Their Purple Moment *** (1928, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Anita Garvin, Kay Deslys, Lyle Tayo) – Classic Movie Review 7816

Director James Parrott’s 1928 two-reeler Their Purple Moment is a generally funny Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy short comedy silent film, with several hilarious high spots, particularly the chaos in the restaurant when the duo try to get away without paying.

Laurel and Hardy play henpecked buddies Mr Pincher and Mr Hardy, who sneak off from their shrewish wives Mrs Pincher (Fay Holderness) and Mrs Hardy (Lyle Tayo) and take two girls out to a smart nightclub, where they entertain a couple of likely ladies (Anita Garvin as Oliver’s girlfriend, Kay Deslys as Mr Pincher’s girlfriend).

But their wives have changed Stan and Ollie’s money for cigar coupons (the trading stamps of the Twenties), resulting in a bit of a problem when Stan and Ollie must pay the huge club bill.

Tiny Sandford plays the waiter and Leo Willis plays the cab driver. Also in the cast are Lyle Barton, Jimmy Aubrey, Ed Brandenberg, Jack Hill, Sam Lufkin, Patsy O’Byrne, Retta Palmer and Dorothea Wolbert.

Their Purple Moment is directed by James Parrott, runs 20 minutes, is made by Hal Roach Studios, is released by MGM, is written by H M Walker, is shot in black and white by George Stevens, is produced by Hal Roach, and is scored by Marvin Hatley and Leroy Shield.

It was released on 19 May 1928 and is a silent movie.

This is a rare instance in their films of Stan not using his real name for his character, although weirdly Ollie does for his.

Their Purple Moment is available for free download at the Internet Archive (excerpt): https://archive.org/details/their_purple_moment

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7816

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