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7.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Below Zero remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like watching two grown men fail at everything while freezing their butts off, then yes. It's a classic Laurel and Hardy short from the early sound era.
People who want a deep story or high-stakes drama will probably hate this. It's just slapstick and bad luck. ☃️
The movie starts with the boys standing in the middle of a snowstorm. They are trying to play instruments, which is already a bad idea because nobody is outside to hear them.
They are playing a song called "In the Good Old Summertime." The irony isn't subtle, but it works because they look so miserable.
The fake snow in this movie is hilarious. It looks like someone is just standing off-camera throwing handfuls of salt or paper at them. ❄️
One of my favorite small moments is when a woman pays them just to stop playing. She doesn't even want the music; she just wants the silence.
Then she pours a bucket of water on them. Or maybe it was trash? It's hard to tell with the old film quality, but it's mean and funny.
Stan's face when he gets hit with the water is priceless. He has that look like he's about to cry but he's too cold to even manage a tear. 😢
Eventually, they find a wallet. A big, fat wallet full of cash right on the sidewalk.
A guy tries to take it, but a police officer stops him. The cop is actually nice for once, which feels weird for these movies.
They decide to go to a diner to celebrate. This is where things get really awkward and slow, but in a good way.
They invite the cop to eat with them because he saved the wallet. Big mistake. 🍔
The waiter in this scene is played by Tiny Sandford. He's always great at playing people who are one second away from punching Stan in the face.
There is this long bit where they are trying to order. The dialogue is a bit clunky compared to their later stuff like Min's Away, but it's still charming.
You can tell they were still getting used to talking on film. Sometimes the silence between lines lasts a beat too long.
I noticed a weird thing in the background of the diner. There's a guy just staring at the camera for a split second before he realizes he's supposed to be eating.
The whole scene with the steak is just... it's a lot. Stan starts eating the cop's food and you just know it's going to end badly.
Ollie tries to be sophisticated, but he just looks like a wet cat in a suit. His tie is all crumpled from the snow.
The twist with the wallet is predictable, but the way it plays out is brutal. They realize the wallet actually belongs to the cop who is sitting right there. 👮♂️
The ending of this short is honestly pretty dark. I won't spoil the very last shot, but it involves a lot of water and Stan looking very... different.
It's not as polished as something like Collars and Cuffs, but it has that raw, early-talkie energy.
I think the pacing is a bit off in the middle. The diner scene goes on forever while they just sit there.
But the physical gags are top-tier. Like when Stan tries to throw a snowball and it just falls apart in his hand.
It feels like a real winter day where everything that can go wrong, does. We've all had those days, just maybe without the tuba. 🎺
The music is sparse, mostly just the boys honking on their instruments. It adds to the feeling of being lonely in a big, cold city.
If you've seen a lot of their work, this one feels like a bridge between their silent stuff and the big hits. It’s a bit rough around the edges.
I watched this on a rainy afternoon and it fit the mood perfectly. It's short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome. ⏳
The way Ollie looks at the camera when Stan does something stupid... it never gets old. That 'fourth wall' break is their best weapon.
Anyway, it's a solid 20 minutes of your life. Just don't expect a happy ending. These guys never get a win.
Go watch it if you're feeling a bit grumpy. It makes your own problems look small. ✌️
IMDb —
1927
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