Summary
A Chump at Oxford is a Hal Roach comedy film produced in 1939 and released in 1940 by United Artists. It was directed by Alfred J. Goulding and was the penultimate Laurel and Hardy film made at the Roach studio.[3][4] The title echoes the film A Yank at Oxford (1938), of which it is a partial parody.
| A Chump at Oxford | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alfred J. Goulding |
| Written by | Charley Rogers Felix Adler Harry Langdon[1] |
| Produced by | Hal Roach Jr. Hal Roach |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Wilfred Lucas Jimmy Finlayson Anita Garvin Forrester Harvey Peter Cushing Charlie Hall |
| Cinematography | Art Lloyd |
| Edited by | Bert Jordan[1] |
| Music by | Marvin Hatley |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date | February 16, 1940 |
Running time | 42:01 (streamliner version) 62:41 (extended version) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $230,297[2] |
Plot edit
Stan and Ollie find themselves in dire financial straits, left with only a modest sum of money. Seeking employment, they undertake a rather unconventional venture: Stan disguises himself as a maid named "Agnes" to secure a catering position at a dinner party hosted by Mr. Vanderveer. However, their plans go awry when Stan indulges in the cocktails intended for the guests, leading to a series of comical mishaps culminating in their expulsion from the premises.[1]
Subsequently, the duo embarks on a journey of self-improvement, recognizing the need for education to elevate their prospects. Their serendipitous encounter with a bank robber results in their employment at the bank, where they are offered an opportunity to pursue higher learning. Enrolling at Oxford University in England, they navigate a series of misadventures, including mistaken identities and university hazing rituals orchestrated by mischievous undergraduates.
Amidst the chaos, Stan undergoes a transformation, regaining a lost identity as Lord Paddington, a celebrated figure with remarkable intellect and physical prowess. However, his newfound status strains his relationship with Ollie, who feels marginalized and disrespected. As events unfold, including an incident involving a falling window, Stan's return to his former self fosters reconciliation and a renewed sense of camaraderie between the two friends.
Cast edit
- Stan Laurel as Stan / Lord Paddington[1]
- Oliver Hardy as Ollie[1]
- Forrester Harvey as Meredith[1]
- Wilfred Lucas as Dean Williams[1]
- Forbes Murray as Banker[1]
- Frank Baker as Dean's Servant[1]
- Eddie Borden as Student Ghost[5]
- Gerald Rogers as Student Johnson[5]
- Charles Hall as Student[1]
- Victor Kendall as Student[5]
- Gerald Fielding as Student[1]
- Peter Cushing as Student[6]
Uncredited
- Evelyn Barlow
- Louise Bates
- Harry Bernard as policeman
- Stanley Blystone as policeman
- Tom Costello
- Richard Cramer
- Jean De Briac as Pierre
- Marjorie Deanne as dinner party guest
- Herbert Evans as Professor Crampton
- James Finlayson as Mr. "Baldy" Vanderveer[6]
- Anita Garvin as Mrs. Vanderveer[5]
- Mildred Gaye
- Mack Germaine
- Alec Harford as cab driver
- Jack Heasley as Hodges
- Jewel Jordan
- Robert Kent
- Rex Lease as robber
- Ethelreda Leopold as bank manager's secretary
- Lois Lindsay
- Sam Lufkin as water wagon driver
- George Magrill as tow-truck driver
- Stan Mckay
- James Millican as chauffeur
- Edmund Mortimer as dinner guest
- Doris Morton
- Edgar Norton as Professor Witherspoon
- William O'Brien as man in unemployment office
- Vivien Oakland as receptionist
- Jack Richardson
- Ronald R. Rondell as dinner party guest
- Elmer Serrano
- Al Thompson
- Bobby Tracy
Production edit
A Chump at Oxford was originally conceived as a streamliner featurette. The completed film ran 42 minutes in length. Roach's distributor, United Artists, rejected the featurette and insisted on a full-length feature film,[7] forcing Roach to add 21 more minutes of action. The added scenes, partially reworking the silent film From Soup to Nuts (1928), show Laurel and Hardy trying to find temporary jobs at the employment agency, and being assigned to work at the dinner party.
The shorter version was shelved,[8] and the longer version was released to theaters and later to television; this 63-minute print is the version most often seen today. The shorter version was ultimately released to theaters in 1943. A later reissue was further reedited, jumping abruptly from Stan and Ollie's entering the employment agency to them sweeping the streets. A 25-minute version created for television distribution is entitled Alter Ego.
As Lord Paddington, Stan Laurel employs an upper class received pronunciation accent, the only time he affected a voice different from "Stan" on film.
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Nash, J.R. (2019). The Encyclopedia of Best Films: A Century of All the Finest Movies, A-J. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-5381-3413-9. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Ward, Richard Lewis (2005). A history of the Hal Roach Studios. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 213. - figures are producer's share from US/Canada
- ^ Aping, N. (2014). The Final Film of Laurel and Hardy: A Study of the Chaotic Making and Marketing of Atoll K. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7864-5174-6. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Ward, R.L. (2006). A History of the Hal Roach Studios. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-8093-2727-0. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Fetrow, A.G. (1994). Feature Films, 1940-1949: A United States Filmography. McFarland. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-89950-914-3. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ a b Kael, P. (2011). 5001 Nights at the Movies. Henry Holt and Company. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-250-03357-4. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Variety, "UA Orders Hal Roach to Tack On Footage to L-H 4-Reelers", Nov. 15, 1939, p. 2.
- ^ MacGillivray, Scott, Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward, iUniverse, 2009, ISBN 978-1440172373, p. 4.
External links edit
- A Chump at Oxford at IMDb
- A Chump at Oxford at the TCM Movie Database
- A Chump at Oxford at AllMovie
- A Chump at Oxford at the American Film Institute Catalog
- A Chump at Oxford at Rotten Tomatoes
