Sons of the Desert (1933) – full review!

Sons of the Desert (1933) – full review!

My favorite of the Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy films (#96 on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list) also features comedian Charley Chase as the conventioneer who pulls gags on all the other attendees. It was directed by William Seiter and written by (frequent actor) Frank Craven; Byron Morgan provided continuity. Laurel & Hardy are members of Kiwanis-like club called the "Sons of the Desert". At one night’s meeting they take the sacred oath to attend that year’s convention in Chicago. Of course both these married men must get permission from their wives. Blustering Oliver claims his job will be the easiest that he’s the boss of his house. Timid Stanley’s not so sure he’ll be so lucky. Mae Busch plays Oliver’s wife Lottie Dorothy Christy plays Stanley’s wife Betty.

Despite his bragging Oliver is unable to get approval to go to the convention whereas Stanley is. So the boys conspire to have Dr. Horace Meddick (Lucien Littlefield) actually a veterinarian diagnose Oliver’s fake illness such that he needs a cruise to Hong Kong to get better. Instead of taking the cruise they go to the convention in Chicago where they meet Chase. Coincidentally and unknown to Oliver Chase is Oliver’s brother-in-law which he realizes as he participates in a crank call Chase makes to his sister. The boys survive this near miss but must work harder to avoid their wives knowing the truth when they return home and learn that the cruise ship they were supposed to on sunk.

The duo finds out just in time that they’ve arrived home too early (if they’d been on the ship) and they escape into the attic to wait out the time. However a lighting strike followed by a rainstorm "smokes" them out. Meanwhile the wives saw their husbands on a newsreel at the movie theater enjoying themselves at the convention’s parade. So when the two finally show up their wives question them to see who’ll tell the truth. Guess who gets in trouble?

Added to the National Film Registry in 2012.

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