Do Detectives Think?

Do Detectives Think?
Do Detectives Think?
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Fred Guiol
Written by	Hal Roach ; H.M. Walker (titles)
Produced by	Hal Roach
Starring	Stan Laurel ; Oliver Hardy
Distributed by	Pathé Exchange
Release date	November 20, 1927;
Running time	19 min.
Country	United States
Languages	Silent film; English intertitles

Full film

Do Detectives Think? or The Bodyguard is a 1927 silent comedy short film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy.

Plot

A judge sentences a dangerous criminal, the Tipton Slasher, to death "for killing two Chinamen, both seriously". Judge Foozle, in pronouncing sentence, rather gratuitously adds "And I hope you choke!". The Slasher vows to cut out the Judge's tonsils without anesthetic. When the Slasher escapes, the judge hires Laurel and Hardy, two clumsy detectives, for protection. While on duty, Laurel and Hardy face various mishaps, like losing their hats in a cemetery. Unbeknownst to them, the Slasher disguises himself as a butler in the judge's house.

Hardy tries to impress the judge with his shooting skills but causes chaos instead. The judge's wife mistakes the Slasher for a threat, leading to a tense confrontation. Despite their blunders, Laurel and Hardy eventually capture the Slasher, though not without chaos. In the end, the judge's accidental scare helps the police catch the Slasher, thanks to Laurel and Hardy's unintentional help.^[1]

Cast

Stan Laurel - Ferdinand Finkleberry
Oliver Hardy - Sherlock Pinkham
James Finlayson - Judge Foozle
Noah Young - The Tipton Slasher
Viola Richard - Mrs. Foozle
Frank Brownlee - Detective agency boss
Charles A. Bachman - Officer
Will Stanton - Slasher's pal
Charley Young - Juror
Wilson Benge - Butler attacked by Slasher
Ed Brandenburg - Courtroom spectator
Charles Lloyd - Juror

Production notes

Do Detectives Think? is the first film to showcase Laurel and Hardy donning their iconic attire of crumpled suits and bowler hats, the typical outfit of detectives during that era.

Homages

Canadian musician Nash the Slash chose his stage name based on the character in Do Detectives Think.^[2]

References

^ "Laurel and Hardy in Sugar Daddies". Laurelandhardycentral.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
^ Nash the Slash^[usurped], at the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia, by Jaimie Vernon et al., published 2011; retrieved May 13, 2014

Do detectives think by Lordheath. Last updated on May 2, 2017.

External links

Do Detectives Think? at IMDb
Do Detectives Think? at the TCM Movie Database
Do Detectives Think? at AllMovie
Do Detectives Think? at Rotten Tomatoes

This article about a short silent comedy film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Laurel and Hardy in Sugar Daddies". Laurelandhardycentral.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2012.

[2] Nash the Slash^[usurped], at the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia, by Jaimie Vernon et al., published 2011; retrieved May 13, 2014

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