Themes: Inheritance at Stake, Assumed Identities, Cons and Scams
Main Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Sharon Lynne, James Finlayson, Stanley Fields, Rosina Lawrence
Release Year: 1937
Country: US
Run Time: 86 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
Prospectors Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy head to the western town of Brushwood Gulch, two men on a top-secret mission. The boys have been entrusted by their recently deceased partner Cy Roberts with a deed to a valuable gold mine, to be delivered in person to Roberts' daughter Mary (Rosina Lawrence). Stan inadvertently spills the beans to crooked saloon owner Mickey Finn (James Finlayson), who proceeds to pass off his own wife, saloon chanteuse Lola Marcel (Sharon Lynne), as Mary Roberts. The ever-trusting Stan and Ollie fall for the subterfuge hook, line and sinker, handing the deed over to Lola. Upon running into the real Mary, who slaves away in Mickey Finn's kitchen, Our Heroes vow to retrieve the deed. A battle royale ensues, with Stan, Ollie, Mickey and Lola passing the deed around like a football. Ultimately, Lola manages to wrest the deed away from Stan by tickling him into helpless submission. Chased out of town by the sheriff (Stanley Fields), who harbors a grudge against the boys from a previous misunderstanding, Stan and Ollie sneak back to Brushwood Gulch in the dead of night, hoping to break into Finn's saloon, steal back the deed, and place it firmly in the hands of Mary Roberts. Upon this foundation is built Way Out West, arguably Laurel & Hardy's best feature film (many aficionados prefer Sons of the Desert). Highlights include the aformentioned tickling and burglary scenes, Stan literally eating his hat after losing a bet, Ollie's perennial plunges into a pothole, and the boys' charming singing-and-dancing interludes. Also take note of Marvin Hatley's Oscar-nominated musical score, and the presence of a young, thin Chill Wills as one of "The Avalon Boys". Even if you're not a fan of The Thin One and The Fat One, you'll be limp with laughter at the end of Way Out West. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Way Out West is a classic example of why the films of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have retained their popularity. Laurel & Hardy fans often enjoy debating whether Way Out West or Sons of the Desert is the pair's best feature film. Whichever you prefer, both are among the funniest films of their era. The plot deftly mocks many of the motifs of the Old West, centering on the efforts of crooks to gain the deed to a gold mine. In the middle of everything are the two stars, who each give delightfully amusing performances. Also of note are director James Horne's efficient pacing, and the Oscar-nominated original music score by Laurel & Hardy veteran Marvin Hatley. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Arthur I. Royce - Art Director, James W. Horne - Director, Bert Jordan - Editor, Irving Berlin - Composer (Music Score), Marvin Hatley - Composer (Music Score), Nathaniel Shilkret - Composer (Music Score), LeRoy Shield - Composer (Music Score), Marvin Hatley - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jack Dawn - Makeup, Art Lloyd - Cinematographer, Walter Lundin - Cinematographer, Stan Laurel - Producer, William L. Stevens - Set Designer, Roy Seawright - Special Effects, William Randall - Sound/Sound Designer, Felix Adler - Screenwriter, Jack Jevne - Screenwriter, James Parrott - Screenwriter, Charles Rogers - Screenwriter
Stan and Ollie, after consorting with Seymore "Sy" Roberts, an old prospector, have been entrusted to deliver the deed to a gold mine the prospector discovered to the man's daughter, Mary Roberts (Rosina Lawrence), a poor young woman living in Brushwood Gulch who is consistently victimized by her cruel guardians, saloon owner Mickey Finn (James Finlayson), and his equally-cruel saloon-singer wife, Lola Marcel (Sharon Lynne).
Traveling by stage coach, they attempt to flirt with the woman (Vivien Oakland) who is riding with them. She rebuffs the pair, and upon arriving in Brushwood Gulch, she complains to her husband, the town's sheriff (Stanley Fields). The angry sheriff orders the pair to leave on the next coach out of town, or else they'll be "riding out of here in a hearse". Stan and Ollie promise to do so once they have completed their mission.
After dancing to "At the Ball, That's All" by The Avalon Boys, Stan and Ollie arrive at Mickey Finn's saloon. When Mickey Finn learns why they're here, he has Lola play Mary in order to hijack the deed from them. Stan and Ollie have never seen Mary before, and are duped by their charade. However, before leaving town, they encounter the real Mary Roberts and immediately try to get the deed back. The evil Finns won't surrender the deed, however, and a major struggle ensues as Stan and Ollie attempt to reclaim the deed. Stan manages to grab it, but Lola traps him in the bedroom and wrests the deed from him by tickling him into hysterics. After further chasing, Mickey and Lola manage to seal the deed into their safe. Ollie calls for the police, but the police turn out to be the angry sheriff, who chases Stan and Ollie out of town.
Outside the town, Stan and Ollie plan to sneak back into Brushwood Gulch at night to reclaim the deed. They arrive at the saloon and, after a series of mishaps, manage to make it inside. They are met by Mary, who helps them open the safe, grab the deed and escape before Mickey Finn can intervene. Outside the town again, and accompanied by Mary, the happy trio sing "We're Going to Go Way Down to Dixie" as they head off into the sunset.
Unlike most of Laurel and Hardy's films and shorts, the story ends with a happy ending as opposed to the usual 'unfortunate ending'.
Ollie to the Sheriffs wife : "A lot of weather we've been having lately"
Lola : "Tell me, tell me about my dear dear daddy, is it true that he's dead?"
Stan : "Well we hope he is, they buried him."
Lola : "Oh it can't be, what did he die of?"
Stan : "I think he died of a Tuesday, or was it Wednesday..."
Ollie: "Every cloud has a silver lining"
Stan: "That's right, any bird can build a nest, but it isn't everyone who can lay an egg!"
"Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" was released as a single in Britain in 1975 backed by "Honolulu Baby" from Sons Of The Desert reaching number 2 in the British charts.
Trivia
In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted Way Out West the 26th greatest comedy film of all time.
This film was the second picture for which Stan Laurel was credited as producer (the first was 1936's Our Relations); Laurel had served in that capacity uncredited for the duo's entire career. The executive producer was Hal Roach.
