Unaccustomed As We Are
| Unaccustomed As We Are | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster
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| Directed by |
Lewis R. Foster Hal Roach |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Written by |
Leo McCarey (story) H. M. Walker |
| Starring |
Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Edgar Kennedy Mae Busch Thelma Todd |
| Cinematography |
John MacBurnie Len Powers Jack Roach George Stevens |
| Edited by | Richard C. Currier |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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18' (silent) 20' 58" (sound) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English Also silent version with English intertitles |
Unaccustomed As We Are is the first sound comedy short film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy released on May 4, 1929.
Ollie brings Stan home for dinner, a very unwelcome surprise for Mrs. Hardy (Mae Busch) who storms out in a huff. Mrs. Kennedy (Thelma Todd), a neighbor from across the hall, offers to help the boys cook dinner; they, in turn, help to set her dress on fire. Mr. Kennedy (Edgar Kennedy), a cop, returns home and the boys hide the slip-clad Mrs. K. in a trunk. Unaware that his wife is within earshot, Mr. Kennedy starts bragging to the boys about his "technique" in extramarital liaisons. His furious wife then confronts him about it before giving him a bit of her own technique: throwing everything within range at him. Next door, Stan, Ollie and Mrs Hardy continue eating while trying to ignore the crashing, banging and shouting coming from the Kennedy's apartment. When it eventually stops, Mr Kennedy shows up, battered, bruised and in a terrible state. He leads Ollie out and beats him up. He then prepares to do the same to Stan, but his wife has evidently not finished with him yet. She comes out of their apartment wielding a gigantic vase and, despite Mr. Kennedy's efforts to protect himself, crashes it over his head, putting him out for the count. Having evaded a beating, Stan then leaves as though nothing has happened, but falls down the stairs (offscreen) as Ollie watches and flinches with every thump and loud crash as he reaches the bottom.
Unaccustomed As We Are is notable for being Laurel and Hardy's first sound film (the title was drawn from the popular cliché "Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking ..."). The soundtrack was lost for 50 years until it was traced on disc in the late 1970s. A silent version, with intertitles, was also released, as well as a Victor disc International Sound Version (featuring a synchronized music score and sound effects).
This is the first film in which Hardy says to Laurel, "Why don't you do something to help me!" which became a catchphrase, repeated in numerous subsequent films. Also heard for the first time is Stan's distinctive, high-pitched whimper of distress.
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