A Masterpiece!

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Like another reviewer, I saw "Tit for Tat" shortly after viewing "Them Thar Hills," (a crackerjack short in its own right) and was pleasantly surprised to see Busch and Hall back as the same characters; I didn't realize that this was a sequel until Stan referred to meeting them in the hills."Tit for Tat" is essentially a simple, one-joke outing. But, much like "The Music Box", Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy wring every last possible laugh out of the situation. Their battle with grocer Charley Hall starts small, but doesn't stay small for long.There's no need to see "Hills" before this one; the story really can stand alone...but is enhanced if you know about the previous antics.Other reviewers had remarked about Ollie's rather salacious-sounding comment to Mae Busch. Oddly enough, the Hays (censorship) code was in effect at the time; it was one of the reasons that Betty Boop ended up with collared, long-hem/long-sleeve dresses. Pre-Code, Ollie's remark wouldn't have been noticed. But with censorship rules in place, I too, am surprised that the line was kept in.Superior work from all involved makes "Tit for Tat" one of my favorite Stan and Ollie films.How do you do!

This is the one in which Laurel and Hardy open an electric supplies store and find their neighbor is a grocer with whom they've had a previous run-in -- in "Them Thar Hills." There's nothing dull about this short. It's not wildly creative in any way but the gags some satisfyingly quickly. Much is done with exploding light bulbs.The usual ritual is followed. The hostile grocer stands quietly, glowering, while Hardy opens his cash register and pours a jar of glue over the compartments and the change they contain.Distracting if you have the blues. Mildly diverting for most others. Essential for fans of the comedy team.

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. Ollie and Stan have just opened a new Electrical Supplies store, and feeling friendly they decide to say "hello" to the business next door, at Hall's Grocery. They were not expecting to see Mr. and Mrs. Hall (Charlie Hall, Mae Busch) again (remember them from Them Thar Hills), and he warns them to stay away from them. Unfortunately an argument begins when Ollie ends up on the Halls' window sill (because of the basement elevator), having to go down their stairs, and Mr. Hall thinks he was doing something with her. So the rest of the film sees Hall going into Ollie and Stan to do something to them, and them doing vice versa, and while the two boys leave their electrical store, it is slowly being cleared out. So Ollie, Stan and Hall are throwing things at each other, covering each other in things, breaking things and much more silly and childish, but utterly funny things. Filled with wonderful slapstick and all classic comedy you could want from a black and white film, it is an enjoyable film. It was nominated the Oscar for for Best Short Subject, Comedy. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian. Very good!

A LAUREL & HARDY Comedy Short. The Boys are opening a new electrical supply store and are surprised to learn that the grocery next door is owned by the same bickering couple they met disastrously in THEM THAR HILLS. Mr. Hall quickly impugns Ollie's honor & the resulting TIT FOR TAT struggle, in which they wreck havoc on each other's person & property, quickly reaches donnybrook proportions...A hilarious film, one of Stan & Ollie's best. The battle royal with the grocer is long & very satisfying. Notice the running gag of the little fellow robbing the Boys blind. Charley Hall & Mae Busch play the neighbors.