Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Twilightfa
Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.
Merolliv
I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
Robert J. Maxwell
Silent. An employment agency sends Stan and Ollie to a fancy hotel, with a note of introduction: "We have reason to believe they may be competent." Of course, they're not.First off, they're mistaken for a visiting Prince and Prime Minister, and there are some diverting moments involving their signing the register, with Ollie shaking the ink out of the pen and the Prince falling into the grime at the bottom of the elevator shaft.The teen-aged Jean Harlow appears for a few minutes, and, man, she is gorgeous and sexy. Whew.There are some running gags involving a beat cop and a cab driver but there's nothing outrageously comic about them. It's a reasonably entertaining short, with Stan and Ollie doing their usual stuff.
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. At a Broadway hotel they are expecting a prince and his prime minister, they mistake Stan and Ollie for them. So after signing in and the manager greeting them, Ollie gives him the letter that reveals them as a short notice doorman and footman. As they go to change the real Prince (Hans Joby, or Captain John Peters) and Prime Minister (Charley Rogers) show up, and keep ending up at the bottom of the elevator shaft, covered with mud, with Stan and Ollie dressed and walking out of it. Ollie makes the mistake of blowing a whistle for the Cabbie (Charlie Hall), and Stan causes a man's shirt to come apart pulling a loose fibre. Ollie keeps missing the door to let people out, and when Stan manages it he gets a coin from the customer. Ollie of course wants this coin, and Stan's whimpers when he has it taken, till a Policeman (Tiny Sandford) comes along, and Ollie is forced to give him another one when his is tossed down the drain. When Stan blows Ollie's cab whistle, the Cabbie and they end up in a little squabble ripping each other's hats and buttons off, with the Cabbie accidentally doing it to the Policeman. Then a cab pulls up with Swanky blonde (Jean Harlow) coming out, and her dress is ripped off when Stan catches it in the cab door, with Ollie escorting her inside the hotel. After Ollie gets Stan's coat there is another little squabble poking each other with a few others joining in,and some cake getting thrown on the Prince and Prime Minister. The film ends with the Prince and Prime Minister ending up at the bottom of the elevator shaft, with Stan and Ollie changed and walking out. Filled with good slapstick and all classic comedy you want from a black and white film, the music added to the film sounds off tune at times, but I suppose it doesn't matter, it is an enjoyable silent film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian. Worth watching!
sweetnlowdown2
When I first saw this short to be truthful I didn't like. It's not that I don't like Laurel & Hardy's comedy style, I think they are the greatest comedy team in history, but, something about the material didn't seem correct to me. It didn't play off as well as other Laurel & Hardy shorts. Right now I'm thinking of "The Music Box", "Brats", "Going Bye-Bye!" & "County Hospital". I also felt that the timing was missing. Well, I watched it one more time. I now feel I made a misjudgment. I can see now that there does seem to be some chemistry. The next short after this one would be "Berth Marks". I felt that "Marks" was sort of the one that "seal the deal". When the team became the two guys we expect them to be. "Double Whoopee" has "the boys" working in a hotel as a doorman and a footman. It just so happens that a prince is coming to the hotel that same day. A lot of mishaps happen. And the piece does have some laughs. I do not feel this is their best effort. But, is nice to add to one's collection of Laurel & Hardy movies. I would mostly recommend this to people who are already fans. "Double Whoopee" is noted for having a young Jean Harlow in it. And even she gets the Laurel & Hardy treatment. I managed to see this on the dvd "The Lost Films Of Laurel & Hardy Vol. 7" the version shown on there is not silent. It has been dubbed. Laurel & Hardy's voices ARE NOT heard on it. Many may find this to be annoying. But, if you can endure it I think you'll be pleased with it. Also of note is the fact that this was the last obscure Laurel & Hardy piece. After this one everything the team made is one all of their fans have seen. *** out of ****
skad13
"Must" viewing for all Stan and Ollie fans, as they make short shrift of an upscale hotel. It's also worth viewing for what is surely the only erotic moment in a Laurel & Hardy fan, as Stan causes Jean Harlow to inadvertently lose her dress. In R-rated terms it's nothing, but for 1929, it's pretty darn
