get the piano to the top of the stairs without any trouble whatsoever...ahem. Naturally, Laurel and Hardy encounter all manner of trouble during their plight, which leads to a number of hilarious situations. Laurel and Hardy works because the humour is so good-hearted and blends together with various different styles magnificently. Obviously, slapstick is the order of the day; but there's also more than enough dry wit and irony to keep everyone happy. There's a number of highly amusing sequences, too many to mention and I recommend simply watching the film. It's a must see anyway.
Plot summary
The Laurel & Hardy Moving Co. have a challenging job on their hands (and backs): hauling a player piano up a monumental flight of stairs to Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen's house. Their task is complicated by a sassy nursemaid and, unbeknownst to them, the impatient Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen himself. But the biggest problem is the force of gravity, which repeatedly pulls the piano back down to the bottom of the stairs.
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July 30, 2022 at 07:38 PM
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First rate comedy!
Oscar winning short from Laurel and Hardy
While this was the only Laurel and Hardy film that received an Oscar (Best Short Subject), it isn't my very favorite film--though it still is a lot of fun. Stan and Ollie are Piano delivery men who traverse a set of steps from Hell (there must be at least 150 steps). Again and again and again they slip and fall and drop the Music Box (a player piano). It's all very painful yet fun to watch. However, I can't consider this their very best short because it does become just a bit repetitive--but this is easily forgiven. And, the ultimate conclusion to story is ironic fun.
FYI--these exact same steps were later used in a 3 Stooges short where they are ice delivery men (An Ache in Every Stake). While not bad for the Stooges, it's a far cry from THE MUSIC BOX.
The Old Piano Roll Blues
The Music Box finds Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy hired as a pair of deliverymen trying to get a piano delivered to a house as a present. As usual the boys keep doing it the hard way.
I don't think I've ever seen the both of them this dumb in a film before. With Stan it's usually no stretch, but Ollie too seems more mentally challenged than usual.
Best moment for me in a short subject just filled with them is when after they've hauled the piano up a long flight of outdoor stairs, they're told by the postman that they could have just driven around the corner for their efforts. What do they do, take it down the stairs and proceed to follow directions. Seems perfectly logical.
Another great comedian Billy Gilbert is in this short subject and the boys have a confrontation with the choleric Gilbert on one of their trips up. Then it turns out it's to his house the piano is meant for. Though Gilbert doesn't go into his famous sneezing routine, his choleric reactions to Stan and Ollie give them a run for scene stealing in their own short.
The Music Box won an Oscar for Hal Roach as the Best Short Subject. It's definitely a must for Stan and Ollie's legion of fans.