Double Whoopee (1929) starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Jean Harlow
In Double Whoopee Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, in their new jobs as footman and doorman at a ritzy hotel, wreak their usual havoc on the guests. This includes partially undressing a swanky blonde guest, fighting with a taxi driver, and “helping” a haughty Prussian nobleman into an empty elevator shaft.
Prince: And I am here to make what you Americans call – “whoopee”…
And instead, he falls down an elevator shaft — courtesy of Laurel and Hardy. Twice.
Ollie: [to the Swanky Blonde (Jean Harlow) as she arrives at the hotel] Might I presume that you would condescend to accept my escortage?
But, Stan unintentionally catches her dress in the car door — and she walks into the hotel half naked! Stan notices, but Ollie doesn’t — at first. When he does, he insists that Stan gives his coat to cover her! Stan resists, because — under the coat, he’s in his underwear!
In short, a hilariously funny short film! Enjoy!
Cast of characters
- Stan Laurel (Pack Up Your Troubles) … Stan
- Oliver Hardy (The Battle of the Century) … Ollie
- Jean Harlow (Suzy; Libeled Lady) … Swanky Blonde
Additional Cast
- Brooks Benedict (Speedy) … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Chet Brandenburg (Two Tars) … Bellhop (uncredited)
- Ed Brandenburg (Putting Pants on Philip) … Bellhop (uncredited)
- Rosalind Byrne … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Bobby Callahan … Bellhop (uncredited)
- Jack Chefe … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Jack Deery … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- William Gillespie (Haunted Spooks) … Hotel Manager (uncredited)
- Ena Gregory … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Carmen Guerrero … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Clara Guiol (Two Tars) … Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
- Charlie Hall (Tit for Tat) … Cabdriver (uncredited)
- Amo Ingraham … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Hans Joby … Prince (uncredited)
- Hazel Keener … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Ham Kinsey (March of the Wooden Soldiers) … Cab Driver (uncredited)
- Sam Lufkin (The Hoose-Gow) … Man Poked in Eye (uncredited)
- Addie McPhail … Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- John M. O’Brien (They Go Boom!) … Hotel Employee (uncredited)
- Charley Rogers (Perfect Day) … Prime Minister (uncredited)
- Tiny Sandford (From Soup to Nuts) … Policeman (uncredited)
- Rolfe Sedan (The Passionate Plumber) … Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Trivia
- This was the first and most spectacular of three appearances by Jean Harlow in a Laurel and Hardy movie. She also appeared briefly in Bacon Grabbers and Liberty. Because of her fond memories of working at the Roach lot, she graciously allowed Roach to use her photo in Beau Hunks.
- Hans Joby (aka Captain John Peters), who successfully lampooned Erich von Stroheim in this film, had been von Stroheim’s double, and repeated all his nuances and characteristics.
- The hotel lobby had previously been used in the Our Gang short Barnum & Ringling, Inc. (1928), which featured Ollie.
- Leo McCarey’s screenplay give blonde newcomer Jean Harlow ample opportunity to display her physical charms. Hopeless hotel porter, played by Stan Laurel, contrives to shut the taxi door on the woman’s evening dress. The taxi moves off, leaving Harlow in her underwear.