There was turmoil on the Laurel and Hardy landscape, but their longtime producer Hal Roach knew the team was still a lucrative commodity. The owner of his own studio, Roach brought the pair back into his fold, producing two memorable comedies, February 1940 "A Chump at Oxford" and May 1940's "Saps at Sea." One of the reasons the two films were released so quickly from each other was Roach originally filmed the two as "featurettes," four-reelers lasting only 40 minutes. His rationale was theaters were having a difficult time fitting double-billed full-length movies, averaging two hours long, into two separate admissions for the evening. Roach felt the showing of two shorter "featurettes" was the solution. Trouble was, United Artists, the distributor to Roach's movies, balked at the idea.
Stan Laurel was at odds with Roach ever since 1934's "Babes in Toyland," and was released by the producer after his contract expired in 1938. Oliver Hardy was still contracted with Roach when the producer decided to rehire Laurel for the two featurettes. After showing the short movies to United Artists, the distributor insisted Roach lengthen the two films by shooting additional scenes. Eventually UA got its way despite Roach's objections, and both "A Chump at Oxford" and "Saps at Sea" were released within three months of each other.
"A Chump at Oxford" is a parody on Robert Taylor's 1938 "A Yank at Oxford" with Vivien Leigh. The opening twenty minutes show Stan and Ollie posing as a butler (Hardy) and a maid (Laurel) at a posh dinner party. The scenes, adapted from the pair's 1927 silent "Soup to Nuts," were filmed with updated shots. After Laurel and Hardy destroy the party, they're hired as street cleaners where they happen to foil a bank robbery. The bank president rewards the illiterate pair to full scholarships at Oxford University in England, where they continue to cause mayhem at the college.
Stan is the chump in "A Chump at Oxford." He's a complete idiot until he transforms into a brilliant intellectual when he's hit in the head by a sliding window, and receives the distinguished title Lord Paddington. Film reviewer Scott McGee wrote, "Stan demonstrates what an accomplished actor he really was. With his natural British accent and a solid contemptuous air, Stan runs roughshod over all the students (including the ones that were bullying him earlier) and most interestingly, Ollie himself." As Lord Paddington, this is the only role after 1927 where Stanley doesn't play himself.
Earlier in "A Chump at Oxford," a handful of devilish students decide to play tricks on the unsuspecting pair. One of the troublemakers was a young Peter Cushing, later Hammer Studio's most famous ghoulish actor, in an early film appearance. Cushing appreciated Laurel and Hardy's comedic genius, calling them the "two of the greatest comedians the cinema has ever produced." He respected Hardy in particular, noticing the comedian was concerned at the treatment the extras were receiving. During a scene where Cushing and the others were totally drenched in a pond, Oliver made sure the soaked extras were provided with towels and dry clothes. Oliver also brought a huge tray of donuts for the extras during the filming.
Stan Laurel was at odds with Roach ever since 1934's "Babes in Toyland," and was released by the producer after his contract expired in 1938. Oliver Hardy was still contracted with Roach when the producer decided to rehire Laurel for the two featurettes. After showing the short movies to United Artists, the distributor insisted Roach lengthen the two films by shooting additional scenes. Eventually UA got its way despite Roach's objections, and both "A Chump at Oxford" and "Saps at Sea" were released within three months of each other.
"A Chump at Oxford" is a parody on Robert Taylor's 1938 "A Yank at Oxford" with Vivien Leigh. The opening twenty minutes show Stan and Ollie posing as a butler (Hardy) and a maid (Laurel) at a posh dinner party. The scenes, adapted from the pair's 1927 silent "Soup to Nuts," were filmed with updated shots. After Laurel and Hardy destroy the party, they're hired as street cleaners where they happen to foil a bank robbery. The bank president rewards the illiterate pair to full scholarships at Oxford University in England, where they continue to cause mayhem at the college.
Stan is the chump in "A Chump at Oxford." He's a complete idiot until he transforms into a brilliant intellectual when he's hit in the head by a sliding window, and receives the distinguished title Lord Paddington. Film reviewer Scott McGee wrote, "Stan demonstrates what an accomplished actor he really was. With his natural British accent and a solid contemptuous air, Stan runs roughshod over all the students (including the ones that were bullying him earlier) and most interestingly, Ollie himself." As Lord Paddington, this is the only role after 1927 where Stanley doesn't play himself.
Earlier in "A Chump at Oxford," a handful of devilish students decide to play tricks on the unsuspecting pair. One of the troublemakers was a young Peter Cushing, later Hammer Studio's most famous ghoulish actor, in an early film appearance. Cushing appreciated Laurel and Hardy's comedic genius, calling them the "two of the greatest comedians the cinema has ever produced." He respected Hardy in particular, noticing the comedian was concerned at the treatment the extras were receiving. During a scene where Cushing and the others were totally drenched in a pond, Oliver made sure the soaked extras were provided with towels and dry clothes. Oliver also brought a huge tray of donuts for the extras during the filming.