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| Flying Elephants | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Frank Butler |
| Written by | Hal Roach H.M. Walker (titles) |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Jimmy Finlayson Edna Marion Dorothy Coburn Viola Richard Fay Lanphier Budd Fine Tiny Sandford Leo Willis |
| Distributed by | Pathé Exchange |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 17 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent film English (Original intertitles) |
Flying Elephants is a two-reel silent film from 1928 directed by Frank Butler and co-written and produced by Hal Roach. It stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as a pair of battling cavemen.
Plot
The narrative unfolds within a Stone Age setting, where the ruler of the cave-dwelling populace mandates that all males aged 13 to 99 must secure a female partner or risk exile. Hardy embarks on a quest to find a spouse, enduring repeated blows from irate "husbands" in his pursuit. Eventually, he encounters a potential mate but remains unaware that Laurel, his companion, also seeks her hand in marriage.
As Laurel and Hardy vie for the same woman, their rivalry escalates, leading to a series of competitions to win her favor. In a pivotal scene, Laurel attempts to eliminate his competitor by luring him to a precarious cliff edge. However, his scheme is thwarted when a hostile goat intervenes, causing Hardy to plummet from the precipice. Seizing the opportunity, Laurel claims victory and the affections of the coveted bride-to-be.
Cast
- Stan Laurel - Little Twinkle Star
- Oliver Hardy - Mighty Giant
- James Finlayson - Saxophonus
- Edna Marion - Cavewoman
- Dorothy Coburn - Gorgeous Wrestler
- Viola Richard - Blushing Rose
- Fay Lanphier - Blonde Cavewoman
- Budd Fine - Hulking Caveman
- Tiny Sandford - Hulking Caveman
- Leo Willis - Fisherman
Production and distribution
Although released in February 1928, Flying Elephants was actually filmed in May 1927, before the duo were established as a comedy team. As a result, the film lacks the Laurel and Hardy trademarks and consists mostly of solo performances by the two comedians.
Taking place entirely outdoors, the rocky desert locations were photographed in Moapa, Nevada. Some locations would later be used in 1940 for Hal Roach's prehistoric drama One Million B.C..
The title Flying Elephants refers to a scene where Hardy's character points out three animated pachyderms flying up above in the sky.
References
- ^ Everson, William K. (2000). The Complete Films of Laurel and Hardy. Citadel. p. 47. ISBN 978-0806501468.
- Potts, Mark & Sheppard, Dave (2001). What was the Film When? The Movies of Laurel & Hardy . Quayside Creative Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9555318-3-5, pp 41-42.
- Okuda, Ted and James L. Neibaur (2012). Stan Without Ollie: The Stan Laurel Solo Films, 1917-1927. McFarland. p. 206. ISBN 978-0786447817.
- Mitchell-Waite, Antony and Joanne Mitchell-Waite (2013). Laurel & Hardy's Animated Antics A-Z 3rd Edition. lulu.com. p. 107. ISBN 978-1291619256.
External links
- Flying Elephants at IMDb
- Flying Elephants is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- Flying Elephants at Rotten Tomatoes
- 1928 films
- 1928 comedy films
- 1928 short films
- 1920s American films
- 1920s English-language films
- American black-and-white films
- English-language comedy short films
- Films about cavemen
- Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker
- Laurel and Hardy (film series)
- Pathé Exchange films
- Silent American comedy short films
- Surviving American silent films