Another Fine Mess: A Charming Laurel & Hardy Romp That Still Delivers

This one, Another Fine Mess, if you’re into old-school silent-era slapstick, especially Laurel and Hardy, yeah, you should absolutely check it out. If you’re not already a fan, or if you find the whole silent movie thing a bit much, you'll probably just wonder what the fuss is about. It's a quick 29 minutes, so not a huge time commitment either way.

Okay, so Stan and Ollie are tramps, right? They're on the run from a cop, Harry Bernard, who plays the “tough cop” role perfectly, even if he looks a bit like he's just strolling. They end up sneaking into this fancy, empty mansion. Of course, it's not empty for long.

The whole thing kicks off with them trying to hide in various ridiculous ways. Stan, as usual, is the master of making things worse. Ollie tries to be in charge, but you know how that goes.

They find themselves pretending to be the owners of the house when a couple shows up to rent it. This is where the real trouble starts, naturally. 😄

Thelma Todd shows up as the owner's wife, which is great. She has this amazing presence, even in these shorter films. She comes in, and suddenly Stan and Ollie have to pretend one is the butler and the other the colonel. It’s a classic Laurel and Hardy setup.

There's a scene where Ollie is trying to get Stan to act like a butler. Stan just can’t get it right. He keeps messing up the simplest tasks, like pouring water or just standing still. You can feel Ollie's frustration build.

It’s not just the lines, it’s the way Stan drops things or gets completely confused by a simple tray. He just… doesn't quite grasp things, you know?

The movie really leans into the mistaken identity bit. The real colonel, Charles K. Gerrard, eventually shows up. This means double the trouble for our boys. It’s a good kind of chaos.

I always notice the way Ollie's hat gets knocked off, or how he gives Stan “the look.” It's so subtle sometimes, but it tells you everything you need to know about what's going on in his head. That’s their whole dynamic, really.

Stan messes up, Ollie fumes, then they both get into deeper trouble. It’s a timeless formula for them.

One small moment I liked: when Stan is trying to open a door while hiding, and he just can’t figure out the knob. It's a little thing, but it just feels so Stan. He’s not dumb, exactly, just… operating on a different plane. 🤷

The maid, played by Gertrude Sutton, she doesn't get a ton of screen time. But her reactions are pretty funny too. She’s just trying to do her job amidst all the lunacy, bless her.

The pacing feels a bit frantic towards the end, which is typical for these shorts. They cram a lot of gags into a short period. It’s almost like they're trying to fit as many laughs in as possible before the reel runs out.

Is it their absolute best? Maybe not, but it has some really strong moments. It's a solid entry if you're exploring their filmography. It’s got all the classic gags, the misunderstandings, the escalating silliness.

You can tell they had this formula down pat. It just works. The whole thing with the horse in the house at the end? A bit out there, but also just perfectly absurd for them. That’s how they wrap things up, usually with some kind of chase or utterly ridiculous scenario.

It’s less about some deep message and more about just pure, unadulterated physical comedy. And for that, it delivers. A charming little gem, really. ✨