Habeas Corpus

• Directors: Leo McCarey; James Parrott
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Comedy
• Movie Type: Slapstick
• Themes: Mad Scientists
• Release Year: 1928
• Country: US
• Run Time: 2rl minutes

Plot

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are perhaps unique amongst comedians of the 1920s and 1930s, and their silent and sound films are equally funny. This two-reeler was originally released with music and sound effects; it would be nearly six more months before the boys made their talkie debut. This short (which some claim is not one of the duo's best silent films, a point definitely to be argued) is so entertaining that it's easy to forget that it's a silent film. Stan and Ollie have stopped at a mansion to beg for food. They don't realize that they're at the residence of a mad scientist (Richard Carle) who needs a pair of grave robbers to bring him a corpse for one of his experiments. The boys find themselves enlisted, and neither they nor the scientist realize that the butler (Charles Rogers) is an undercover detective who is trying to keep the madman under control. While Stan and Ollie head off for the graveyard, the scientist is carted away. The detective, meanwhile, goes to the graveyard himself in order to scare away the would-be grave robbers. Frighten them he does, but he hasn't counted on the boys' persistence (or their stupidity). The duo's attempt to climb the graveyard wall results in Ollie flying through it and smashing it to bits. Later on, Ollie is spooked by his own toes, which are peeping through a mound of dirt, and smashes them. The detective, wrapped in a sheet and trying to alternately play a ghost or a corpse, gets his share of knocks, too. When Ollie finally puts him in a sack and has Stan cart him off, the detective pokes his hands and feet through the material. He frightens the boys so much that he and Ollie wind up falling in a deep puddle (Stan, as usual, avoids this fate). The boys finally run away in fright. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Cast

Richard Carle; Oliver Hardy; Stan Laurel

Credit

Leo McCarey - Director, James Parrott - Director, Hal Roach - Producer, Leo McCarey - Screenwriter, H.M. Walker - Screenwriter

• Genres: Rock
• Representative Albums: "Sociedad Mecanizada", "Discografia Esencial

Biography

Hardcore punk band from Spain Habeas Corpus was formed in the early '90s, recording its first EP, called Sociedad Mecanizada, in 1995. A year later, the five-piece act participated in Concierto Para La Represión at Madrid's La Guindalera Social Center, playing along with Tarzán, Speereth, and Inadaptats. Mainly focused on controversial issues, Habeas Corpus' lyrics are related to people suffering any kind of social repression. In 1998, the group's "Expresión Directa" was featured in the movie soundtrack of Barrio, directed by Fernando León. That same year, Habeas Corpus' music took part in Radical Mestizo, a compilation released by Revelde Discos, getting along with Color Humano and los Fabulosos Cadillacs, among other Latin rock numbers. In January of 1999, N.N. came out, followed by a tour around Spain and A Las Cosas Por Su Nombre, produced by Eugenio Muñoz in the year 2000. ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide

Sociedad Mecanizada Buy this CD

Discografia Esencial Buy this CD

Habeas Corpus Buy this CD

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