Our Relations

''Our Relations'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Harry Lachman starring Laurel and Hardy, produced by Stan Laurel for Hal Roach Studios.

Plot

Stan and Ollie are unexpectedly reunited with their long-lost twin brothers, Alf and Bert, whose presumed demise is debunked by a photograph enclosed in a letter. Alf and Bert, presently sailors aboard the SS Periwinkle, dock in the same harbor as Stan and Ollie's residence, accompanied by their wives, Daphne and Betty.

Aboard the ship, Alf and Bert encounter Finn, the chief engineer, who tempts them with the prospect of wealth accumulation. Entrusting their earnings to Finn for safekeeping, they inadvertently become entangled in a web of deceit when Finn refuses to return their wages. Matters escalate as they unwittingly pawn a valuable ring entrusted to them by the ship's captain, exacerbating their financial predicament.

Meanwhile, Stan and Ollie, joined by their wives, find themselves embroiled in a series of misunderstandings stemming from Alf and Bert's impulsive actions. Unwittingly shouldering the consequences of Alf and Bert's debts, Stan and Ollie are ensnared in a violent encounter with Finn, culminating in threats of revenge.

As the chaos unfolds, Alf and Bert's misadventures lead to their arrest, while Stan and Ollie fall victim to mafia extortionists seeking the missing ring. Amidst the ensuing turmoil, the twin pairs converge at the waterfront, where a fortuitous discovery of the ring and a spirited altercation result in their collective immersion into the water.

The twins eventually reconcile and resolve to elucidate the misunderstanding to their respective spouses. However, their lack of foresight precipitates further mishaps, culminating in a plunge into the water.

Cast

Credited

Production

''Our Relations'' is the third of three films in which they play a dual role: the first was '' Brats'' and the second was '' Twice Two''. The story is based on the short story "The Money Box" by W.W. Jacobs, author of "The Monkey's Paw". However, "The Money Box" does not involve any twins. The film's central idea of two sets of twins being confused for each other was most famously used in Shakespeare's ''The Comedy of Errors''.

A departure from the traditional Laurel and Hardy archetype is observed in ''Our Relations'',, as Stan and Ollie assume the roles of upstanding individuals, each with a spouse and stable employment, a departure from their typical portrayal as hapless yet endearing characters struggling to make ends meet. Conversely, it is their maritime counterparts, Alf Laurel and Bert Hardy, who epitomize ineptitude and incompetence as sailors aboard the vessel ''S.S Periwinkle''.

While aboard the ship, Alf and Bert don seafaring attire, reflecting their occupation. Upon disembarking, they adopt civilian attire, complete with iconic derby hats, rendering them nearly indistinguishable from their brothers. Notably, a reversal in sartorial conventions is observed, with Alf adorned in the customary attire while Bert opts for a bowtie, a stark contrast to Stan and Ollie's respective attire. Furthermore, musical cues serve as a distinguishing feature between the twin pairs, with Laurel and Hardy's signature theme, "Dance of the Cuckoos", accompanying the appearances of Stan and Ollie, while melodies such as "Sailing, Sailing over the Bounding Main" or the "Sailor's Hornpipe" signal the presence of Alf and Bert on screen.

The film is distinguished by the camera work of successful dramatic cinematographer Rudolph Maté ('' The Passion of Joan of Arc''). The film was based on the story ''The Money Box'' by W.W. Jacobs. The story was adapted by Jack Jevne and Charley Rogers and the film written by Felix Adler and Richard Connell.

Reception

Leonard Maltin gave it three of four stars: "Stan and Ollie get into snowballing comedy of errors with their long-lost twins. Lots of fun; best scenes in Hale's beer garden." Leslie Halliwell was enthusiastic: "A fast-moving comedy which contains some of Laurel and Hardy's most polished work as well as being their most satisfying production."

Legacy

In 2000, the Dutch revivalist orchestra The Beau Hunks collaborated with the Metropole Orchestra to re-create composer Leroy Shield's soundtrack to ''Our Relations'' from original sheet music that had been discovered in a Los Angeles archive in 1994 and 1995.

References

External links

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''The Money Box''
Text of the short story which was the basis for the film.

{{Harry Lachman

1936 films
1936 comedy films
American black-and-white films
Films about twin brothers
Films based on works by W. W. Jacobs
Films directed by Harry Lachman
Laurel and Hardy (film series)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
Films based on short fiction
Films with screenplays by Felix Adler (screenwriter)
1930s English-language films
1930s American films
Films about landlords