Sons of the Desert
Laurel and Hardy turn a forbidden lodge convention into a brilliantly escalating domestic deception comedy.
Overview
Two bumbling friends concoct an outrageous lie to escape their wives and attend a convention, leading to hilarious consequences.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- lazy afternoon
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as one of Laurel and Hardy's strongest feature comedies, praising its sustained story, escalating gags, and abundant laughs.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Stan and Ollie risk elaborate deception to attend their lodge convention despite their wives' objections.
The fake illness, invented Hawaii voyage, and shipwreck story become progressively harder to maintain.
The convention parade newsreel directly undermines the men's fabricated travel story.
Stan's guileless confusion and Ollie's anxious authority drive the pair's coordinated misadventure.
Films like Sons of the Desert, and why
Duck Soup
shared pre-code slapstick, buddy comedy, escalating deception, and tightly constructed physical gags
The Marx Brothers' Horse Feathers
shared classic hollywood farce, male camaraderie, domestic conflict, and rapid comic escalation
Way Out West
shared laurel and hardy physical comedy, friendship, and schemes that unravel through escalating mishaps
The Awful Truth
shared husband-wife farce, comic deception, and warm but chaotic domestic humor
Movie Details
- Director
- William A. Seiter
- Release Date
- 1933-12-29
- Runtime
- 65 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (277)
Cast
- Stan Laurel
- Oliver Hardy
- Mae Busch
- Dorothy Christy
- Charley Chase
- Lucien Littlefield
- Ernie Alexander
- Brooks Benedict
- Charita
- Ellen Corby
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Sons of the Desert about?
- Laurel and Hardy turn a forbidden lodge convention into a brilliantly escalating domestic deception comedy.
- What is Sons of the Desert like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sons of the Desert as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Sons of the Desert violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Sons of the Desert.
- What did critics think of Sons of the Desert?
- Critics broadly regard it as one of Laurel and Hardy's strongest feature comedies, praising its sustained story, escalating gags, and abundant laughs.
- Which films are like Sons of the Desert?
- Films with a similar feel include Duck Soup, The Marx Brothers' Horse Feathers, Way Out West, and The Awful Truth.
- How long is Sons of the Desert?
- Sons of the Desert runs 65 minutes.
- Where can I watch Sons of the Desert?
- In United States, Sons of the Desert is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
