In the "Battle of the Century" L&H revolutionized the silent comedy pie fight by slowing down the victims' reactions -- showing shock, THEN anger, then their reaction (feeling victimized, then throwing a pie rather than just being angry). In Two Tars "the boys" slowed down their famous comedy of mutual destruction. The result: the viewer laughs more than ever.
I absolutely LOVED this movie. It's one I had read about but never seen anytime in my life -- not on television, or theater revivals. It's a perfect film for those just starting out to watch L&H AND for their longtime fans.
The plot is barebones basic. Stan and Ollie are a couple of sailors on leave. They meet and pick up a couple of ladies. And, after some problems with a gum machine, they take off with their new friends and get stuck in a traffic jam. There are minor fender benders...and the fun is watching what happens as a result.
Some things about this movie, and why you should buy this video. I was struck by:
--The amazing timing. Each gag works because of when a reaction takes place. It is flawless.--A young Stan and Ollie. There's a youthful energy about this 20 minute short. Ollie, for instance, is not as heavy as in later years. They're the same characters, but there is a difference.--An edgier Laurel and Hardy. They are less sympathetic than in later films. Here, they are more instigators than child-like victims.--Priceless sight gags. Without giving it away, let's just say the studio took a lot of time building props.--Two for the price of one. This short is really two shorts. The first part involves the boys meeting two ladies and a gum machine. The second is early Culver City "road rage" on a sunny day. Both parts work seamlessly.--Great supporting cast. Two Tars features the wonderful Charlie Hall (who was in the ultimate L&H destruction comedy shorts Them Thar Hills and Tit for Tat) and "slow burn" foil Edgar Kennedy.--Oliver Hardy's facial expressions. Watch this once for the fun of it, and a second time to see a comic master at work.
The video's only drawback is the pedestrian musical soundtrack. It works best at the end but is like the kind of bland music in early Hanna Barbera t.v. cartoons, stock background music pulled out of a royalty-free file. It doesn't ruin the comedy, but you can put together a better soundtrack with old CDs (Hal Roach film music, old jazz, honkey tonk piano). Print quality is superb. A MUST for any comedy lover.
