The Bohemian Girl (1936 film)

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The Bohemian Girl

Theatrical poster for Bohemian Girl (1936)
Directed by James W. Horne
Charley Rogers
Produced by Stan Laurel
Hal Roach
Written by Michael William Balfe
Alfred Bunn (libretto)
Frank Butler (screenplay)
Starring Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy
Thelma Todd
Antonio Moreno
Darla Hood
Julie Bishop
Mae Busch
William P. Carleton
James Finlayson
Zeffie Tilbury
Mitchell Lewis
Felix Knight
Harry Bernard
Eddie Borden
Harry Bowen
Lane Chandler
Bobby Dunn
Paulette Goddard
Andrea Leeds
Sam Lufkin
Margaret Mann
James C. Morton
Bob O'Connor
Harold Switzer
Music by Michael William Balfe (original operetta)
Robert Shayon
Nathaniel Shilkret
Cinematography Francis Corby
Art Lloyd
Editing by Bert Jordan
Louis McManus
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s) February 14, 1936
Running time 71 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

The Bohemian Girl is a 1936 feature film version of the operetta The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe. It was produced at the Hal Roach Studios, and stars Laurel and Hardy and Thelma Todd in her last role before her mysterious death.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Laurel and Hardy are a hen-pecked pair of Gypsies in 18th Century Austria. When Oliver is out pickpocketing, fortune-telling or attending his zither lessons, his wife (Mae Busch), has an affair with Devilshoof (Antonio Moreno). A cruel nobleman, Count Arnheim, persecutes the Gypsies, who are forced to flee, but Mrs. Hardy kidnaps his daughter, Arline (Darla Hood), leaves Hardy holding the baby, and elopes with Devilshoof.

12 years later, the Gypsies return to Arnheim's estate. When grown up Arline (Julie Bishop) trespasses in Arnheim's garden, she recognises the place, but is arrested by a constable (Jimmy Finlayson) and sentenced to the torture chamber. Stan and Oliver try to save her, but Stan is too drunk and both are arrested. Arline is rescued in time by Arnheim, who recognises a medallion she wears, and both try to rescue Stan and Oliver. It is too late though: Laurel and Hardy end up in the torture chamber, resulting in one of the team's best sight gags.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Thelma Todd's role

Thelma Todd had starred in 4 Laurel and Hardy films, including their first talkie, Unaccustomed As We Are.

Todd died on 16 December 1935 at the age of thirty. She had been found in the garage of her home, poisoned by the fumes of her own car. Tragically, Stan Laurel received a Christmas present from her soon afterwards. The jury brought out a verdict of suicide, but this came under heavy suspicion.

Three films starring Todd were released after her death. In this film, Todd had played the Gypsy Queen, a very substantial role. All of her scenes were re-shot and her character was renamed as the Gypsy Queen's Daughter, and Zeffie Tilbury plying the Queen, and with a vampish Mae Busch character replacing her in the narrative. One scene of Todd's was kept in as a tribute to her: a musical number where she sings "Heart of a Gypsy". She is probably dubbed.

[edit] Quotes

Meta-reference: James Finlayson, well- known for his comical squinting, gets poked in the eye at one point and cries: "Oh! My good eye!"

[edit] Trivia

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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