Rare Footage #1: The Making of Should Married Men Go Home?

1928

Director:  George Mann Producer:  George Mann Editor:  George Mann Cinematography:  George Mann & Roy Randolph

March 1928 black & white / 6 mins 28 seconds

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The opening shots are with Roy Randolph cuddling up to two of the female stars.  The (unidentified) lady on the right objects to the Roy putting his arms around her friend (Dorothy Coburn?) and grabs him for a kiss.  The rejected friend then objects and pulls the man away from her friend.  It's all a bit of fun. The next shot, approximately 25 seconds into the clip, shows the boys on the golf course with Ollie about swing his club but with Stan behind him.  A practice swing hits Stan in the face, who takes it in good spirit.  A second swing of the club by Ollie has the same effect.  Ollie gives in and stands by to observe Stan adopt his position to take his own swing of the club.  Stan's stance is slightly worrying to Ollie, who looks on in wonder.  Stan doesn't actually swing the club, but instead gives a firm nod of the head in typical Stan-style. Cut to a close up on Stan smiling and being bashful at first and then suddenly going into his crying routine before finally posing his cheeky smile. Then we have a close-up on Babe smiling.  All of a sudden Stan pops his head into the frame from the side, but Ollie swipes him away quickly and laughs it off.  Ollie briefly removes his cap before placing it back on his head.

The next shot has actress Viola Richard dwarfed by George Mann, who is a giant by comparison to her tiny frame.  He puts his arms around her waist as golfers are seen in the background.  This lasts a few seconds before we cut to a long shot of Edna Marion, Viola Richard and Oliver Hardy walking along the golf course.  Ollie stops and stoops down when he comes to a golf ball on the grass.  Convinced that the ball is his, Ollie draws a club from his bag and intends to play it.  Stan arrives from off-screen and stops at the ball whilst Ollie shows Viola where he intends to hit the ball.  Stan begins to position himself and line up the shot - which looks like it is going to be struck in a completely different direction from where Ollie was indicating to the girls. Stan takes a semi-swing and whacks Ollie on his left shin, sending him backwards and in pain.  Stan holds out his hand as if to say "what happened?"  Ollie steams over to Stan and shoves him out of the way and then Stan walks away, resigned to the fact that Ollie will take the shot. Next, the boys are standing together and posing for the camera with George Mann.  Ollie extends his hand to George and the two shake hands.  Ollie introduces his friend, Mr. Laurel.  Stan shakes George's hand as well.  The expected Stan & Ollie handshake that usually follows such a formal introduction surprisingly doesn't happen here. Instead Ollie playfully punches Stan on the chin, causing Stan to cry.  A pat on the back from Ollie makes things all ok again.  Ollie then takes a punch to George's chin as well when he is least expecting it.  George returns the compliment.  At this point Ollie pulls out his golf club and George and Stan walk off.

 

Favourite bit
		Around 1:55 into the clip, Ollie is fooling around and hitting people on the chin.  First of all he gets Stan, and then George Mann gets a taste of Hardy's clenched fist.  When George retaliates, Ollie takes out his golf club.  Stan and George quickly leave the scene.

 

Facts

•Shot on the Roach backlot in March 1928 whilst Stan and Ollie were shooting Should Married Men Go Home?, this short silent film reveals some very rare footage of Stan and Ollie inbetween takes on the golf course.

•The clip can be viewed on YouTube.

Did you notice?

•Brad Smith posted the following notes in reference to the clip: After posting "On Location with Laurel and Hardy -- March 1928," (during the making of "Should Married Men Go Home"), several people have requested the unedited version of the film also be posted. This is the unedited film. George Mann of the comedic dance act Barto and Mann shot the film or handed his camera to someone else to shoot. I've taken a first cut at identifying individuals in the film below. It's likely I've misidentified individuals in some of the shots. Corrections are welcome as well as the names of individuals I've identified as "Unknown." Also included in the clip are:  John Aasen (Tall golfer), Edgar Kennedy (Golfer with toupee), Edna Marion (Blond golf partner), Viola Richard (Brunette golf partner), Charley Chase. Roy Randolph. George was a pupil of Roy Randolph, who owned Randolph's La Monica Dance School in Santa Monica, California, probably around 1925. It's likely that it was Randolph who provided access for George to the making of "Should Married Men Go Home?" 0:00 - 0:09 Unknown female #1 with scarf; Roy Randolph; unknown female #2 in plaid dress. 0:10 - 0:23 Dorothy Coburn (?) (muddy combatant) in hat; Roy Randolph; unknown female #3 (muddy combatant) with golf club. 0:24 - 0:35 Oliver Hardy strikes Stan Laurel with golf club. 0:36 - 0:42 Stan Laurel. 0:43 - 0:50 Oliver Hardy (and Stan Laurel). 0:51 - 1:01 Viola Richard and George Mann. 1:02 - 1:35 Viola Richard, Edna Marian, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy. Laurel hits Oliver Hardy in chin with golf club. 1:36 - 1:59 Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy & George Mann. 2:00 - 2:12 Dorothy Coburn (?) (muddy combatant) and Viola Richard on Oliver Hardy's shoulders. Roy Randolph assisting. 2:13 - 2:32 Oliver Hardy, John Aasen (very tall golfer) & George Mann. Mann does high kick. 2:33 - 2:38 Stan Laurel and Edgar Kennedy (golfer). 2:39 - 2:45 Dorothy Coburn (?) (muddy combatant). 2:46 - 2:56 Dorothy Coburn (?) (muddy combatant) and Roy Randolph dancing. 2:57 - 3:18 Stan Laurel and Edgar Kennedy (golfer). Kennedy loses toupee. 3:19 - 3:35 Rochelle D'Alolio of the Deno and Rochelle dance team sitting in chair. 3:36 - 3:50 Deno D'Alolio of the Deno and Rochelle dance team in suit; Rochelle D'Alolio of the Deno and Rochelle dance team sitting in chair; unknown male #2 shirtless; Roy Randolph; Dorothy Coburn (?) (muddy combatant) standing; and unknown female #5 sitting. 3:51 - 4:03 Engine. 4:04 -- 5:20 George Mann walking through movie set. 5:21 -- 5:39 Roy Randolph on set of the S.S. Mirimar. 5:40 -- 5:55 Charley Chase and George Mann dancing and hamming together. 5:56 -- 6:09 Henry Conner with cat. 6:10 -- 6:16 Hal Roach Studios. 6:17 -- 6:20 Sign for Laurel-Hardy Comedies.

 

	Stan Laurel Himself
	Oliver Hardy Himself
	Viola Richard Herself
	George Mann Himself
	UNKNOWN Unknown

 

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†Special thanks to Brad Smith and Hans Mike for use of material on this page.