Them Thar Hills

There's a lesson in Laurel and Hardy's 1934 two-reeler Them Thar Hills - mountain water is good for what ails you. Or, as proves to be the case for Laurel and Hardy, it will make you forget what ails you. As the short opens, Ollie is feeling poorly; he's got a bad case of the gout. The doctor blames "too much high living" and suggests a vacation in the country. Soon, the boys are off on a little road trip, where they stumble onto an abandoned cabin. The former tenants - and moonshine makers - were forced to dump their goods into the well during a raid. Naturally, Stan and Ollie are thirsty, very thirsty...and after all, the doctor had sung the praises of mountain water. Soon, the boys are drunk on well water and impressed by its "potency." Hardy claims "it's the iron" in the water. The usual slapstick high jinks ensue with Ollie's sore foot serving as a prime comedy target; he also gets dumped, fully clothed, into the bathtub. Next on the scene, stranded motorists Mr. and Mrs. Hall (played by frequent Laurel and Hardy co-stars Charlie Hall and Mae Busch), arrive at the cabin. While Mr. Hall goes to fix the car, the Missus stays behind to sample the water. Mr. Hall is understandably less than pleased when he returns to find his wife toasted. Fueled by Hall's rage, the best laughs are saved for the finale to Them Thar Hills when the action explodes (literally) in a comic crescendo. Poor Mr. Hall ends up in a less than dignified position - with beans down his pants and covered in molasses and feathers. But it's Ollie who really takes the heat. Hall's retaliation is a classic Laurel and Hardy moment - definitely better seen than described. Let's just say, the end of Them Thar Hills was so successful, that a sequel Tit for Tat was made the following year. It was the first and only time Laurel and Hardy specifically planned a sequel. The continued duel with Hall made Tit for Tat a well remembered Laurel and Hardy short. It was also Oscar® nominated as Best Comedy Short Subject. Them Thar Hills was filmed partly on location in Santa Ynez Canyon, California. But when heavy fog halted production, filming was relocated to the Roach Studios lot. It was written and filmed in May and June 1934 and released in July. Them Thar Hills was the fourth of six films Laurel and Hardy made in 1934. Worth noting is one other scene that's a fan favorite; it's usually referred to as the "pom-pom" scene. In it, Ollie sings "The Old Spinning Wheel" while preparing dinner and Stan offers an unwelcome accompaniment. Also, watch for character actor Billy Gilbert as Ollie's doctor. Gilbert appeared frequently in Laurel and Hardy films as well as other comedies with W.C. Fields (Million Dollar Legs, 1932) and Charlie Chaplin (The Great Dictator, 1940). He could apparently sneeze on cue and built a vaudeville act around this talent. Gilbert was also the voice of Sneezy in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937). Producer: Hal Roach Director: Charley Rogers Screenplay: Stan Laurel, H.M. Walker Cinematography: Art Lloyd Film Editing: Bert Jordan Music: Billy Hill Cast: Stan Laurel (Stanley Laurel), Oliver Hardy (Ollie Hardy), Mae Busch (Mrs. Hall), Charlie Hall (Mr. Hall), Billy Gilbert (The Doctor). BW-20m. by Stephanie Thames