Way Out West (1937)

100% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(4,410 ratings)

Prospectors Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy head to the western town of Brushwood Gulch, two men on a top-secret mission. The boys have been entrusted by their recently deceased partner Cy Roberts with a deed to a valuable gold mine, to be delivered in person to Roberts' daughter Mary (Rosina… More Prospectors Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy head to the western town of Brushwood Gulch, two men on a top-secret mission. The boys have been entrusted by their recently deceased partner Cy Roberts with a deed to a valuable gold mine, to be delivered in person to Roberts' daughter Mary (Rosina Lawrence). Stan inadvertently spills the beans to crooked saloon owner Mickey Finn (James Finlayson), who proceeds to pass off his own wife, saloon chanteuse Lola Marcel (Sharon Lynne), as Mary Roberts. The ever-trusting Stan and Ollie fall for the subterfuge hook, line and sinker, handing the deed over to Lola. Upon running into the real Mary, who slaves away in Mickey Finn's kitchen, Our Heroes vow to retrieve the deed. A battle royale ensues, with Stan, Ollie, Mickey and Lola passing the deed around like a football. Ultimately, Lola manages to wrest the deed away from Stan by tickling him into helpless submission. Chased out of town by the sheriff (Stanley Fields), who harbors a grudge against the boys from a previous misunderstanding, Stan and Ollie sneak back to Brushwood Gulch in the dead of night, hoping to break into Finn's saloon, steal back the deed, and place it firmly in the hands of Mary Roberts. Upon this foundation is built Way Out West, arguably Laurel & Hardy's best feature film (many aficionados prefer Sons of the Desert). Highlights include the aformentioned tickling and burglary scenes, Stan literally eating his hat after losing a bet, Ollie's perennial plunges into a pothole, and the boys' charming singing-and-dancing interludes. Also take note of Marvin Hatley's Oscar-nominated musical score, and the presence of a young, thin Chill Wills as one of "The Avalon Boys". Even if you're not a fan of The Thin One and The Fat One, you'll be limp with laughter at the end of Way Out West. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: James W. Horne
Written By: Jack Jevne, Charley Rogers, Felix Adler, James Parrott, Charles Rogers
Genres: Western, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 16, 1937 Limited
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
An ideal comedy
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This Western spoof is one of Laurel and Hardy's finest films.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of Stan and OIlie's best.
Tim Dirks, Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films
Way Out West (1937) is one of the best Laurel and Hardy comedy films, their only western spoof. Again, they reprise their most familiar

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

stoopid, hilarious... loved it.
rocko p

I own the tape to this and it's in color, not complaining but maybe I'm bragging just a little bit. Awesome.

Cast

            Stan Laurel as Himself

            Oliver Hardy as Himself

            Sharon Lynne as Lola Marcel

            James Finlayson as Mickey Finn

            Stanley Fields as Sheriff

            Rosina Lawrence as Mary Roberts

            Vivien Oakland as Sheriff's Wife

            Chill Wills and the Avalon Boys as Themselves

            Harry Bernard as Man Eating at Bar

            Eddie Borden
            
            Fritzi Brunette
            
            Buffalo Bill Jr.
            
            Ben Corbett
            
            Dinah the Mule
            
            Lester Dorr as Cowboy

            Tex Driscoll as Bearded Miner

            Bobby Dunn
            
            Flora Finch as Maw

            Mary Gordon as Cook

            John Ince
            
            Cornelius Keefe as Worker at Mickey Finn's

            Sam Lufkin as Stagecoach Baggage Man

            Art Mix
            
            Frank Montgomery
            
            James C. Morton
            
            Zasu Pitts
            
            Fred 'Snowflake' Toones as Janitor

            May Wallace as Cook

            Chill Wills as Singer

            Frank Mills
            
            Cy Slocum as Audience at Saloon

            Jim Mason as Patron

            Sharon Lynn
            
See full cast