BYU

Harold B. Lee Library

Saps at Sea

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, James Finlayson, Rychard Cramer, Harry Bernard
Commentary: James D’Arc
Special Collections

  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Date: Friday, March 24, 2006
  • Place: HBLL Auditorium, 1st Floor; Admission is free; arrive early for seats.


About the Event

When Oliver Hardy contracts “hornophobia” at work, his doctor recommends an ocean voyage. With Laurel and Hardy, it is never that simple, as an escaped criminal takes refuge aboard their rented boat. Saps at Sea is the final film made by “the boys” for producer Hal Roach after a partnership of nearly two decades, and the last of 33 films with moustached Scottish character actor James Finlayson, the source for Homer Simpson’s famous “D’oh!” exclamation. Hal Roach Productions. Released through United Artists. 1940. 57 mins. Director: Gordon Douglas.
County Hospital
Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Billy Gilbert, William Austin
The short comedy County Hospital finds Hardy inexplicably in the hospital “for a nice quiet rest.” That’s when Stan comes visiting. Thereafter nothing is nice and certainly nothing is quiet. Hal Roach Productions. Released through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. 1932. 20 mins. Director: James Parrott.
The combination of County Hospital and Saps at Sea ably demonstrate the versatility of these two geniuses at maintaining a comedy pace in both short and feature-length films.

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