Block-Heads (1938)

Directed by John G. Blystone, Block-Heads is a classic Laurel and Hardy comedy that blends wartime absurdity with slapstick domestic mayhem. Released by Hal Roach Studios and distributed through MGM, it’s often considered one of the duo’s last truly great feature-length comedies. The film runs just under an hour and showcases their signature blend of physical gags, surreal setups, and endearing idiocy.

Plot Summary
The film opens in World War I, where Stan Laurel is ordered to guard a trench until relieved. He takes the command literally—and remains at his post for 20 years, unaware the war ended in 1918. When he’s finally discovered, his old pal Oliver Hardy sees his photo in the paper and decides to bring Stan home for a hot meal.

What follows is a cascade of comic disasters: mistaken injuries, exploding kitchens, nosy neighbors, and a shotgun-wielding husband. Stan’s innocent bumbling and Ollie’s exasperated dignity collide in a series of escalating gags that culminate in a chaotic apartment showdown.

Cast Highlights

• Stan Laurel as Stan
• Oliver Hardy as Ollie
• Patricia Ellis as Mrs. Gilbert (the flirtatious neighbor)
• Minna Gombell as Mrs. Hardy
• Billy Gilbert as Mr. Gilbert (the jealous husband)
• Tommy Bond (of Our Gang fame) appears briefly as the boy on the staircase

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• This was the final film directed by John G. Blystone, who died of a heart attack shortly after completing the final cut
• The trench sign “COOTIE AVE” is a nod to WWI slang—“cooties” were lice, a common scourge in the trenches
• Stan Laurel reportedly improvised the scene with Tommy Bond on the staircase
• The film was the last Laurel & Hardy feature released through MGM, marking the end of their Hal Roach era
• Stan’s tagline “Is there gonna be a fight?” is repeated throughout the film and became a fan favorite