Boobirt Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Phillida Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

classicsoncall The story opens in the Winter of 1929, right at the beginning of The Great Depression, which helps explain why our boys are performing on musical instruments for charitable donations. I didn't see the gag coming about the Deaf and Dumb Institute, thereby making their performance a moot exercise. With snow falling hard all around them it's not long before the inevitable snowball fight gets started, and the surprise for me was seeing that the 'formidable woman' (Blanche Payson) was actually bigger than Ollie! With a repertoire that consists of repeats of 'The Good Old Summertime', it's not likely the Boys will have much success in their musical endeavors, but a chance finding of a wallet introduces the second half of the picture which can only end in one way. After completing an exquisite steak dinner, Stan notices the picture of the local beat cop (Frank Holliday) who they invited to join them. A second round of hysterics issues from there.What kills me about Stan and Ollie is the way they take the most mundane and ordinary of circumstances and turn them into a veritable laugh riot. This one is no different, and fans of the comedy duo should be well pleased.

richard.fuller1 Below Zero, to me, is one of the strongest depictions of life and existence at the offset of the depression. I have always remembered this program for its opening of these two guys very unimpressively playing their street music in the cold. There is truly something effective about the cold look. The snow looks its usual fake, but the stillness and immobility seems to be clear and the unpleasant mood brought about, especially with the depression having just started less than a year earlier. The program enters other territory, but ends with the guys outside in the cold, in an alley, in a sense, worse off than when they began. The final joke was always a bit lame to me, but had the entire program dealt with existence on the street in the ice and snow, instead of venturing into the restaurant, the program would have been superb. An academy award was a brand new novelty at this time. Had the guys received one here, they wouldn't have known what it was for. So often we get unhappiness during the depression from the woman's perspective or a child's, but this one is unique being from the guy, who are simply doing the best they can. the only way this program could have truly been richer would have been if Stan and Ollie were street cleaners. But wayward street musicians was definitely enough.

Jackson Booth-Millard Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are the most famous comedy duo in history, and deservedly so, so I am happy to see any of their films. Stan and Ollie are trying to earn money on the street playing instruments, and it is only when they decide to move that they notice the sign for the Deaf and Dumb Institute they have spent some hours there. Trying a new location, a woman in an above window pays them to go away, and in another area a Street Cleaner (Charlie Hall) throws snowballs. After he has gone, they have a bind man walk past finding a coin, and a bird crapping into their dish sounding like a coin. Stan throws a snowball at the bird, accidentally hitting a man in an above window, who throws back going into a woman's milk bucket, causing the woman to put snow in Ollie's face and breaking their instruments. Walking away, the boys find a wallet on the ground, and after helping to catch a possible thief, a Policeman (Frank Holliday) lets them buy him something to eat. After finishing their steaks, the Policeman offers to pay, but Ollie insists they will, and Stan notices the wallet owner's photo, it's the Policeman! He finds out, and they know they can't pay, so they get thrown out, with Stan going into a (frozen) water barrel, and drinking all the water to have a big belly. Filled with good slapstick and all classic comedy you want from a black and white film, it is an enjoyable film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian. Worth watching!

Boba_Fett1138 This is a rather enjoyable short Laurel & Hardy picture with again a story divided in two parts, that are both good and enjoyable in their own way.Problem with some of the Laurel & Hardy pictures is that the movies that are divided in two separate parts are not the best or most consistent ones, due to the fact that often the one part is better than the other. In this case both parts of the movie have their own certain charm and entertainment value and they go very well together.The first part is fun and a bit slapstick like and features some good old fashioned snowball fights. To be honest in the second part nothing really happens but it's hilarious nevertheless, due to the very fine comedy execution from director James Parrott and actors Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It makes both parts solid and should more than please the fans.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/