THE BOHEMIAN GIRL (1936) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - James W. Horne, Charley Rogers, Hal Roach

Written by - Alfred Bunn, Frank Butler, John Guedel, Charlie Hall, Carl Harbaugh, James W. Horne, Stan Laurel, James Parrott, Hal Roach, Charley Rogers (based on the opera by Michael William Balfe and the novella La Gitanilla by Miguel de Ceravantes y Saavedra)

Starring - Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Antonio Moreno, Jacqueline Wells

"THE BOHEMIAN GIRL is a feature length comedy vehicle for the legendary slapstick duo LAUREL AND HARDY. Here, they are in top shape playing two gypsies who suddenly find themselves having to take care of the daughter of a prince, after one of their wives kidnaps her. It is hence not their presence that makes the feature flawed. 

This film featured actress THELMA TODD in her final role before she took her own life at the age of 29. In knowledge of this fact, it should also be said that her scenes were re-cut, and her original role as the Gypsy Queen re-worked into a more minor role - the Gypsy Queen's Daughter, with the vampish MAE BUSCH taking over on the character that was originally hers. 

Perhaps this is why the film feels so awkward in pacing, and does no favour to the tempo of the advancement of the narrative arch. In turn, this evidently affects the blending of the film's humour with the storyline inspired by the original MICHAEL WILLIAM BALFE opera by the same name. 

Nevertheless, as far as LAUREL AND HARDY are concerned, THE BOHEMIAN GIRL remains noteworthy for featuring some of the darkest humour of their entire filmography, some of which draws from the cartoonish portrayals of the Roma tradition. Other are exceptionally memorable and creative, like the comedy gold "wine" sequences, which still remains one of their all time best."

Comedy, USA