| Below Zero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | James Parrott |
| Written by | H.M. Walker |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy |
| Cinematography | George Stevens |
| Edited by | Richard C. Currier |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 20:36 (English) 28:19 (Spanish) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Below Zero is a 1930 short film starring Laurel and Hardy, directed by James Parrott and produced by Hal Roach.
Plot
Laurel and Hardy have no success earning money on a bleak, snowy winter's day as sidewalk musicians, especially when playing "In the Good Old Summertime". This annoys a man shoveling his sidewalk and a woman who throws the pair a dollar to get them to move on. She calls out "Yoo-hoo ! Mr Whiteman", not because it's snowing, but as a joke reference to big bandleader, and violist, of the 1930s Paul Whiteman, as Oliver is plucking the similar double bass. Their instruments are destroyed in an argument with a woman, but Stan finds a wallet. They are chased by a thief, but are protected by a police officer. Stan and Ollie share a slap-up meal with the cop, but unfortunately, Stan finds out the wallet in fact belongs to the cop. When the policeman discovers this, he tells the waiter, who throws them out of the restaurant and throws Stan upside down in a barrel of water. Oliver finds Stan, who now has an enormous stomach after drinking all the water while trapped in the barrel.
Cast
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Stan Laurel | --- Stan |
| Oliver Hardy | --- Ollie |
| Uncredited | |
| Bobby Burns | --- 'blind' man / deadbeat diner |
| Baldwin Cooke | --- man at window |
| Kay Deslys | --- woman at window |
| Charlie Hall | --- annoyed shopkeeper throwing snowball |
| Jack Hill | --- busboy |
| Frank Holliday | --- policeman |
| Charles McMurphy | --- extra at restaurant |
| Bob O'Connor | --- extra at restaurant |
| Retta Palmer | --- woman leaving window |
| Blanche Payson | --- formidable woman |
| Tiny Sandford | --- Pete |
| Charles Sullivan | --- extra at restaurant |
| Lyle Tayo | --- woman at window tossing Stan & Ollie a dollar |
| Leo Willis | --- crook |
Spanish version
An extended Spanish version, Tiembla Y Titubea was also produced with Laurel and Hardy speaking phonetically from blackboards placed just out of camera range; Spanish-speaking actors replacing the English speaking supporting players.
References
External links
- Below Zero at IMDb
- Below Zero at AllMovie
- Below Zero at the TCM Movie Database
- Below Zero at Rotten Tomatoes