Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

beauzee remarkably brighter and fresher than the 1941 and 1942 efforts, in fact, should have been made in color and billed as a musical: yes, Vivian Blaine, of GUYS AND DOLLS gets a lot of frame time, with very good songs. the film actually opens with L & H playing as, one might say, one-man-bands, on their tour truck.cinematography is good and there's a sense that they are actually enjoying this one. we know Hardy said much later he liked JITTERBUGS.it's been written that they enjoyed the chance to get into costume, as they did in the gambling scene, where they try to win back money that Vivian lost to con men, earlier. along the way they met an affable con artist, Bob Bailey, who agrees to help out... and *not* help himself, this time.but general L & Hers, try it on for size.like so many of the MGM and Fox efforts, the lost opportunities are too much to bear, in outlining. I'll give ya one: L & H are thumbing a ride, out in the desert. Stan suggests one of them should lie down on the road so as to make someone stop. Fine. Not to give it away but there's no quibbling about who has the honor, such as "As usual, I have to do everything myself!" Plus, the bit is terribly executed. Not by L & H but by the Writer and/or the Director. any 14 year old *new* fan will frown and say, "why didn't they just...?" :)

BJJManchester One of a declining number of features Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy made in the 1940's after they departed the Hal Roach Studios at the beginning of the decade,JITTERBUGS has the reputation of maybe being the best of a disposable bunch made at 20th CENTURY FOX and M-G-M.This actually isn't saying that much,and the film has many flaws that plagued the other films in this period that brought an end to their film careers.But there are somewhat more positive aspects that touch it up a notch or two above the other misconceived and misjudged efforts of these later years despite still being affected by numerous disadvantages.Travelling musicians Stan and Ollie steam up with a devious but likable conman (Robert Bailey) to help a young woman (Vivian Blaine) whose Aunt was fleeced out of $10,000 by various other shysters. Stan and Ollie don disguises as part of the plan,though they have to wary of their own safety along the way.The main problem with JITTERBUGS is the excess of plot complications and sub-stories plus various transient characters that don't just add a sense of disarrangement but provide little chance for any characteristic L & H humour throughout it's running time.We only get a sense of this in the opening few minutes or so with scenes of the boys on a isolated desert highway,but even here (as was evident in virtually all of their later films),the dialogue and behaviour is not particularly appropriate for their long established naive,lovable characters.Thereafter,with the appearance of conman Robert Bailey,his would-be girl Vivian Blaine and other types,Stan and Ollie often seem incidental to the plot and the numerous other characters that turn up.As has been mentioned before,it's main saving grace is to see the boys enact different characterisations.Ollie is enjoyable as a wealthy Texas landowner,Colonel Wattison Bixby,as a Southern states gentleman-type very close to his own upbringing,as is Stan as a fluttery and equally wealthy maiden Aunt,convincingly and amusingly in drag,employing the upper-class accent he used in A CHUMP AT OXFORD and flirtatious manner in ANOTHER FINE MESS.Ollie's scenes with Lee Patrick in his impersonation work surprisingly well,which features somewhat better supporting performances from such performers as Ms Patrick,Douglas Fowley,Noel Madison (who appeared in a similar Gangsterish role with the boys in OUR RELATIONS seven years earlier) and Robert Emmett Keane than was usually the case in these later films.This was Mal St.Clair's first film with the boys and his direction is fast and slick,helping to paper over the cracks of a less-than efficient script by Scott Darling,which was also a showcase for the up and coming starlet Vivian Blaine.She is a somewhat lightweight but pleasing presence,and the film is also helped by decent production values and a respected cameraman (Lucien Andriot), giving the film a more attractive and polished look.Though hardly vintage L & H,JITTERBUGS has enough good scenes to rate it alongside THE BULLFIGHTERS as the more tolerable of their post-Roach features,with both comedians looking generally more assured and confident with at least some decent material to work with than was the unfortunate case with most of their later work.JITTERBUGS is still flawed but enjoyable,with Laurel and Hardy's talent still managing to extract some laughs and overcome a plot and script that was far from perfect.RATING:6 out of 10.

andynortonuk i watch this when i was on holiday in tennerife when this film was on. I kind of enjoyed it.It's not the best or worst comedy i have seen, but has got some good chuckles all the way through. There were some bits i din't understand. But then i am not a laurel and hardy fan! But it was good old traditional slpastick mayhem form the duo in this madcap comedy.

Owen Christopher Keenan This is an enjoyable film for L&H fans, despite it not being as funny as their earlier features. However, that is to be expected in anybody's career.Far better that they made it than just retiring in 1940. Don't expect their best, but give it a viewing