Laurel & Hardy in Going Bye Bye! After testifying against a murderer who promises vengeance, two witnesses decide to leave town. But …

Going Bye Bye! (1934) starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Mae Busch, Walter Long

Ollie: Why don’t you keep your mouth shut? 
Stan: What did I do?
Ollie: Yes, what you did, you put us right on the spot. Everything would have been all right if you hadn’t said, “Aren’t you going to hang him?” Couldn’t you see that he was annoyed? 

In Going Bye Bye! Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are eye witnesses to a murder. In court, their testimony sends Butch (Walter Long) to prison. But, he promises to escape, break their legs off, and wrap them around their necks! Brrr …

So, Stan and Ollie decide to get out of town. But, they don’t have the money to do that. So, they advertise for someone to share expenses. The lady who answers the ad is …. Butch’s girlfriend! And Butch has escaped from prison, and he plans to get away with her! So the boys arrive at her apartment. And would they help her by loading her trunk? Where Butch is concealed …

Comedy highlights

• Stan and Oliver trying to get Mae’s boyfriend out of the trunk he’s locked in! Drilling a hole (so Butch can see they’re the witnesses who sent him to prison)!
• Then sawing, then using a blowtorch & setting Butch on fire!
• Then nearly drowning him with a fire hose!

Conclusion

Going Bye Bye! is a very funny, fast-paced Laurel and Hardy comedy. My only real negative is the ending, where Butch finally escape the box — it actually collapses — and runs to get his revenge, seconds before the police arrive. And the final shot is of Stan and Ollie on a couch, with their legs wrapped around their necks. I don’t like that “body horror” comedy, but that’s a matter of personal taste.

Cast of characters

• Stan Laurel (Pack Up Your Troubles) … Mr. Laurel
• Oliver Hardy (Below Zero) … Mr. Hardy
• Mae Busch (Oliver the Eighth) … Butch’s Girlfriend
• Walter Long (Pardon Us) … Butch

Editorial review of Going Bye Bye courtesy of Amazon.com

After testifying against a murderer who promises vengeance, two witnesses decide to leave town. The plot echoed DO DETECTIVES THINK? but was timely because the biggest story in America was the John Dillinger manhunt. The initial working title was PUBLIC ENEMIES