Such a frustrating disappointment

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

I have not understood the funny reference of the title "Double Whoopee", but that did not keep me from enjoying this Laurel/Hardy short film from over 85 years ago. It is one of their early works, still silent and of course in black-and-white. The duo is employed at a hotel and causes lots of chaos for the guests, but also for their fellow employees. Of course, (almost) none of it is intentional, which makes this one a fun watch with the lead duo's clumsiness. I usually find Stan funnier, but here Ollie is the MVP for me. Oh yeah, as you see on the cast list, the ill-fated Jean Harlow also plays in this one and she is really young here. However, her billing is too high as she basically only has one scene and several supporting players have more screen time. The intertitles were frequent here as well, which is always nice as they are crucial in understanding the story/comedy. I enjoyed this little film, certainly one of the better early works from the famous duo. Recommended.

Silent. An employment agency sends Stan and Ollie to a fancy hotel, with a note of introduction: "We have reason to believe they may be competent." Of course, they're not.First off, they're mistaken for a visiting Prince and Prime Minister, and there are some diverting moments involving their signing the register, with Ollie shaking the ink out of the pen and the Prince falling into the grime at the bottom of the elevator shaft.The teen-aged Jean Harlow appears for a few minutes, and, man, she is gorgeous and sexy. Whew.There are some running gags involving a beat cop and a cab driver but there's nothing outrageously comic about them. It's a reasonably entertaining short, with Stan and Ollie doing their usual stuff.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are the most famous comedy duo in history, and deservedly so, so I am happy to see any of their films. At a Broadway hotel they are expecting a prince and his prime minister, they mistake Stan and Ollie for them. So after signing in and the manager greeting them, Ollie gives him the letter that reveals them as a short notice doorman and footman. As they go to change the real Prince (Hans Joby, or Captain John Peters) and Prime Minister (Charley Rogers) show up, and keep ending up at the bottom of the elevator shaft, covered with mud, with Stan and Ollie dressed and walking out of it. Ollie makes the mistake of blowing a whistle for the Cabbie (Charlie Hall), and Stan causes a man's shirt to come apart pulling a loose fibre. Ollie keeps missing the door to let people out, and when Stan manages it he gets a coin from the customer. Ollie of course wants this coin, and Stan's whimpers when he has it taken, till a Policeman (Tiny Sandford) comes along, and Ollie is forced to give him another one when his is tossed down the drain. When Stan blows Ollie's cab whistle, the Cabbie and they end up in a little squabble ripping each other's hats and buttons off, with the Cabbie accidentally doing it to the Policeman. Then a cab pulls up with Swanky blonde (Jean Harlow) coming out, and her dress is ripped off when Stan catches it in the cab door, with Ollie escorting her inside the hotel. After Ollie gets Stan's coat there is another little squabble poking each other with a few others joining in,and some cake getting thrown on the Prince and Prime Minister. The film ends with the Prince and Prime Minister ending up at the bottom of the elevator shaft, with Stan and Ollie changed and walking out. Filled with good slapstick and all classic comedy you want from a black and white film, the music added to the film sounds off tune at times, but I suppose it doesn't matter, it is an enjoyable silent film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian. Worth watching!

Double Whoopee (1929) *** (out of 4) Silent short has a Royal Prince showing up at a lavished New York City hotel just in time for Laurel and Hardy to start their first day on the job. This is a pretty good short that has a lot of great laughs, although the thing starts to wear out towards the end. The best gag is at the start of the movie when Laurel and Hardy are mistaken for the Prince himself, which leads to the boys welcoming their new fame even though they don't understand what it's all about. Another great gag involves Hardy's constant run ins with a cop (Tiny Sandford). A lot of fans won't watch these Laurel and Hardy silents, which is a real shame because the two were great comic actors even without the benefit of their voices. The two's chemistry is certainly easy to spot and the way the two have to use their facial gestures just adds more laughs. Jean Harlow has a important role towards the end of the film, although I guess it would be more fair to say she has important joke pulled on her when her dress gets caught up in the taxi door, which of course drives off leaving her in next to nothing.