Saps at Sea

The last film Laurel and Hardy made for Hal Roach, a scrappy but often very funny affair in which Dr Finlayson prescribes a sea cruise after Ollie goes crazy working in a honking horn factory (a sequence destructively elaborated from Modern Times). Less inventive when, after Stan has inadvertently destroyed their apartment, they find themselves not only at sea (they meant to stay safely tied up in harbour) but slaving on behalf of an evil-tempered escaped convict (Cramer): the highlight here - they prepare a revolting meal for Cramer, but are forced to eat it themselves - is both drawn-out and unfunny. A comedy of much charm, nevertheless.