Leave 'Em Laughing

This article is about the 1928 film. For the short film, see Leave 'Em Laughing (2020 film).

Leave 'Em Laughing
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Clyde Bruckman
Written by	Reed Heustis Hal Roach
Produced by	Hal Roach
Starring	Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Charlie Hall Edgar Kennedy Dorothy Coburn Viola Richard Edgar Dearing Al Hallett Sam Lufkin Tiny Sandford Otto Fries Jack Lloyd Jack Hill
Cinematography	George Stevens
Edited by	Richard C. Currier
Music by	Evie Greene
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	January 28, 1928 (1928-01-28)
Running time	21:48
Languages	Silent film English (Original intertitles)

Leave 'Em Laughing is a 1928 two-reel silent film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Produced by the Hal Roach Studios, it was shot in October 1927 and released January 28, 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Plot

Stan cannot sleep owing to a painful toothache. Ollie, attempting to aid Stan, retrieves a hot-water bottle from the bathroom but repeatedly steps on a tack strewn across the floor. Subsequently, a mishap occurs as the water bottle lid loosens, resulting in water spilling onto the bed. This disturbance prompts their landlord to intervene, issuing an ultimatum for their eviction the following morning. A physical altercation ensues between the duo and the landlord, culminating in the latter's apparent fall down the stairs.

The subsequent day finds Stan seeking dental treatment for his toothache. However, his fear impedes his cooperation during the procedure. In a turn of events, Ollie inadvertently becomes the recipient of the dental procedure intended for Stan. Upon Ollie's unwitting extraction, the dentist mistakenly administers nitrous oxide gas to Stan, rendering them both unconscious. The effects of the gas extend to the dental staff as well.

Upon regaining consciousness, Stan and Ollie exit the dental office, still under the influence of the gas, resulting in uncontrollable laughter. This sets the stage for a chaotic sequence involving their impaired driving, leading to a series of mishaps at a bustling intersection. Their encounters include a confrontation with a traffic police officer, resulting in a scuffle, and a misguided attempt by the officer to transport them to jail, culminating in the immersion of their vehicle into an open sewer.

Cast

• Stan Laurel as Stan
• Oliver Hardy as Ollie
• Charlie Hall as Landlord
• Edgar Kennedy as Cop
• Dorothy Coburn, Viola Richard as Nurses
• Edgar Dearing, Al Hallett, Sam Lufkin, Tiny Sandford as Dental patients
• Otto Fries as Burly Dentist
• Jack Lloyd as Dentist
• Jack Hill as Irate Motorist

Production notes

Leave 'Em Laughing marks the first appearance of Edgar Kennedy in a Laurel and Hardy film.

Chapters of The Sons of the Desert (the international Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society) take their names from the duo's films. Leave 'Em Laughing chapters are currently located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Jacksonville, Florida.

Leave 'Em Laughing was remade by The Three Stooges as I Can Hardly Wait (1943).

The scene where Laurel and Hardy leave the dentist's office was filmed on the Main Street side of The Culver Hotel at 9400 Culver Blvd in Culver City, California.

External links

• Leave 'Em Laughing at IMDb
• Leave 'Em Laughing is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
• Leave 'Em Laughing at AllMovie
• Leave 'Em Laughing at Rotten Tomatoes