Series: Stan Laurel Director: Hal Roach Producer: Hal Roach Titles: Photography: Robert Doran Editor: Stars: Stan Laurel, Mildred Reardon, Margaret Joslin, Noah Young Company: Pathé Exchange Released: 08 December 1918 Length: 1 reel Production No.: R-2 Filming dates: June 18-22, 1918 Rating: 4/10

Just Rambling Along

Available on DVD:

Penniless Stan finds a wallet on the sidewalk but is slow to react when a kid he entices to pick it up finds the money inside and keeps it for himself. Despite his attempts to take the money, he is thwarted by the boy's father, a policeman (NOAH YOUNG) who is nearby. Meanwhile, a beautiful woman (MILDRED REARDON) in a bathing suit lures six gentlemen from the beach into a restaurant so that they will all spend their money in there. Stan gets caught up in the crowd but he is quickly evicted. The men won't leave the woman alone, always trying to sit down at any table with her when she attempts to find a place to eat. Stan gets the money from the boy by pretending to hold a gun to his back, forcing him to hand it over and then re-enters the restaurant. Stan effectively gets a free meal by tasting all the foods on the counter at the encouragement of the chef and pretending to dislike every item. Stan asks for a cup of coffee and proceeds in stealing food from the counter every time the chef turns around. When he finally settles on a table to eat Stan sits down next to the attractive woman, but she switches her bill with his when he isn't looking, leaving him to pay for her more expensive dinner. Stan sits at the table, pulling lots of food out of his various pockets and hiding places. When he realises the woman has duped him with her more expensive ticket Stan tries to leave the restaurant on all fours but quickly crawls back inside when he sees the cop out on the sidewalk. Inside, Stan is physically ejected by the chef and the waiter straight into the arms of the waiting policeman outside who then starts beating him over the head with his baton.

Favourite bit I don't know about my favourite bit but my least favourite bit was when Stan Laurel grabs Marie Mosquini's robe and covers up her leg with it. As I was watching the scene I said to myself, "do you mind, I was looking at that!"

Trivia • Copyrighted September 27, 1918. • Originally scheduled for release November 3, 1918. • The name of the restaurant is the Blue Wave Cafeteria. • The opening scenes show a Venice Post Office, followed by a beachfront. So it is fair to conclude the film was shot there. My opinion • It's an average Stan Laurel film, early in his career at Roach. His character is incredibly annoying in a story so basic in its plot.

	Stan Laurel Young man
	Mildred Reardon Pretty lady
	Margaret Joslin Older cashier
	Noah Young Policeman
	James Parrott Waiter/Chef
	Bud Jamison Chef
	Harry Clifton Restaurant patron
	Emmylou Wallace Young cashier
	Max Hamburger Diner
	Jerome LaPlanche Young boy
	William Peterson Diner
	Marie Mosquini Diner (Stan covers her leg with her dress)
	Dorothea Wolbert Diner (sitting with Marie Mosquini)
	James Fitzgerald Diner
	Bob O'Conor [?]
	Alma Maxim [?]
	Eddie Peerson [?]
	Bunny Bixby [?]
	May Burns [?]
	Helen Fletcher [?]
	Wallace Howe [?]
	G. Hutchins [?]
	Bert Jefferson [?]
	Belle Mitchell [?]
	Herb Morris [?]
	Hazel Powell [?]
	Lillian Rothchild [?]
	A. Sanburg [?]
	Ada Saunders [?]

UNIDENTIFIED CAST

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

SHOT ON LOCATION (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Laurel OR Hardy by Rob Stone (book) Stan Without Ollie by Ted Okuda & James L. Neibaur (book) [credit for Eddie Peerson] Jesse Brisson (additional information; identification of William Peterson, Marie Mosquini, Dorothea Wolbert, Max Hamburger, James Fitzgerald, Jerome LaPlanche, Harry Clifton and Emmylou Wallace) This page was last updated on: 25 April 2022