Boring Block-Heads
My critical and opinionated review of Laurel & Hardy's most mediocre feature film.

written November 2015

One of the subjects that frequently comes up in conversation among my friends is my "dislike" of Laurel & Hardy's BLOCK-HEADS. Though not technically true, I do not "dislike" the film, I do, however find it hard to understand why it is held in such high affection by Laurel and Hardy fans.

I find such fans to be so biased and protective of L&H films that they are sensitive to any form of alternate opinion let alone criticism. The difference between them and I is they see the film from a fan's perspective, whereas I see it from an unbiased and impartial one. It simply is not their best work... not by a long way. Not even in the same league as the likes of "Pack Up Your Troubles", "The Devil's Brother", "The Bohemian Girl", "Atoll K", "Sons Of The Desert", "Way Out West" which are all in my opinion superior films to "Block-Heads".
Although they may be few in number, there are some who agree with me. Author Christian Blees, in his book "Alles, was Sie uber Laurel & Hardy wissen mussen" doesn't even list Block-Heads in his top ten favourite L&H films.
Many people who follow me or my website will know that I have never made it any secret of my dislike for the film. The word I often use to refer to it is "mediocre".
Another question that baffles is me, L&H were well past their peak by 1938, so how is it considered by so many that Block-Heads is suddenly so good?
My advice for anyone who is likely to take offence or be upset by the following article is to stop reading now. I mean, it's a no-brainer, right?
OPENING SCENE IN THE TRENCH
It seems right from the off that this is Hardy's film, with Stan taking a back-seat.  There is an obvious affection from Stan towards Babe as he brushes off some dust from Hardy's uniform before Babe goes over the top.  This is followed by a warm handshake.  Nice.
Fast forward over 20 years and Stan hasn't aged a bit, apart from a silly drawn-on beard.  Another point is all those tins of beans.  He just happened to have a twenty-years supply of beans and they were still edible after all that time?
  MRS. HARDY
Oh I cannot even try to be polite here.  Mrs. Hardy is ignorant, rude and just plain HORRIBLE.  Her attitude stinks.  At least with Mae Busch you enjoyed watching her, but Minna Gombell is just plain unlikeable.  Period.

She acts as though she is the more important person in the relationship but her double standards are clear from the beginning.  She expects Babe's respect yet offers him none when he attempts to engage her in conversation.  As L&H fan Anthony Balducci puts it, "It could be that, without Laurel around, [Babe] became helplessly domesticated."

As the scene develops, Mrs. Hardy's character momentarily shows some warmth towards her obviously devoted husband before recoiling with scrooge-esque behaviour and offering him a mere two dollars allowance, which he almost has to beg for.  Not the kind of wife I would want, thank you.  Her arrogance and spoilt-brat attitude is one of a feeling of complete importance, and to the detriment to anyone she comes in contact with. To try and see this from her point of view; sure, she feels disrespected by her husband because he forgot their anniversary and therefore she tries to 'punish' him for his forgetfulness.   But surely, she is no better than him for the way she behaves - like a child. I think though, the viewer-fans of Laurel and Hardy will care more for Hardy's character and sympathize with him.
In previous films, even though Hardy usually played a downtrodden husband, chained to feriocious women, such as Mae Bush, Blanche Payson or the loveable Isabelle Keith, at least audiences loved those female characters.  They were nasty in a likeable way.  Here, Minna Gombell plays her character as nasty in a mean way which doesn't warm herself to the viewer's affections!  She has the personality of Jekyll & Hyde how she quickly changes from one emotion to the next.  Her mood swings continue later in the film when she arrives home in a mood.  Her passion and forgiving nature has the warmth of an ice-cube.  Hell, you notice later on she even makes her husband sleep in a separate bed?  Wow.  That is MEAN.  She is just never satisfied or happy, is she?  I mean, with her it's any little thing; like forgetting an anniversary.... or blowing up the apartment.
       

 

INTRODUCING MR. GILBERT
Another unlikable character in Billy Gilbert's portrayal of the neighbour across the hall, Mr. Gilbert.  His introduction after 10 minutes has him returning home from a hunting trip, suitcases in hands.  He is rude right from the get go, by ignoring the innocent Mr. Hardy, not even saying hello to his own wife, and then acting as though the world owes him a favour by demanding to know "who was that snake?"  Charming man.  It doesn't take much working out that "control freak" means something to him.  What exactly has he got to be miserable about anyway - look at his beautiful wife, who is 24 years his junior.  Disgraceful.
    INTRODUCING MRS. GILBERT
A more elegant and beautiful lady you could ever hope to see on-screen, step forward Patricia Ellis.  The complete opposite of Mrs. Hardy - both in looks, personality and in temperament. She appears calm, polite, friendly, welcoming and hospitable - all the things lacking from Mrs. Hardy's character.  But what is the deal with her being married to someone like (or as old as) Billy Gilbert?  Something not quite right there, but hey... that's her beeswax, isn't it?
JAMES, THE PORTER
James C. Morton is the porter who brings to the attention of Ollie about Stan's rescue from the trenches in the morning newspaper.  Morton receives less than 40 seconds of screen time and has two lines of dialogue.  What a waste for such a brilliant supporting actor who made so many of Laurel & Hardy's pictures memorable.
STAN AND OLLIE REUNITED
Despite the mediocrity of the first ten minutes, there is a small reward for those patient enough to make it this far.  Ollie pays a visit to the soldier's home after reading of Stan's survival.  Their reunion is one of the most beautiful, most touching scenes ever to have been included in a Laurel & Hardy picture.
Stan: "Gee, I'm glad to see you"
Ollie: "I'm glad to see you too".
It's touching, it's warming and so delicately played out to perfection with such effortless acting between two real-life friends.
   

If, after reading this you absolutely must watch this film, it can be found on The Essential Collection.