Two Tars (1928)

Two Tars Poster

Two sailors shore leave rent a car and go on a drive with their dates, but soon get involved in a huge traffic jam with dozens of ill-tempered motorists. A minor collision sets off an escalating series of retaliations.

Film Overview
"Two Tars" is an excellent American short funny quiet film from 1928, starring the remarkable comical duo of the age, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, who are usually referred to as Laurel and Hardy. The film is directed by James Parrott and produced by Hal Roach, shining with the wonderful quintessence of slapstick funny. The film's title "Two Tars" is a play on words referring to the lead characters' functions as sailors ('tars' is an archaic term for sailors) as well as naval tar, making it significant to the plot's development.

Facility and Performance
The film starts with Laurel and Hardy playing 2 joyous sailors on shore leave. The comical shenanigans start when they lease a vehicle for their day off, indulging in a trip that soon turns topsy-turvy. This funny story starts when they end up being stuck in a traffic congestion triggered by a small fender-bender including a couple of delicate drivers.

Stan and Ollie, being the free-spirited sailors, create ingeniously comic methods to deal with the traffic problem, which typically end up in amusing encounters and intensified chaos. Their attempts to squeeze their automobile through the congestion lead towards a chain of collisions, which quickly intensifies to an all-out free-for-all, with all motorists turning against each other in damaging insanity.

Comedic Highlights
Among the most amusing series of the film is when Laurel and Hardy start demolishing all the other automobiles with nonchalant cheerfulness, initiating a frenzy of car damage. This communal spiralling into chaos reflects the unrelenting, excessive slapstick funny signature of Laurel and Hardy's films.

Additionally, their interactions with the debutantes they got previously add an additional layer of absurd hilarity into the mix. The calmness of Laurel and Hardy in the midst of this crazy car-destroying escapade make the situation even more riotously funny.

Critical Receiption and Legacy
"Two Tars" is extremely regarded as among the duo's best quiet brief films that successfully showcases their flawless comical synergy. Their natural usage of physical funny, combined with their ability to maintain a remarkably straight face amidst the ridiculous situations, enhances the satisfaction, improving the film's total appeal.

Their characters as sailors push their carefree attitudes and consequential devil-may-care outlook, adding to the hilarity of their choices. In general, the movie's structure, although basic, supports a wide variety of gags and comic waves, granting a ruthless rate to the humour.

The film has been recognized as an impressive embodiment of visual slapstick comedy, leaving an enduring impression on audiences even after 7 years of its release.

Conclusion
"Two Tars" is a testament to the ageless appeal of Laurel and Hardy. The movie, while profiting from the quiet age of cinema, leverages the duo's remarkable comical partnership to stimulate real laughter. The ingrained humor, the elaborate comic sequences, the background rating, and the elegant efficiencies combine to develop a silent movie that truly speaks volumes. This movie works as an authentic reflection of the duo's comedic sparkle and stays, till date, among the finest examples of early American slapstick comedy.

Top Cast

  • Stan Laurel (small)
    Stan Laurel
    Stan
  • Oliver Hardy (small)
    Oliver Hardy
    Ollie
  • Edgar Kennedy (small)
    Edgar Kennedy
    Motorist
  • Thelma Hill (small)
    Thelma Hill
    Brunette Girl
  • Ruby Blaine (small)
    Ruby Blaine
    Blonde Girl
  • Charlie Hall (small)
    Charlie Hall
    Shopkeeper