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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Bacon Grabbers remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
This one? Oh, if you're even *remotely* into the old-school physical comedy masters, like Laurel and Hardy, then yeah, you absolutely gotta see Bacon Grabbers.
It's a quick, sharp dose of their particular brand of mayhem. If silent films or anything before, say, 1950, makes you yawn, then just skip it. But for the rest of us, it's a real treat, a glimpse into comedy gold.
Stan and Ollie are these repo men, right? Their mission is to serve a summons to this guy who hasn't paid for his radio. Sounds simple enough.
But nothing is ever simple for these two, *especially* when they're together.
The whole thing starts with them trying to get into the house, and the owner, played by Charlie Hall, is just not having it. He’s a mountain of a man, and he just glares at them, making their job *impossible*.
You feel their dread, honestly.
Then there's the dog. A truly massive dog, the kind that looks like it could eat Stan in one gulp. Just the sight of that pooch sends our heroes into a frenzy of fear, which is, of course, where the comedy magic happens.
Ollie tries to be brave, but Stan's terror is infectious.
And they *really* lean into the visual gags here. There’s a bit with a rifle that escalates in the most absurd way, from a simple threat to something totally out of control. It just keeps getting more ridiculous.
You gotta appreciate how committed Charlie Hall is to his role. He's not just a big guy; he’s got this incredible stubbornness. He wants to keep that radio, and he's ready to use *anything* to stop them.
Then, just when you think things can't get any wilder, a steamroller shows up. A literal steamroller! 😲
It's like, how did they even get to this point? The sheer audacity of using a steamroller to solve a dispute over an unpaid radio is just *peak* Laurel and Hardy absurdity.
The pacing feels just right for a short. They don't waste a second, but they also let the gags breathe. You get to see Stan's slow-burn confusion and Ollie's growing frustration play out in real time.
Jean Harlow has a small role here too, as Mrs. Kennedy. It's wild seeing her in these early shorts, even if she's not doing much more than reacting to the chaos around her. A little glimpse of a future star.
It’s the kind of film where you can tell they're just having a blast. The physical comedy is so precise, even when it looks completely unplanned. Every fall, every collision, it’s all perfectly timed.
I found myself laughing out loud at moments, especially when Ollie tries to regain some dignity after Stan's latest blunder. It's a classic Laurel and Hardy setup, and it works wonderfully.
So yeah, if you've got twenty minutes and a soft spot for classic slapstick, give Bacon Grabbers a watch. It’s a good one. A really good one.
IMDb 6.3
1928
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