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		~ L a   V i d a   N o c t u r n a ~
		1930
		Director:  James Parrott Producer:  Hal Roach Editor:  Richard C. Currier Cinematography:  George Stevens
		Hal Roach Studios/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 19 April 1930 foreign-language sound short/4-reels
		See also

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Stan and Ollie reprise their roles from the 2-reel short of Blotto, speaking their own dialogue in Spanish.  For a full review of this film, please refer to "Blotto". Mrs. Laurel is played by Linda Loredo (who replaces Anita Garvin in the role).  It's pretty much a scene-for-scene re-enactment of the original film, although the general pace is slightly slower. This page will assume the viewer is familiar with Blotto and thus the following text is merely an add-on summary of this version. When the boys reach the club, they make full use of the awkwardness of the dialogue by using a series of sight gags to pull some time.  One of the longest scenes in the film is the inclusion of the exotic dancer who gets a whole minute of screen time to herself.  This is followed immediately by a new scene as a clumsy female dancer with a balloon takes to the stage, whom Stan and Ollie have clocked and are flirting with from their table.

As they slowly get more and more drunk, they begin to lose their inhibitions and after being entertained and saddened by the nightclub singer, they recite his song loudly in front of the startled onlookers (another scene which is absent from Blotto.)  A third dancer takes to the stage wearing less than the previous two, and if you catch the freeze-frame just right the observer can see a lot more of her than was probably intended! All in all, I would have to say Hardy is the more convincing with the Spanish language than Stan; though Stan's laugh does seem very real and convincing - unlike furture outbursts such as in Scram!  I also liked the fact that there is very little bickering between the two here, and in fact quite the opposite; there is actually a lot of friendly affection between them.

 

Favourite bit
		On 26 minutes, Stan and Ollie are already drunk and Stan is hic-upping.  He turns to Ollie in his sorry state and they both hic-up simultaneously and laugh.  Straight afterwards Ollie leans over and puts his arm on Stan's shoulders in an affectionate moment to emphasise their friendship.  Beautiful, comical and not included in the English-speaking version of the film, so it makes it all the more valuable. The film is available on DVD and I would recommend it for all Laurel and Hardy enthusiasts, if only due to the fact that it is quite unique and interesting to see "Blotto" re-enacted with alternative scenes added into the mix.  Some of the new material works, and some of it slows the pace right down, but there are lovely little touches, as mentioned here, that are priceless moments which are missing from the English-language version of the film.

 

Facts

•This Spanish-language version of the film was released two months after the English-speaking version, Blotto.

•Stan and Ollie read their lines and pronounced them phonetically from cue cards viewed just off screen.

•The Spanish title of the film translated into English means "the nightlife".

Did you notice?

•Despite the actors speaking Spanish, the labels and signs seen throughout the film are in English, such as the "Reserved" sign on their table, and the packets of food in Mrs. Laurel's kitchen.

•When Mrs. Laurel enquires about buying the gun there is a sign in the window advertising Babe Ruth.

•After the entertainer has finished singing Ollie offers his drink to the man.  It would appear that he anticipated it a bit too early and it looks almost obvious that it had been previously rehearsed.

•The gentleman with the moustache who is seated just behind Stan and Ollie is constantly looking at them and their antics throughout. Towards the end, when Stan is having his laughing fit, the gentleman is also laughing along.  You can't fail to notice him in the background.

•Stan's laughing fit at the end lasts exactly 2 minutes and 33 seconds.

 

	Stan Laurel Stan
	Oliver Hardy Ollie
	Linda Loredo Señora Laurel
	Tiny Sandford Head Waiter
	Baldwin Cooke Waiter
	Charlie Hall Cab driver
	Symona Boniface Lady who sits in wet chair
	Jean De Briac Shopkeeper
	Robert Cautiero Nightclub patron
	Dick Gilbert Phone booth gawker
	Jack Hill Nightclub patron
	Harry Wilde Nightclub patron
	Vladimir Gueteron Orchestra leader
	UNKNOWN Dancer with balloons
	UNKNOWN Dancer
	UNKNOWN Nightclub singer
	UNKNOWN Dancer

Acknowledgements: Laurel And Hardy: The Magic Behind The Movies by Randy Skretvedt (book) Jesse Brisson (identification of Harry Wilde) This page was last updated on: 05 June 2023