''Flying Elephants'' is a two-reel

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

from 1928 directed by Frank Butler and produced by

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

. It stars

Stan Laurel Stan Laurel (born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, writer, and film director who was one half of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy in 107 s ...

and

Oliver Hardy Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his c ...

as a pair of battling cavemen.

Plot

The film takes place in the Stone Age, where the King of the cave people declares that all the males between 13 and 99 years of age must find a female mate or face banishment. Hardy starts looking for a wife and in the scene it says "anyones will do" but is constantly clubbed on the head by the annoyed "husbands" Eventually Hardy finds an available girl but doesn't realize that Laurel, with whom he has become friends, is already intending to marry this girl. As both Laurel and Hardy pursue the same girl, this eventually leads to several contests to win the affections of the young bride-to-be. Laurel leads Hardy to the top of a mountain with the intention of pushing his rival to his death. His plan ends up failing, until an angry goat rams Hardy over the cliff, allowing Laurel to go claim the girl.

Cast

Production and distribution

Although released in February 1928, ''Flying Elephants'' was actually filmed in May 1927, before the duo were established as a comedy team. As a result, the film lacks the Laurel and Hardy trademarks and consists mostly of solo performances by the two comedians. Taking place entirely outdoors, the rocky desert locations were photographed in

Moapa, Nevada Moapa is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 1,025 at the 2010 census. It is the largest town in Clark County by land area. Both the second and the third tallest s ...

. Some locations would later be used in 1940 for Hal Roach's prehistoric drama ''

One Million B.C. ''One Million B.C.'' is a 1940 American fantasy film produced by Hal Roach Studios and released by United Artists. It is also known by the titles ''Cave Man'', ''Man and His Mate'' and ''Tumak''. The film stars Victor Mature as protagonist Tu ...

''. The title ''Flying Elephants'' refers to a scene where Hardy's character points out three animated

pachyderm Pachyderm may refer to: * Any of the Pachydermata, an obsolete 19th-century taxonomic order of mammals that included elephants, rhinoceroses, tapirs and hippopotami. * Pachyderm Studios, a recording studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. * Pachyderma ...

s flying up above in the sky.

References

External links

* * * {{Laurel and Hardy filmography 1928 films 1928 comedy films American silent short films American black-and-white films Laurel and Hardy (film series) Films about cavemen Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker 1928 short films American comedy short films 1920s American films Silent American comedy films