Jitterbugs

They weren't as good as they'd been but still better than any other double act. This film was too plot heavy but held my attention for at least an hour and made me laugh. What more could one want from a comedy? They should definitely have been put into an MGM musical.

Following 1940's SAPS AT SEA, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy became free agents--selling their talents to studios such as Fox and RKO. While these and other studios were willing to pay them more than they'd been getting from Hal Roach Studio, the quality of all these post-Roach films took a significant hit. Unless you are a die-hard fan of the team, you really should watch their earlier stuff--it's just so much funnier and better.

While JITTERBUGS isn't a bad film, it's a mere shadow of their former style and glory--mostly because it has too much plot and too much singing. The beauty of the older Laurel and Hardy films was that they could take very simple plots and milk it for all it was worth just by allowing them to slowly do their thing. Here, however, the film is very plot-heavy and like all these later lesser films, the duo are more supporting actors instead of the whole show. Here, Vivian Blaine and Robert Bailey take away from the focus on Stan and Ollie--with Blaine singing (way too much) and Bailey as a smooth-talking grifter. In the older films, Stan and Ollie were THE focus--supporting characters were never intended to have much personality and were there merely for the use and abuse of the team. Here, the audience is simply distracted by these lesser talents--and I wanted much more Stan and Ollie!!

Now despite these distractions, the film works very well on occasion. First, when the boys are performing as a two-man band, this scene is very clever and the music very catchy--so, of course, this small scene is never repeated and apart from this tiny scene, there is not Jitterbugging at all--despite the title! Second, there are some funny moments--particularly when Stan dresses up like Ms. Blaine's aunt. While it may not sound all that funny, Stanley handles it well and you can't help but laugh--especially when he utters the line "I feel so gay"--you gotta see it to appreciate it!

So overall, it's a very, very mixed bag but an overall product that still has you wondering why the studio didn't just let Stan and Ollie "do their thing"? Why insert other characters or include lots of distracting singing and show tunes?! With the greatest movie duo in history, it was insulting to given them material that just wasn't up to snuff. And speaking of not being up to snuff, how about that floating gas scene where the wires were so obvious and visible?! Didn't Laurel and Hardy deserve better than just some cheap stunt than looked third-rate?

Con man Chester Wright (Bob Bailey) rescues stranded musicians Stan (Stan Laurel) and Ollie (Oliver Hardy) in the desert when their car breaks down. After using the boys in a few con acts, the men escape together in a trailer -- where they discover Susan Cowan (Vivian Blaine), whose purse Chester stole. When Chester discovers that Susan's mother has been swindled by professionals, he and the boys set out to pursue the con men to New Orleans, where they also turn Susan into a singing star.

Not as funny as the other L & H entries, yet still fun and entertaining. Stan Laurel dressed as Ollie's mother was a hoot - there are plenty of songs sung by the leading lady between the hi-jinks and humorous situation. Not as sharp as other L & H entries but it's still fun.

This is an enjoyable well written comedy that has some great comical moments in it.

This is not a comedy movie that relies on the slapstick antics from Laurel & Hardy but it rather relies on its written comedy moments. It might disappoint the most hardened fans but to everyone well this should be a movie that you can find much joy and fun in. Especially when the boys have to play different characters in the movie; Oliver is forced to play a southern gentleman named colonel Bixby and Stan has to play Aunt Emily. In those sequence it shows how great the boys actually could act. They play the different actors without much difficulties and in a convincing way.

The movie is mostly carried by its story. It's not the best story ever written but it works effective for a simple little comedy movie like this one. It's well written and features some great comedy moments and situations. The movie starts to fall apart before the ending but the good beginning and fun middle compensate for this.

Obvisouly not the greatest and best example of a Laurel & Hardy comedy but it's definitely better than most of their usual work from the '40's. Maybe if it had different actors than Laurel & Hardy in it, this movie would have a better reputation.

7/10

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Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy Lived Out Their Final Decade as a Super-Popular Comedy Team, Free Agents, but Paid the Price.

That of Hollywood Indifference After Racking Up the Mileage in the 20's & 30's Bringing Joyful Entertainment to Millions of Fans.

This War-Time Effort Finds Our Duo Hooking Up with a Con-Man (Bob Bailey) and a Pretty (Vivian Blaine).

Their Scam (although L&H think it's on the level) is a Pill that Turns Ordinary Water into Gasoline. This Makes for a Number of Slapstick "Gas" Gags.

Stan and Ollie Look Old and Tired (they were) but Manage to Deliver an Entertaining Outing. One of Their Best of the 40's.

Vivian Blaine is Handed 3 Musical Numbers that are Flat-Out Dull and Boring.

Bob Bailey is Best Known for His Radio Character "Johnny Dollar". He Does Fine.

The Production Quality is Not Bad and the Film in Retrospect is Much Better than its Reputation.

No Need to Compare it to Their Prime.

Because the 1940's wasn't Their Prime, it was Their Final Bow.

Stan Does HIs "Drag" Routine, and the Opening Act with the Their "Zoot-Suit Band" is a Highlight.

Plenty of Fun and the Lovable Duo Reflects Much of What Made Them Special, even though the Spotlight has Dimmed Somewhat.

Underrated and Given Little Slack (it's a cruel world out there.

The Movie, for the Love of Stan and Ollie, is Certainly...Worth a Watch.