Tit for Tat (1935)

A hilarious continuation of 'Them Thar Hills', as the boys try opening up a shop that just happens to be right next door to a grocery store run by the couple they met in that film...and the jealous husband still hasn't either forgotten or forgiven them. These two films together would be an excellent introduction for inquisitive people of today of Laurel and Hardy's work.

Stan and Ollie are excited to be opening their hardware store. Being a polite sort of soul, Ollie decides they should pay a visit to their neighbouring grocer and introduce themselves. The thing is, they have some past with this fellow (Charlie Hall) so are promptly sent packing. That might have been the end of it, but for a mishap with some lightbulbs, a street elevator and a ladder that naturally convinces Charlie that Ollie is up to no good with his wife (Mae Busch). Next thing we know, they are in each other’s shops with sabotage rather than shopping on their minds. This isn’t the most energetic of L&H stories and though it’s harmless and amiable, it’s also a little bit pedestrian as the pranks they perpetrate on each other become all too perfectly staged and are not especially funny. Actually, I found the daftest element was a subplot that tees of the conclusion largely unrelated to their earlier antics. Watchable, but not my favourite.