| Laurel & Hardy | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Stanley Laurel, Oliver Hardy |
|
First Appearance |
The Second Hundred Years (1927) |
|
Original Publisher |
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
|
Created by |
Stan Laurel |
Origin[]
Laurel & Hardy are a classic comedic duo whose characters are defined by their contrasting personalities, appearances, and hilarious mishaps. Played by British comedian Stan Laurel and American comedian Oliver Hardy, they became icons of early 20th-century comedy through their work in silent films, talkies, and shorts. Their humor remains influential to this day, shaping comedic storytelling for generations.
Stanley Laurel - The "simple-minded" half of the duo, often unintentionally causing trouble. Identified by his thin, wiry build and signature bowler hat tilted to one side, emphasizing his awkward demeanor, Stanley is naive and oftentimes clueless, and positive. He tends to act impulsively, with little understanding of the consequences, which often leads to chaos. Despite this, he is genuinely well-meaning and positive. While often the instigator of trouble, Laurel relies heavily on Hardy for guidance, inadvertently complicating Hardy's attempts to manage the situation.
Oliver Hardy - The portly and well-groomed "straight man" of the pair, though his plans often fail spectacularly. Pompous, self-assured, and easily exasperated by Laurel’s antics, Hardy sees himself as the more intelligent and competent of the two, though his arrogance often leads to his downfall. While constantly annoyed by his partner, Hardy's loyalty and affection for his counterpart are evident.
The duo embody a classic "opposites attract" partnership. Their comedy hinges on misunderstandings, slapstick gags, and escalating situations where their combined efforts to fix a problem only make things worse. Despite the chaos, their enduring friendship and mutual reliance create a heartwarming undercurrent to their humor.
Public Domain Appearances[]
Although appearing together in prior films, this list only catalogues their work as their iconic fictional characters in the public domain.
Public Domain Films[]
- The Second Hundred Years (1927)
- Call of the Cuckoo (1927) (minor roles)
- Hats Off (1927) (lost film)
- Do Detectives Think? (1927)
- Putting Pants on Philip (1927)
- The Battle of the Century (1927) (National Film Registry)
- Leave 'Em Laughing (1928)
- The Finishing Touch (1928)
- From Soup to Nuts (1928)
- You're Darn Tootin' (1928)
- Their Purple Moment (1928)
- Should Married Men Go Home? (1928)
- Early to Bed (1928)
- Two Tars (1928)
- Habeas Corpus (1928) (first sound film)
- We Faw Down (1928)
- Liberty (1929)
- Wrong Again (1929)
- That's My Wife (1929)
- Big Business (1929) (National Film Registry)
- Unaccustomed As We Are (1929) (first talkie film)
- Double Whoopee (1929)
- Berth Marks (1929)
- Men O' War (1929)
- Perfect Day (1929)
- They Go Boom! (1929)
- Bacon Grabbers (1929)
- The Hoose-Gow (1929)
- The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (short segment)
- Angora Love (1929)
- March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934)
- The Flying Duces (1939)
- Atoll K (1951)
Public Domain Animation[]
- Balloonland (1935)
Public Domain Comic Stips[]
- Film Fun
Public Domain Comic Books[]
- Famous Funnies (Eastern Color) #15-16
- Jumbo Comics #5
- Wilbur Comics 15
Notes[]
- Oliver's frequent breaking of the fourth wall with a resigned look to the audience went on to become a staple of both film and standup comedy.
- Stan Laurel would later serve as one of the inspirations for Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants.
- Recurring actor James Finlayson's annoyed exclamations would go on to inspire Homer Simpson's catchphrase "D'oh!".