The Music Box

"Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to reorganize and resupervise their entire financial structure- so they took the $3.80 and went into business."

1932 0h 29m EN

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 233

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The Laurel & Hardy Moving Co. have a challenging job on their hands (and backs): hauling a player piano up a monumental flight of stairs to Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen's house. Their task is complicated by a sassy nursemaid and, unbeknownst to them, the impatient Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen himself. But the biggest problem is the force of gravity, which repeatedly pulls the piano back down to the bottom of the stairs.

“Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to reorganize and resupervise their entire financial structure- so they took the $3.80 and went into business.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Apple TV StoreBuy

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Cast

Oliver Hardy
Ollie
Stan Laurel
Stan
Billy Gilbert
Professor von Schwarzenhoffen (uncredited)
William Gillespie
Piano Salesman (uncredited)
Charlie Hall
Postman (uncredited)
Hazel Howell
Mrs. von Schwarzenhoffen (uncredited)
Lilyan Irene
Nursemaid (uncredited)
Sam Lufkin
Policeman (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: James Parrott
Writers: H.M. Walker, Stan Laurel, James Parrott
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 29-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

94 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by James Parrott, shot by Len Powers. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Harry Graham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Richard C. Currier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel and Billy Gilbert carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to reorganize and resupervise their entire financial structure- so they took the $3.80 and went into business.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

James Parrott directs. Len Powers behind the camera. Harry Graham scores. Richard C. Currier cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 29-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
294 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by James Parrott, shot by Len Powers. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Harry Graham. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Richard C. Currier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel and Billy Gilbert carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to reorganize and resupervise their entire financial structure- so they took the $3.80 and went into business.".
9IMDB entry: tt0023251 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Len Powers
Original score: Harry Graham
Editing: Richard C. Currier
Runtime: 29 min · 0h 29m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Music Box (1932)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Comedy

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

James Parrott

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

talisencrw2016-06-25
★ 10/10
This is to me the finest Laurel and Hardy film ever made, not to mention one of the greatest comedies or movies ever made. Period.
CinemaSerf2024-02-11
★ 7/10
'Foundered in 1931', Laurel and Hardy decide that they have to recalibrate their extensive business empire, so armed with $3-odd, they go into the horse and cart-powered piano-delivering business. Now this is not an instrument that's going to be easy to carry on your back - even if you are Ollie, and as they attempt to get one into it's new Walnut Avenue home we just know that if it arrives at all, it's going to be as much use to music as fire guards are to chocolate! Half way up a staircase that wouldn't have looked out of place in a grand Italian palazzo, an altercation with a children's nurse reduces them to square one and attracts the attention of a local policeman who again does his bit to ensure the instrument gets nowhere nearer it's destination. Then there's the proverbial nutty professor before a good dunking and, yes well you get the drift. It's entirely predicable, but the two give us a good laugh as their misfortunes accumulate and the pair become increasingly frustrated - especially when the postie gives them some news that could have saved them the bother; they rather stupidly change their plans and soon it's not just the piano that's at risk! There's a bit of dialogue towards the end, but for the most part this is all down to facial expressions, hat adjustments and slap-stick at it's best.