Series: Stan Laurel Director: Ralph Cedar Producer: Hal Roach Titles: H.M. Walker Photography: Frank Young Editor: Thomas J. Crizer Stars: Stan Laurel, Ena Gregory, Mae Laurel, James Finlayson Company: Pathé Exchange Released: 23 December 1923 Length: 2 reels Production No.: L-4 Filming dates: September 10-21, 1923 Rating: 2/10

Mother's Joy

Available on DVD:

"Baron Buttontop (JAMES FINLAYSON) had suffered under the burden of a secret sorrow." He pours himself a drink whilst attorney McFumble (JACK ACKROYD) has been summoned to the house. In flashback, we see the Baron's son, Magnus Dippytack (STAN LAUREL) calling up to a window for his beloved Dottie (HELEN GILMORE), who then throws her suitcase down onto his head. Later, Dottie returns to the Baron's house seeking refuge after being abandoned by his son Dippy. The Baron expels her after she introduces his new grandchild (LAUREL again) to him! Back in the real world Buttontop tells his attorney to trace his grandson Basil and to bring him home along with the mother after receiving a photograph from her in the mail. Basil pulls up at the station in a horse-and-cart. McFumble, who has gone to meet him, calls Basil over but they are mobbed by a bunch of taxi drivers. Basil throws the attorney into the back of his coach and heads off. During the journey Basil stops the horse and cart in the middle of a busy road, sets up a table and makes dinner for his horse, much to the bemusement of genuine pedestrians who are looking on from near and far! McFumble tells Basil that his grandfather wants him to come home and after handing over some cash to him, they head off to the house. Basil's grandmother Dottie introduces him to a prospective bride, Miss Flavia de Lorgnette (MAE LAUREL) but Basil seems more keen on the pretty maid (ENA GREGORY) which does not please Dottie. To distract Basil, Dottie gets him to sing along as she plays the piano for the guests.

Basil's terrible singing and crying makes the guests cringe (as well as me) and his falling tears into a plant pot (which just happens to be plonked there in the middle of the room for no bloody reason at all) causes a flower to grow from it. The guests all leave and the Baron lets Basil know what he thinks of his singing by smashing a large vase over his head. The maid comes along and starts sweeping up the mess as Basil engages with her. Basil's engagement is announced and the guests are assembled in the house, dancing around the living room before having dinner together. When dinner is announced a stampede of people run towards the table and begin eating, with Basil and Dottie last to arrive. Basil doesn't get a seat and so he informs the Baron that a young female wants him on the telephone in order to win his seat. The plan works and when the Baron returns from the phone he has to have the butler bring him another chair. We then see the dumb cross-eyed waiter GEORGE ROWE making a complete tit of himself when he can't pour water into a glass as Basil continually squirts grapefruit all over everybody. When Basil gets up to make a speech everybody leaves abruptly. The pretty maid then comes and sits with him. The wedding day comes and the bride suddenly changes her mind and doesn't go through with the ceremony. Then Basil refuses to marry her. And when they do both finally agree... the vicar decides he doesn't want to marry them and leaves!

Favourite bit When Stan practices singing a high note and the painting falls off the wall.

Trivia • Copyrighted December 24, 1923. • Other sources list Earl Mohan, Laura Roessing and Martin Wolfkeil as being in the film. • At around 7 and half minutes into the film a title card says "He threw me out on my bean!" Bean is a slang term for penis, although at the time I doubt this was the intended reference! • Imagine being in a room full of people and you see THAT looking at you! • The song Helen Gilmore plays on the piano with Stan singing is "Mother Hold My Aching Head" by Don Firpo. • When Helen Gilmore is playing the Baus piano you can clearly see that her fingers do not press the keys down. Interestingly later on during the wedding ceremony we see a Mason piano being played. Why couldn't they just use the same prop? • How ironic that Stan Laurel is meant to marry Mae Laurel in the film and it doesn't happen. Sort-of mirrors their real-life relationship, doesn't it? My opinion • Tedious. Absolutely f*cking tedious. These films are AWFUL. The only thing I liked about it was the quality of the print, for a film that is over 100 years old it is in excellent condition.

	Stan Laurel Magnus Dippytack/ Basil Dippytack, his son
	Ena Gregory Maid
	Mae Laurel Miss Flavia de Lorgnette
	James Finlayson Baron Buttontop
	Jack Ackroyd Attorney McFumble
	Helen Gilmore Dottie
	William Gillespie Houseguest
	George Rowe Waiter
	Charlie Hall Houseguest
	Sam Lufkin Houseguest
	Al Forbes Butler
	Chris Lynton Father of Miss Flavia de Lorgnette
	Lyle Tayo Houseguest
	Hope Harper Houseguest/Wedding guest
	Joe Bordeaux Houseguest/Butler
	Clyde Hopkins Houseguest
	Glenn Tryon Houseguest
	Beth Darlington Bridesmaid
	Charles Lloyd Wedding guest
	Jack Gavin Wedding guest
	Bill Brokaw Wedding guest

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)	INTERTITLES (click image to enlarge)

GLASS SLIDE (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON LOCATION (click any image to enlarge)

INTERIOR SHOTS (click any image to enlarge)

MISCELLANEOUS (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: https://archive.org/details/motionpicturenew00moti_4/page/2907/mode/1up?view=theater (Motion Picture News, 22 Dec 1923) Laurel Or Hardy by Rob Stone (book) Jesse Brisson (identification of Chris Lynton, Al Forbes, Lyle Tayo, Hope Harper, Joe Bordeaux, Clyde Hopkins, Glenn Tryon, Beth Darlington, Charles Lloyd, Jack Gavin, Bill Brokaw) John Benson (additional material) This page was last updated on: 29 August 2024