This film was included in the three DVD set "Saved From the Flames"--a collection of mostly ephemeral movies that have managed to avoid turning to powder, catching fire or melting--something that usually happened with the nitrate film stock used up through the 1950s.
This is a comedy starring Stan Laurel and it amply demonstrates that his career as a solo comedian were not as good as when he was paired with Oliver Hardy! While there a few instances where solo Laurel did a great film (such as "Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde"), most of his films were not nearly as funny as his later output. Here with "The Pest", while it's got some great moments, it also has some terrible ones--making it one of his most uneven outings.
The film begins with Stan as a door-to-door salesman. Through coincidences, he keeps coming in contact with the same annoying old biddy. One of these times appeared to be at a California location that was later used in "The Music Box" (that huge set of steps) but the landscaping looked a bit different. Maybe this is due to a decade of time or perhaps it just looks like the other place. Regardless, these meetings are mildly funny and nothing more.
A bit later, he meets a young lady who is being forced to marry a cad unless she can pay her mortgage. Stan promises to help--and then promptly forgets until the end of the movie. In between are some clever AND lame bits (such as him dressing up in a dog-skin run--WHO has such a rug just lying around their house?!). And, there are some cheap politically incorrect jokes and a reference to Brazil nuts that are pretty typical of the day...but also a bit sad. All in all, it's got moments...but that's about all.
This is a comedy starring Stan Laurel and it amply demonstrates that his career as a solo comedian were not as good as when he was paired with Oliver Hardy! While there a few instances where solo Laurel did a great film (such as "Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde"), most of his films were not nearly as funny as his later output. Here with "The Pest", while it's got some great moments, it also has some terrible ones--making it one of his most uneven outings.
The film begins with Stan as a door-to-door salesman. Through coincidences, he keeps coming in contact with the same annoying old biddy. One of these times appeared to be at a California location that was later used in "The Music Box" (that huge set of steps) but the landscaping looked a bit different. Maybe this is due to a decade of time or perhaps it just looks like the other place. Regardless, these meetings are mildly funny and nothing more.
A bit later, he meets a young lady who is being forced to marry a cad unless she can pay her mortgage. Stan promises to help--and then promptly forgets until the end of the movie. In between are some clever AND lame bits (such as him dressing up in a dog-skin run--WHO has such a rug just lying around their house?!). And, there are some cheap politically incorrect jokes and a reference to Brazil nuts that are pretty typical of the day...but also a bit sad. All in all, it's got moments...but that's about all.