Music Box, The (1932) - full review!
This Academy Award winning Best Short Subject Comedy starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy was added to the National Film Registry in 1997. It's also featured in Chuck Workman's 100 Years at the Movies (1994) compilation. It was produced by Hal Roach, directed by James Parrott, and its dialogue was written by H. M. Walker. It's a terrific, early example of Laurel & Hardy's (as well as Roach's) brand of comedy.
The basic "plot" of the film involves "the boys" trying to deliver a player piano for Gladys Gale (uncredited), who purchased it from William Gillespie (uncredited) for her husband's birthday. We learn later that her husband, played by Billy Gilbert (uncredited), knew nothing about this surprise through his interactions with the comedy duo. This rather thin story is used for countless gags, many of which are repeated almost to excess, using slapstick humor.
The first challenge that Laurel & Hardy must overcome, besides their clever delivery cart horse, is a long cement staircase which leads to the new piano owner's home situated, inconveniently, at the top of a hill. While trying to master the climb, they encounter a rude woman (Lilyan Irene, uncredited) pushing a baby carriage, a Professor (Gilbert), and a policeman (Sam Lufkin, uncredited) before the postman (Charlie Hall, uncredited) tells them they could have used the road to get "up" there.
Naturally, the piano falls down the stairs several times, once with Hardy hanging on to it for dear life. Eventually, the two are challenged with the task of getting it into the house whose owners aren't at home. This involves using a block & tackle to pull the piano up and through an open second floor balcony and door, and a fountain large enough (of course) for both comedians and their carry. Near the film's end, Gilbert (the husband for whom the piano was purchased) returns home to find Laurel & Hardy inexplicably in his home.
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