Selected Short Subject: Brats (1930)

Directed by James Parrott. Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy. Released March 22, 1930. Two Reels.

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy made a seamless transition from silent-to-sound films, and “Brats” remains one of the most remarkable of their talking short comedies. Nobody other than Laurel and Hardy appears in this movie, and they play their usual characters as well as their own sons. So, Laurel and Hardy essentially play off each other.

There are a number of fascinating aspects to the structure of this short. First there is the correlation from the children to the adults – the childlike behavior of each is about the same. The kids argue over who is going to be “it” in a game of hide and seek, they argue over blocks and other toys, they reach the point where the decide to don boxing gloves and settle things. Meanwhile, their fathers have similar conflicts playing checkers and playing pool. The comparison-contrast further explores the dynamic of their screen relationship, as well as provides for some wonderful slapstick comedy.

The other, and perhaps more fascinating, element is the care and attention given to its production. In order to film the duo as children, an entire duplicate set was constructed with larger items to make the men look like small children. Bigger chairs, a bigger bed, a larger bathtub, etc, were created while the duo filmed their scenes as kids. A duplicate ordinary set was utilized for scenes shot as the adults. The cross-cutting between the two is done so expertly, one almost forgets that Stan and Oliver are playing both roles. Even a scene where Little Stan throws blocks at Little Ollie, who ducks, and it hits big Ollie, is edited so that it flows perfectly.

There is no plot to this short. It really is nothing more than Laurel and Hardy babysitting their sons while their wives are out for an evening. Each set of Stan and Ollie try to pass the time and amuse themselves, and are fraught with slapstick conflict. Despite no real narrative, the film leads up to a conclusion. The kids leave the bath water running and, at the end when they are tucked in bed, they insist on each getting a drink of water. Laurel goes to get it but Hardy stops him. “You might spill it!” When the door is opened, a veritable Niagara hits them and floods the room as the movie concludes.

The show business trade paper Variety was impressed when this short was released back in the early Spring of 1930, stating: “Not only is the comedy there, but the production is an exceptional piece of camera work and set construction. Not a single detail is overlooked. Magnification has been carried even to bars of soap, phones, and vases.”

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have long been embraced as masters of screen comedy, and rightfully so. Their work is unique and brilliant, and has effectively withstood the test of time. But a film like “Brats” stands out for factors beyond the norm. Way back in 1930 when special effects were so limited, even the very idea of sound films was only a few years old, Laurel and Hardy come out with a film that investigates edgy possibilities with visuals. It is all quite amazing, quite brilliant, and, of course, very funny.