Unaccustomed As We Are (1929) - HD BEST - Laurel and Hardy Movies

 

On May 4, 1929, the first sound picture comedy featuring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Unaccustomed As We Are, was released.

The title, Unaccustomed As We Are..., was a parody of the fact that the film's two stars had never talked in a film before. In fact, despite the fact that it was a speech-driven film, the soundtrack was dominated by music and sound effects, with speaking coming in third.

Hal Roach hedged his bets by publishing it in both the new All-Talking and Silent formats, in case the Talkies did not prove successful and in order to be distributed in theaters that had not yet been converted for sound (in the latter case, with intertitles carrying the dialogue). Visual jokes remained the heart and soul of the film, just as they were in the silent Laurel and Hardy films: the actors were undoubtedly talking, but the humor was not yet in the dialogue, and the film still relied totally on sight gags for its chuckles.

Ollie invites Stan to dinner, promising a large juicy steak with mushroom sauce, strawberries, whipped cream, a cup of coffee, and a big black cigar. Despite the allure of such a delectable temptation, Stan nevertheless feels compelled to inquire as to whether the dish contains any nuts.

Mrs. Hardy (Mae Busch) is taken aback when Oliver introduces Stan to her, and she walks out in a huff. Mrs. Kennedy (Thelma Todd), a neighbor from across the hall, promises to help the boys make dinner in exchange for them assisting her in setting fire to her dress. Mrs. Hardy and a cop, Mr. Kennedy (Edgar Kennedy), return, and the boys hide Mrs. K in a trunk.

Mrs. Hardy apologizes to Oliver for her earlier behavior and even brings Stanley some nuts. Oliver, on the other hand, refuses to entertain her, announcing that he has packed his trunk and is heading to South America. This causes an argument between Oliver and his wife, which Mr. Kennedy overhears. Mrs. Hardy explains the problem to Kennedy and then disappears into her room, crying.

Kennedy threatens to slit their throats if any man interferes with his marriage. Mr. Kennedy stops Oliver and slams the trunk as he tries to rush out of the room with the trunk. Mrs. Kennedy screams as a result of this. Mr. Kennedy realizes what the boys are up to, so he contacts Mrs. Hardy and directs her to make a wonderful supper for the lads while he advises them to take the trunk to his apartment. When Stan and Ollie are taken behind Kennedy's closed door, he applauds their efforts in a roundabout way.

Kennedy begins bragging to the boys about his "technique" in extramarital affairs, unaware that his wife is around. His enraged wife confronts him about it before employing her own method of hurling everything within range at him. Next door, Stan, Ollie, and Mrs. Hardy continue to eat while attempting to ignore the Kennedys' apartment's crashing, pounding, and shouting.

When it finally comes to a halt, Mr. Kennedy is bloodied, wounded, and in a bad shape. With a whistle, he leads Ollie out and beats him up. He then prepares to do the same to Stan, but his wife is still working on him. She emerges from their flat brandishing a massive vase and, despite Mr. Kennedy's best efforts, smashes it over his head, knocking him out. Stan exits as if nothing has happened after escaping a beating but then goes down the stairs (offscreen) as Ollie looks on, flinching at every thump and loud smash as Stan reaches the bottom.