A remake of the original 1934 Laurel and Hardy film; were it not for Stan and Ollie, the original might have been a misfire, so you can well imagine that this version is not as good as that one. Sheldon mimes Laurel and Calvin essays Hardy, but it's to no avail. No question that a lot of
money was spent on this holiday release, but most of it was wasted due to the miscasting of Bolger as the villain and the dullness of Sands and Funicello as the young lovers. Any Victor Herbert score is singable, and this one, with Oscar-nominated George Bruns doing the adaptation, is better than
most. Yet the picture seems to have no center, no heart. It's half fantasy, half reali...
Released:
1961
Rated:
NR
Length:
106 mins