The Music Box
Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to reorganize and resupervise their entire financial structure- so they took the $3.80 and went into business.
1932 | 29m | English
Popularity: 2 (history)
| Director: | James Parrott |
|---|---|
| Writer: | James Parrott, H.M. Walker, Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, Charley Rogers |
| Staring: |
| The Laurel & Hardy Moving Co. have a challenging job on their hands (and backs): hauling a player piano up a monumental flight of stairs to Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen's house. Their task is complicated by a sassy nursemaid and, unbeknownst to them, the impatient Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen himself. But the biggest problem is the force of gravity, which repeatedly pulls the piano back down to the bottom of the stairs. | |
| Release Date: | Apr 16, 1932 |
|---|---|
| Director: | James Parrott |
| Writer: | James Parrott, H.M. Walker, Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, Charley Rogers |
| Genres: | Comedy |
| Keywords | black and white, falling down stairs, piano, workplace comedy, delivery man, player piano, short film |
| Production Companies | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Hal Roach Studios |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Oliver Hardy | Ollie |
| Stan Laurel | Stan |
| Billy Gilbert | Professor von Schwarzenhoffen (uncredited) |
| William Gillespie | Piano Salesman (uncredited) |
| Charlie Hall | Postman (uncredited) |
| Hazel Howell | Mrs. von Schwarzenhoffen (uncredited) |
| Lilyan Irene | Nursemaid (uncredited) |
| Sam Lufkin | Policeman (uncredited) |
| Dinah | Susie the Horse (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| James Parrott | Writer, Director |
| H.M. Walker | Writer, Dialogue |
| Len Powers | Director of Photography |
| Richard C. Currier | Editor |
| Oliver Hardy | Writer |
| Stan Laurel | Writer |
| Charley Rogers | Writer |
| Marvin Hatley | Original Music Composer |
| Harry Graham | Original Music Composer |
| Walter Lundin | Director of Photography |
| Morey Lightfoot | Assistant Director |
| James Greene | Sound Recordist |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Hal Roach | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 7 |
| 2024 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 5 |
| 2024 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 5 |
| 2024 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 | 29 | 5 |
| 2024 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 6 |
| 2024 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 277 | 564 |
This is to me the finest Laurel and Hardy film ever made, not to mention one of the greatest comedies or movies ever made. Period. ...
'Foundered in 1931', Laurel and Hardy decide that they have to recalibrate their extensive business empire, so armed with $3-odd, they go into the horse and cart-powered piano-delivering business. Now this is not an instrument that's going to be easy to carry on your back - even if you are Ollie, an ... d as they attempt to get one into it's new Walnut Avenue home we just know that if it arrives at all, it's going to be as much use to music as fire guards are to chocolate! Half way up a staircase that wouldn't have looked out of place in a grand Italian palazzo, an altercation with a children's nurse reduces them to square one and attracts the attention of a local policeman who again does his bit to ensure the instrument gets nowhere nearer it's destination. Then there's the proverbial nutty professor before a good dunking and, yes well you get the drift. It's entirely predicable, but the two give us a good laugh as their misfortunes accumulate and the pair become increasingly frustrated - especially when the postie gives them some news that could have saved them the bother; they rather stupidly change their plans and soon it's not just the piano that's at risk! There's a bit of dialogue towards the end, but for the most part this is all down to facial expressions, hat adjustments and slap-stick at it's best.