''Two Tars'' is a silent

short subject A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film or ...

directed by James Parrott starring comedy duo

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...

. It was released by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

on November 3, 1928.

Plot

During a shore leave, two sailors opt to rent an automobile, with Laurel assuming the role of driver. However, his lack of proficiency behind the wheel leads to a near collision with a pedestrian at a street corner. Subsequently, Hardy takes over driving duties but promptly crashes the vehicle into a lamppost, prompting him to retreat in embarrassment. Their misadventures continue as they encounter two young women struggling with a malfunctioning vending machine. Hardy's attempt to resolve the situation results in the machine's destruction, exacerbating the situation. Their actions draw the ire of the store proprietor, leading to a chaotic encounter where Laurel and Hardy find themselves entangled in the escalating conflict. Despite their efforts to flee, they inadvertently become embroiled in a larger-scale altercation involving numerous motorists. This conflict quickly escalates into a chaotic exchange of vehicular damage and improvised weaponry. The arrival of law enforcement is met with further chaos, as a steamroller inadvertently incapacitates the officer's motorcycle. Seizing the opportunity, Laurel and Hardy escape into a nearby railway tunnel, leaving behind a trail of vehicular wreckage.

Cast

Production

One of the most elaborate silent comedy shorts, ''Two Tars'' was filmed as a three reel (30-minute) comedy originally called ''Two Tough Tars'' and edited down to 20 minutes. The opening scenes were shot on the 3800 block of Main Street in

Culver City Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. It is mostly surrounded by Los Angeles, but also shares a border with the unincorporated area of Ladera Heights to the ea ...

, and the car battle scenes were filmed in

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

along what is now

Centinela Avenue Centinela Avenue is a 10.2 mile (16.4 km) major street in the Westside (Los Angeles County), Westside region of Los Angeles County, California. Geography Centinela Avenue is a major thoroughfare in Culver City, California, Culver City, In ...

Sons of the Desert

Chapters — called ''Tents'' — of The Sons of the Desert, the international Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society, all take their names from L&H films. There are four ''Two Tars Tents'' in

Solingen, Germany Solingen (; ) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, 25 km east of Düsseldorf along the northern edge of the Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr. After Wuppertal, it is the second-largest city in the Bergisches Land, and a member of t ...

; Guernsey, Channel Islands; North Illinois/Wisconsin Border; and

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

. A fifth ''Two Tars Tent'' was established in Reidsville, North Carolina, but is no longer active.

References

External links

* * * * {{James Parrott 1928 films 1928 comedy films 1928 short films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films American black-and-white films English-language comedy short films Films directed by James Parrott Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker Laurel and Hardy (film series) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer short films Silent American comedy short films Surviving American silent films