Lucky Dog (1921)
Starring: Oliver
Hardy, Stan Laurel, Florence
Gillet
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Director: Jess
Robbins
Writer: Jess
Robbins (screenplay)
Sun-Lite Pictures
Time: 24 Min
(uncut)
The Lucky Dog
was the first film to include both members of the famous comedy duo of Stan
Laurel and Oliver Hardy, later known as Laurel and Hardy and is the first
occasion that they worked together. Though they appear in scenes together, they
play independent of each other and not as the comedic team that they would
later become. The film was shot as two reels, but some versions end abruptly
after the first reel where Stan is robbed by Ollie.
The film was shot in the latter part of 1920 and into early
1921 and then released for distribution in late 1921 by Reelcraft. The film's
production cost was thought to have been about $3000
Plot
Stan plays the hapless hero, who after being thrown out onto
the street for not paying his rent, is befriended by a stray dog. The dog and
Stan then bump into Oliver (playing a robber) who is holding someone up.
Oliver, who in the process has accidentally placed his victim’s money into
Stan's back pocket, turns from his first victim (who runs off) to rob Stan.
Oliver then steals the money he had already stolen, from a very bemused Stan
who had thought he was broke.
Stan and the dog escape and the dog makes friends with a
poodle. The poodle’s lady owner (Florence Gillet) persuades Stan to enter his
dog into the local dog show. When his entry is refused, Stan sneaks in anyway,
but is quickly thrown out, followed by all the dogs in the show. Stan spots the
poodle’s owner outside looking for her dog and offers his dog in its place. She
accepts and in turn offers him a lift to her home. This scene is witnessed by
her jealous boyfriend, who happens to bump into Oliver and together the two
plot their revenge on Stan.
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