Politiquerías Review: Laurel & Hardy, But in Spanish, and With a Regurgitator?

Alright, so we’re talking about Politiquerías today. And look, right off the bat, if you’re not already a pretty deep dive into early sound films, or a serious Laurel & Hardy fanatic, this one might be a tough sell. It's a **very specific flavor** of cinema, you know? But for those of us who like weird, dusty corners of movie history, it's kinda fascinating.

It’s essentially the Laurel & Hardy short “Chickens Come Home” stretched out, but with a Spanish-speaking cast and some truly baffling additions. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, modern comedy, this isn't it. You’ll probably hate it, honestly. But if the idea of seeing familiar gags in a different language, plus some **wildly out-of-place** vaudeville acts, piques your interest? Then yeah, give it a shot. It's a whole thing. 🦆

The Familiar Core

The main chunk of the movie, the part based on “Chickens Come Home,” sees Oliver Hardy’s character, here played by Enrique Acosta, trying to run for mayor. Everything seems fine until Nelly Fernández shows up as a woman from his past, brandishing some old love letters. She’s ready to spill the beans. Classic setup.

Stan Laurel's character, usually his sidekick, tries to help out, and as always, manages to make things about a **thousand times worse**. There's a scene with a dog that just *will not cooperate*, and you can practically feel the frustration radiating off the screen. It's so good, even in Spanish. The timing is just perfect.

The whole thing feels very much like an L&H picture, even with the language swap. The physical comedy, the slow burn of Oliver’s annoyance, Stan’s bewildered expressions – it’s all there. Some of the close-ups of Enrique Acosta’s face as he's about to lose it are just golden. You can almost see the original Ollie in his expressions.

Then Things Get… Odd

Now, this is where Politiquerías really earns its stripes as a curiosity. To pad out the short into a feature, they just dropped in some variety acts. And I mean *dropped in*. There’s a whole section with a magician, and then, the pièce de résistance: **Hadji Ali**. He was famously known as 'The Great Regurgitator.'

And yes, you see him do his thing. He swallows water, then walnuts, then a handkerchief, and then just… *brings them back up*. In order. It’s absolutely wild. 🤯 The crowd reactions are priceless, a mix of shock and polite applause. One woman in the audience looks like she’s about to faint. It’s one of those moments that makes you lean forward and think, 'Did that just happen?'

It has almost nothing to do with the plot of the political scandal. The movie just kinda stops for a bit, like you’ve switched to a different channel showing an old vaudeville performance. It’s jarring, a little confusing, and completely unforgettable.

The Whole Vibe

The sound quality, as you’d expect for a 1931 Spanish-language film, can be a bit rough. Sometimes the dialogue feels a little distant, other times it's perfectly clear. It's an interesting window into how early talkies navigated different markets.

The performances from the Spanish cast are solid. Nelly Fernández, as the blackmailer, has a certain charm that makes her threatening but also a bit sympathetic. She carries those heavy, dramatic moments well. But let's be real, you're here for the Stan and Ollie energy, and the weird stuff.

There are some really nice shots, though, especially in the more dramatic moments. The way a lamp casts shadows on the wall during a tense conversation, it's quite effective. And then it'll cut to a wide shot where half the extras look like they're not quite sure what they're supposed to be doing. It's got that wonderful, slightly chaotic early film charm.

Final Thoughts, Sort Of

So, is Politiquerías a 'good' movie by today’s standards? Probably not in the way most people think of 'good.' It’s clunky, the pacing is all over the place because of those extra acts, and the story isn't exactly deep.

But it is a **fascinating artifact**. It shows how studios tried to reuse material, how they handled language barriers in early cinema, and how they thought about extending shorts. And, of course, it has a guy who regurgitates things on command. You don't see that every day. It definitely made me wonder how many takes that took. 🤔

It’s more of a historical curio than a movie night main event. If you’re in the mood for something genuinely peculiar from the golden age of Hollywood, give it a whirl. But maybe keep a snack handy for the non-regurgitation parts. Just saying.