Cheap A Chump at Oxford (Video) (Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy) (Alfred J. Goulding) Price

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Customer Reviews of A Chump at Oxford

A CHUMP AT OXFORD actually seems like several little movies edited together and, indeed, according to one account the dinner scene which opens this movie -- a reprise of a silent film comedy dinner scene -- was added later. No matter what the real behind-the-scenes story is, this scene, featuring the hilarious Jimmy Finlayson, original creator of the "DOUGH!" popularized in recent years by Homer Simpson, is a scream.

Still, this scene's supposedly big comedy payoff -- Stan coming out in his long underwear (after being told to serve the salad "undressed"), causing scandalized women to faint -- is outdated for today's audiences (younger ones will wonder what all the fainting is all about since the long underwear barely resembles what most people wear for underwear today).

BUT there are three key reasons why you need to get this video:

1: STAN LAUREL'S UNUSUAL ROLE: When "the boys" thwart a robbery and are rewarded with paid education at Oxford and arrive in England, a bump on the head transforms Stan into the aristocratic, brilliant Lord Paddington.
This not only gives viewers a glimpse of Stan Laurel's acting ability but perhaps gives a better view of the "real" Stan, who was no dummy (he was the brains behind many of the team's bits and helped edit a lot of the earlier, funnier movies). In his role as upper-class gentleman, the new Stan bosses around and verbally humiliates the usually dominant Hardy. This is one of the few movies where Stan aims a "fat" joke (as Lord Paddington) at Hardy.
Hardy plays off against this new incarnation of a smart, bossy Laurel with sheer perfection. No comedy team has ever melded as one better than Laurel and Hardy. There truly was magic there (perhaps matched only by Jackie Gleason and Art Carney at their best).
SPECIAL NOTE: when Stan wiggles his ears it was NOT done with special effects. He could do it.

2. THE LOST IN THE MAZE BIT: When L&H are lost in a maze, they sit down to rest. A student clad in a skeleton costume sneaks up behind them and puts his arms under their shoulders, using his hands as their hands while the completely out-of-it L&H try to smoke with "their" hands. It's hard to describe this comedy bit but the timing is so absolutely perfect and execution of this piece of nuttiness so seamless that you have to laugh loudly. This scene is worth the price of this video. Any comedy buff or aspiring comedian MUST view this short bit!!!

3. A YOUNG PETER CUSHING: Before all the horrors.

Overall, the first half of the movie is funnier but the second is more worthwhile, since nothing can possibly top the bit in the maze -- or the startling transformation of dim-witted Stan into a Stan perhaps closer to the "real" Stan Laurel (who unlike Lord Paddington was reported to be a real sweetheart in real life by everyone who knew him).

Laurel and Hardy's Higher Education
A CHUMP AT OXFORD was one of Laurel and Hardy's last films for producer Hal Roach. Roach was losing interest in the boys by this point (he was occupied by his more ambitious features), so the film isn't top drawer, but there's still plenty to enjoy. A dinner party scene (reworking their silent film FROM SOUP TO NUTS) has Stan and Ollie opposite two favorite foils, Anita Garvin and James Finlayson. Best of all is Stan's transformation into the brilliant, haughty Lord Paddington. Those who have only seen Stan Laurel as the "Stanley" character will surely be impressed by this performance. Forrester Harvey is very amusing as Stan and Ollie's valet as is Wilfred Lucas as the Dean. Peter Cushing is highly visible as one of the prankish students. Hopefully, it won't be too long for this film to be restored, remastered and released on videotape.

The Boys Go To Collage and get an unexpected education!
In their next to last:Hal Roach Comedy.Laurel And Hardy spoof the Brittish educational system in a very funny way,

Once again,they're out of work and in need of gainful employment.So they head for an employment agentcy.

While wating to be interviewed by the agentcy's rep(played with some haughty aplomb by Vivian Oakland).Ollie overhears Ms.Oakland's phone conversation with a wealthy dowager:"Mrs.Vanderveer"(Anita Garvin).Who needs a butler and a
maid for an important dinner party that both she and her husband:"Mr.Baldy Vanderveer"(Played by perrenial L&H Villian:Jimmy Finlayson)are giving.

Before you know It?

Stan is once again dressed in drag and Ollie is sporting a beautiful tuxedo.Both of the boys try to do their duties at the dinner party.But they both louse up the proceedings and they're chased out of "Mr.Vanderveer's"home at the point of a
gun.

Reduced to working as lowley sidewalk cleaners.They reflect
on their sad situtaion during their lunchbreak.

Stan believes that their lack of success stems from the
fact that the two of them have no real education.

Impressed by his friend's observation.

Ollie decides that they'll both enroll in Night School that evening.

But fate comes into play and the boys inadvertedly foil a
bank robbery.

As a reward..the grateful bank president:"Jimmy Finlayson"
(played by character actor:Forbes Murrary)gets them"The best Education that money can buy".He gets them a scholarship at Oxford,University.

Where L&H soon become the unwitting pawns for a group of obnoxious prankters(The leader of the troup is Gerald Rogers..Movie director Charley Rogers' brother and Charlie Hall and A pre-Hammer Horror Films Peter Cushing make the rest of this group of
loveable troublemakers).The boys are manipulated into wandering
aimlessly thru the grass maze,they're frightened by another prankish student(Eddie Borden..best remembered as the foppish nobleman that the boys fleece in"Boheimian Girl"and as one of the "Bogeymen".Who chases L&H into The "Toyland"Toy Factory warehouse in "Babes In Toyland!"/"The March Of The Wooden Soldiers")dressed as a grinning ghost and they're tricked into
taking the Dean's quarters.Which they reduce the room into a shambles and
start a pillow fight with their superior(Played by Wilfred Lucas in his last movie role).

When "Dean Williams"finds out That Student:"Johnson"(Mr.Jerry Rogers)is behind these stupid stunts.

He angrily has "Johnson"and his pals expelled from Oxford and L&H are sent to their proper quarters.

Where L&H's Valet"Meredeth"(Forrester Harvey)mistakes Stan for a missing Honor Student"Lord Paddington".Stan and Ollie
refuses to believe their butler's story about "Lord Paddington".

Until "Johnson"and his pals break into L&H's quarters to beat them up and kick them out of Oxford for Ratting on their
crude pranks to the dean.When Stan tries escape via the window.

The slippery window paine falls on Poor Stan's head and
gets amnesia.Believeing that he is "Lord Paddington"and he routs the bullies and Poor Ollie And the dean too.

While the first segment at "The Vanderveer's"dinner party maybe overdone.It's still a perfect lead into the boy's
heroics in foiling the bank robbery and their trek to Oxford.

The scenes at The Hal Roach Studio's idea of the vernible English Collage is funny and Stan's Transformation
(Via his memory loss)into Oxford most brilliant athlete and
scholar is Laurel's best acting performance.

This film depends more on comic acting and a certain
ammount of farce.But it's still vintage L&H Nevertheless.

Kevin S.Butler.