Way Out West (1937 film)

Way Out West
Original Way Out West theatrical poster
Directed by	James W. Horne
Produced by	Stan Laurel Hal Roach
Written by	Jack Jevne Charley Rogers Felix Adler James Parrott
Starring	Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy James Finlayson Rosina Lawrence
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	April 16, 1937 (U.S.)
Running time	65 min.
Language	English
Preceded by	Our Relations
Followed by	Swiss Miss

Way Out West is a Laurel and Hardy comedy film released in 1937. It was directed by James W. Horne, produced by Stan Laurel and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

1940s reissue poster for Way Out West (1937)

[edit] Plot

Stan and Ollie, after consorting with Seymore "Sy" Roberts, an old prospector, have been entrusted to deliver the deed to a gold mine the prospector discovered to the man's daughter, Mary Roberts (Rosina Lawrence), a poor young woman living in Brushwood Gulch who is consistently victimized by her cruel guardians, saloon owner Mickey Finn (James Finlayson), and his equally-cruel saloon-singer wife, Lola Marcel (Sharon Lynne).

Traveling by stage coach, they attempt to flirt with the woman (Vivien Oakland) who is riding with them. She rebuffs the pair, and upon arriving in Brushwood Gulch, she complains to her husband, the town's sheriff (Stanley Fields). The angry sheriff orders the pair to leave. Stan and Ollie promise to do so once they have completed their mission.

After dancing to "At the Ball, That's All" by The Avalon Boys, Stan and Ollie arrive at Mickey Finn's saloon. When Mickey Finn learns why they're here, he has Lola play Mary in order to hijack the deed from them. Stan and Ollie have never seen Mary before, and are duped by their charade. However, before leaving town, they encounter the real Mary Roberts and immediately try to get the deed back. The evil Finns won't surrender the deed, however, and a major struggle ensues as Stan and Ollie attempt to reclaim the deed. Stan manages to grab it, but Lola traps him in the bedroom and wrests the deed from him by tickling him into hysterics. After further chasing, Mickey and Lola manage to seal the deed into their safe. Ollie calls for the police, but the police turn out to be the angry sheriff, who chases Stan and Ollie out of town.

Outside the town, Stan and Ollie plan to sneak back into Brushwood Gulch at night to reclaim the deed. They arrive at the saloon and, after a series of mishaps, manage to make it inside. They are met by Mary, who helps them open the safe, grab the deed and escape before Mickey Finn can intervene. Outside the town again, and accompanied by Mary, the happy trio sing "We're Going to Go Way Down to Dixie" as they head off into the sunset.

Unlike most of Laurel and Hardy's films and shorts, the story ends with a happy ending as opposed to the usual 'unfortunate ending'.

[edit] Cast

• Stan Laurel..........................Stan
• Oliver Hardy........................Ollie
• James Finlayson.................Mickey Finn
• Rosina Lawrence.................Mary Roberts
• Sharon Lynne......................Lola Marcel
• Stanley Fields.....................Sheriff
• Vivien Oakland...................Sheriff's wife
• Harry Bernard.....................Man at Bar
• Mary Gordon.......................Cook
• May Wallace.......................Cook
• Jack Hill.............................Finn's Employee
• Sam Lufkin.........................Baggageman
• Tex Driscoll........................Miner
• Flora Finch.........................Miner's wife
• Fred Toones.......................Janitor

[edit] Quotes

• Ollie to the Sheriffs wife : "A lot of weather we've been having lately"
• Lola : "Tell me, tell me about my dear dear daddy, is it true that he's dead?"
  Stan : "Well we hope he is, they buried him."
  Lola : "Oh it can't be, what did he die of?"
  Stan : "I think he died of a Tuesday, or was it Wednesday..."
• Ollie: "Every cloud has a silver lining"
  Stan: "That's right, any bird can build a nest, but it isn't everyone who can lay an egg!"

[edit] Film soundtrack

The film's score was composed by Marvin Hatley and nominated for an Academy Award for Original Music Score. The film includes two famous songs, firstly "Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" sung by Laurel and Hardy except for a few lines by Chill Wills and Rosina Lawrence, lip-synched by Laurel. And secondly "At The Ball, That's All" sung by The Avalon Boys and accompanied by Laurel and Hardy performing an extended dance routine, one which they rehearsed endlessly.

"Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" was released as a single in Britain in 1975 backed by "Honolulu Baby" from Sons Of The Desert reaching number 2 in the British charts.

[edit] Trivia

• In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted Way Out West the 26th greatest comedy film of all time.
• It was released to theatres on April 16, 1937.
• This film was the second picture for which Stan Laurel was credited as producer (the first was 1936's Our Relations); Laurel had served in that capacity uncredited for the duo's entire career. The executive producer was Hal Roach.
• The film was colorized in 1985

[edit] External links

• Way Out West at the Internet Movie Database

[edit] See also

• Laurel and Hardy films