'The Elephants are Flying South.'

I thought I’d put up this curious silent comedy for anybody interested in movie curios.

It’s a Laurel and Hardy two-reeler, but it’s quite unlike any Laurel and Hardy film I’ve ever seen. It’s set in some undefined stone age, and so the suits and bowlers are exchanged for bear skin tunics and hairy knees. The only hint of the later Laurel and Hardy style is the characters’ habit of occasionally tapping each other on the head with clubs.

What I find particularly interesting, however, is that it’s strangely modern, even though the print looks as though it’s been through a washing machine a few times on its way to the theatre. In places it reminds me of the Goon Show, and the Goon Show is widely regarded as having been the precursor of Monty Python. The connection is no more apparent than when the elephants of the title make their appearance. Terry Gilliam would have been proud of them, I’m sure. It's one of those films that crosses the line beyond which silliness becomes genuinely funny.

It also sports a crop of damn fine girlies – the prettiest pre-flappers that Hollywood could muster, it seems. And it’s nice that effete little Stan wins his own girly back from big bully Oliver. What’s nicest of all, though, is that the bear has the last laugh.