Putting Pants on Philip *** (1927, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Sam Lufkin, Harvey Clark, Lee Phelps, Jack Hill, Chester A Bachman) – Classic Movie Review 7401

Director Clyde A Bruckman and producer Hal Roach’s 1927 Putting Pants on Philip is a swish Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy silent 20-minute two-reeler short film, in which Ollie (as the pompous J Piedmont Mumblethunder) has to meet his kilted Scottish nephew Philip from the boat from Scotland – and of course it turns out to be a painfully shy, but woman-crazy Stan.

The rather strange but intriguing title actually tells the whole story. Ollie tries to get Stan’s kilt off, and get him to a tailor for a pair of pants, and tries to stop him chasing the women.

Bruckman’s film is a carefully made silent-movie showcase for the stars’ great pantomime skills, with a thoroughly amusing story told entirely visually.

Putting Pants on Philip also features Sam Lufkin, Harvey Clark, Lee Phelps, Jack Hill, Retta Palmer, Bob O’Conor [O’Connor] Alfred Fisher, Dorothy Coburn, Don Bailey, Charles A Bachman, Ed Brandenberg and Chet Brandenberg.

Clever people are at work. The story is by Leo McCarey and the screen-writer is H M Walker. The cameraman is George Stevens and the producer is Hal Roach.

The Second Hundred Years (8 October 1927) was the first official Laurel and Hardy film where they are presented as a team but Stan Laurel considered Putting Pants on Philip (3 December 1927) as the first official Laurel and Hardy film.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7401

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