''Leave 'Em Laughing'' is a 1928 two-reel silent film starring

Stan Laurel Stan Laurel (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, writer, and film director who was one half of the comedy double act, duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Ha ...

and

Oliver Hardy Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his c ...

. Produced by the

Hal Roach Studios Hal Roach Studios was an American motion picture and television production studio. Known as ''The Laugh Factory to the World'', it was founded by producer Hal Roach and business partners Dan Linthicum and I.H. Nance as the Rolin Film Company on Ju ...

, it was shot in October 1927 and released January 28, 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Opening title

''What's worse than an aching tooth at three in the morning? -- Two of them --''

Plot

The scene opens in the duo's flat at night time. Stan complains that he has a toothache. Ollie goes to the bathroom to get him a hot-water bottle and keeps stepping on a tack which is lying around. When Stan gets the water bottle, the lid opens and the water pours out in the bed. The two of them make much noise and the landlord ( Charlie Hall) comes in, telling them that they will have to leave first thing in the morning. The two get into a physical fight with the landlord, ending in him seemingly falling down the stairs. The next day, Stan is in the

dentist A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the mouth, oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofaci ...

office, but is too afraid to get his tooth pulled. The dentist leaves and Ollie demonstrates how Stan should sit and not be afraid. Meanwhile, the dentist tells one of his partners that he should go to the guy who is sitting in the chair and pull his tooth out. He ended up pulling Ollie's tooth. When Stan is back in the chair, Ollie puts the mask over Stan and makes him unconscious. During the struggle enough gas is released to make Ollie unconscious also. Some staff are also affected. Stan and Ollie leave the office and go to their car, still laughing their heads off from the gas. There follows a protracted sequence where their drugged driving causes mayhem at an intersection, involving a traffic police officer who they fight with, and who tries to drive them to jail but drives poorly, eventually sinking the car into an open sewer.

Cast

Production notes

''Leave 'Em Laughing'' marks the first appearance of Edgar Kennedy in a Laurel and Hardy film. Chapters of The Sons of the Desert (the international Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society) take their names from the duo's films. ''Leave 'Em Laughing'' chapters are currently located in

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...

, the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Jacksonville, Florida. ''Leave 'Em Laughing'' was remade by The Three Stooges in 1943 as ''

I Can Hardly Wait ''"I Can Hardly Wait"'' is a 1943 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 73rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...

''.Solomon, Jon. (2002) ''The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion'', p. 233; Comedy III Productions, Inc.,

References

External links

* * * 1928 films 1928 comedy films American silent short films American black-and-white films Laurel and Hardy (film series) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer short films 1928 short films American comedy short films Films directed by Clyde Bruckman 1920s American films Silent American comedy films {{short-silent-comedy-film-stub