A Chump at Oxford is a Hal Roach comedy film produced in 1939 and released in 1940 by United Artists. It was directed by Alfred J. Goulding and is the penultimate Laurel and Hardy film made at the Roach studio.[3][4] The title echoes the film A Yank at Oxford (1938), of which it is a partial parody.
| A Chump at Oxford | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alfred J. Goulding |
| Written by | Charley Rogers Felix Adler Harry Langdon[1] |
| Produced by | Hal Roach Jr. Hal Roach |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Wilfred Lucas James Finlayson Anita Garvin Forrester Harvey Peter Cushing Charlie Hall |
| Cinematography | Art Lloyd |
| Edited by | Bert Jordan[1] |
| Music by | Marvin Hatley |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 42:01 (streamliner version) 62:41 (extended version) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $230,297[2] |
Plot
editStan and Ollie find themselves in dire financial straits, left with only a modest sum of money. Seeking employment, they undertake a rather unconventional venture: Stan disguises himself as a maid named Agnes to secure a catering position at a dinner party hosted by Mr. Vanderveer. However, their plans go awry when Stan indulges in the cocktails intended for the guests, leading to a series of comical mishaps culminating in their expulsion from the premises.[1]
Subsequently, the men embark on a journey of self-improvement, recognizing the need for education to elevate their prospects. Their serendipitous encounter with a bank robber results in their employment at the bank, where they are offered an opportunity to pursue higher learning. Enrolling at Oxford University in England, they navigate a series of misadventures, including mistaken identities and university hazing rituals orchestrated by mischievous undergraduates.
Amidst the chaos, Stan undergoes a transformation, regaining a lost identity as Lord Paddington, a celebrated figure with remarkable intellect and physical prowess. However, his newfound status strains his relationship with Ollie, who feels marginalized and disrespected. As events unfold, including an incident involving a falling window, Stan's return to his former self fosters reconciliation and a renewed sense of camaraderie between the two friends.
Cast
edit- Stan Laurel as Stan/Lord Paddington[1]
- Oliver Hardy as Ollie[1]
- Forrester Harvey as Meredith[1]
- Wilfred Lucas as Dean Williams[1]
- Forbes Murray as Banker[1]
- Frank Baker as Dean's Servant[1]
- Eddie Borden as Student Ghost[5]
- Gerald Rogers as Student Johnson[5]
- Charles Hall as Student[1]
- Victor Kendall as Student[5]
- Gerald Fielding as Student[1]
- Peter Cushing as Student[6]
Production
editA Chump at Oxford was originally conceived as a streamliner featurette. The completed film ran 42 minutes in length. Roach's distributor, United Artists, rejected the featurette and insisted on a full-length feature film,[7] forcing Roach to add 21 more minutes of action. The added scenes, partially reworking the silent film From Soup to Nuts (1928), show Laurel and Hardy trying to find temporary jobs at the employment agency and being assigned to work at the dinner party.
The shorter version was shelved,[8] and the longer version was released to theaters and later to television; this 63-minute print is the version most often seen today. The shorter version was ultimately released to theaters in 1943. A later reissue was further reedited, jumping abruptly from when Stan and Ollie enter the employment agency to when they are sweeping the streets. A 25-minute version created for television distribution is entitled Alter Ego.
As Lord Paddington, Stan Laurel employs an upper-class received pronunciation accent, the only time when he affected a voice different from "Stan" on film.
Reception
editIn a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote:
Let's not mince words with custard pies—or what theoretically amounts to the same: The slapstick clowning of Laurel and Hardy in Hal Roach's 'A Chump at Oxford' ... is about as silly and unintelligent as a lecture in double-talk, and also about as funny as clowns can be these days. After all. the secret of slapstick resides in incongruity, and what could be more incongruous than these dead-panned stumbles-bums—ex-street cleaners in this case—turned loose amid the gray towers and ivy-covered walls of peaceful Oxford? ... The idea is to laugh, not to think. You'll get the idea, all right.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Nash, J.R. (2019). The Encyclopedia of Best Films: A Century of All the Finest Movies, A-J. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-5381-3413-9. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Ward, Richard Lewis (2005). A history of the Hal Roach Studios. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 213. - figures are producer's share from US/Canada
- ^ Aping, N. (2014). The Final Film of Laurel and Hardy: A Study of the Chaotic Making and Marketing of Atoll K. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7864-5174-6. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Ward, R.L. (2006). A History of the Hal Roach Studios. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-8093-2727-0. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c Fetrow, A.G. (1994). Feature Films, 1940-1949: A United States Filmography. McFarland. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-89950-914-3. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Kael, P. (2011). 5001 Nights at the Movies. Henry Holt and Company. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-250-03357-4. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Variety, "UA Orders Hal Roach to Tack On Footage to L-H 4-Reelers", Nov. 15, 1939, p. 2.
- ^ MacGillivray, Scott, Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward, iUniverse, 2009, ISBN 978-1440172373, p. 4.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (1940-02-20). "The Screen in Review: Zola's 'The Human Beast' Comes to 55th Street as a Somber and Powerful French Film by Jean Renoir—Laurel and Hardy in 'Chump at Oxford'". The New York Times. p. 17.
External links
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